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Topic: The story of “MacBeth” records the passage of a man from nobility to savagery. Discuss how we might account for Macbeth’s transformation. ‘The tragedy of MacBeth’, written by William Shakespeare, records the transformation of a man from nobility to savagery. In the time this play was written disputes where solved by violence, and soldiers were seen as noble and brave. Life consisted around the natural order and divine appointment of kings and queens. People believed that the disturbance in nature or divine appointment was due to evil, women who were believed to be witches in society due to been not seen as natural woman (i.e. could not produce children or who where not beautiful.) where burned at the stakes, and the supernatural was considered unnatural. MacBeth was originally noble in bloodline and was considered noble by his rank in society. His nobility was perceived through his savagery on the battlefield. It was partly Macbeth’s unbridled ambitions that lead him to his downfall. The main tragedy of MacBeth was that he originally had potential for greatness (Act 1 Scene 4, lines 32-33) “I have begun to plant thee, and will labour to make thee full of growing”. Macbeth’s savagery in killing Duncan was the beginning of Macbeth’s loss over his ambition, and eventually MacBeth becomes a man without a conscience, and didn’t hesitate to murder all those who he felt were threats, eventually leading to murdering out of rage. MacBeth turns into a man who cares nothing for the society he governs. This is shown in Act 4 scene 1, where MacBeth would rather the universe be thrown into chaos then be denied by the witches from what he wants to know. Macbeth’s transformations in character are due to both internal and external factors. It was the combination of lady MacBeth, Society, Macbeth’s unbridled ambition and hunger for the golden round that brought upon this transformation from nobility to savagery. Macbeth’s unbridled ambition is ultimately what leads him to his downfall. Ambition in general is not bad, in fact having ambition is good, but it can be dangerous when you can’t control it. Banquo (Macbeth’s best friend) had ambition, but unlike MacBeth he could control it. In the play Banquo can be perceived as the mirror image of MacBeth, and his conscience. Banquo represents the path MacBeth could have taken if he hadn’t lost control of his ambition, with the help of other external forces. It was the witches’ first prophecies that unleashed Macbeth’s unbridled ambitions. The apparitions that the witches told MacBeth, were that he would become the thane of cawdor, and that he would become king (act 1, scene 3) “All, hail MacBeth! Hail thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail MacBeth! That shalt be king hereafter.” The witches who are considered to be unnatural and hence evil, where seducing MacBeth with the offer of greatness triggering Macbeth’s unbridled ambition for the golden round. Banquo on the other hand, was not enticed by these prophecies and questioned the witches further (Act 1 Scene 3) “You greet with present grace and prediction of noble having, and of royal hope, that he seems rapt withal; to me you speak not: If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear your favours or your hate.” Macbeth’s mind was focused on the prophecies he had heard, but it wasn’t until he was announced the thane of Cawdor, that he thought the apparitions of the witches where true.
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