Analyse Macbeths Tragic Degeneration From A Brave, Loyal Subject To A Murderous Tyrant Essay, Research Paper

? The play

focuses on the changing character of Macbeth and his increasing greed for

power.? Many factors contribute to the

changes to Macbeth throughout the play which cause the character to deteriorate

from a man with nobility and good intentions to one who is ruled by ambition

and greed. ?The play

begins with the scene of three witches who prophesise that three events will

occur to Macbeth. ?The

Elizabethans believed strongly in the supernatural, and associated the devil

and witches with this.? It was thought

that witches were enemies of mankind, causing bad weather, crops to fail and

bringing death upon families.? As shown

in act 1; scene 3, it was also thought that witches could see into the future. ? Having just

seved the King (Duncan), gaining victory in battle against rebels and the

Scottish traitor the Thane of Cawdor,?

Macbeth and his companion Banquo meet with the three witches on a lonely

moor. ? The witches

go on to tell Macbeth that he will have three changes of title; ? All hail,

Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis All hail,

Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor All hail Macbeth!

That shalt be King hereafter? Macbeth receives this

information with disbelief ? he reminds the witches? that he is already Thane of Glamis and unaware at this point of

the Thane of Cawdors treachery he tells them that their prophecies are wrong. However, when shortly after he is appointed Thane of

Cawdor, the change of character begins as his ambition is triggered.? Having previously been seen as loyal and

honourable to his King and country, he quite instantly becomes untrustworthy

and deceitful as he thinks of the third prophecy. ? Before

reaching home and Lady Macbeth, his desire for power begins to overwhelm him. ?The prince of Cumberland : that is a step on which I

must not fall down, or else o?erleap for in my way it lies.? Stars, hide your fires, let not light see my

black and deep desires, the eye wink at the hand.? Yet let that be, which the eye fears when it is done to see.? This implies that

Macbeth already has plans of evil towards Duncan whom is obviously the obstacle

preventing him from taking the throne, he is ?in the way? his statement also