MacBeth Essay, Research Paper

The play “MacBeth” written by profound author and playwright William Shakespeare is a story of good, evil, power, and envy. MacBeth ,who is the main character of this play, is a courageous, brave, ruthless, and sometimes asinine soldier who also carries the title of Thane of Glamis. All throughout the play MacBeth encounters other characters who praise him as the Thane of Glamis or as a fierce warrior. MacBeth’s attitude in the play is one of a laid-back invincible warrior who will never be defeated, this along with his characteristics of a ruthless, courageous, brave and even asinine soldier is what in the long run will cause him to be conquered as a soldier as well as a king. An example of this is his point of view towards the witches when him and Banquo encounter them while they are on their way home from the battle. In this scene had planed amongst each other to meet MacBeth upon the heath after the battle was finished. As MacBeth and Banquo journey home they come upon the witches. When this happens Mac Beth who is the brave and courageous and sometimes asinine one of the two approaches the three witches with out even considering the consequences of his actions. Banquo, who has personality characteristics that are more cautious, is a little less enthusiastic about meeting three witches and draws himself back, where as MacBeth as a valiant warrior is practically fearless. MacBeth’s intentions in the play are actually simple ones. He is the Thane of Glamis and also a soldier and wants nothing more at the moment then to fight for his country and maybe someday be king. When Ross and Angus approach MacBeth and Banquo and announce to MacBeth that King Duncan has named him Thane of Cawdor his reaction is one of surprise and curiosity. The curiosity come from the fact that when MacBeth and Banquo had met up with the witches they had addressed him with the

title of Thane of Cawdor. At the point when he meet with the witches he believed the title to be an absurdity and he said to the witches, “but how of Cawdor, the Thane of Cawdor lives,” (p:7 line:11) but the three witches disappear before they answer his question and then MacBeth jokes with Banquo about this title that the witches have given him. This is why he is so surprised when Ross and Angus address him with this title of “Thane of Cawdor.” He now believes that what the witches told him and Banquo was true including the statement that he will be king soon thereafter. In conclusion we realize that MacBeth wants to be king but he does not want to rush into the kingdom like Lady MacBeth wants him to. MacBeth is also not as driven to power as his wife and is certainly not willing to plot King Duncan’s murder along with his wife just so he can receive the c