FREE ESSAY ON MACBETH

MACBETH

During the Elizabethan Age, Shakespeare was the greatest author and drama writer. He wrote
such masterpiece tragedies such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Othello. Perhaps the
greatest of them all is the story of Macbeth. In the play, the first Thane of Cawdor,
Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth all are considered to have flaws which to a
greater or lesser degree is the cause of their downfall.
In the second scene of the play you learn that Scotland is in war with Norway. King
Duncan has learned that the First Thane of Cawdor was helping out the Norwegians. His
assistance cost him his life. For treason, King Duncan ordered the first Thane of Cawdor
to be executed and have Macbeth take his title. Though the first Thane of Cawdor was
never actually in the play itself, the reader has to take the word of the Thane of Ross
he was a traitor. "Assisted by that most disloyal traitor The Thane of Cawdor, began a
dismal conflict." (I ii 52-53) 
After Macbeth is given the title of the first Thane of Cawdor, King Duncan decides to
visit the successful captain and be a guest at his house. Duncan doesn't know that it is
supposed to be Macbeth's destiny to become king. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth decide to come
up with this plan to kill Duncan in his sleep. Duncan was simply there congratulating
Macbeth on his recent accomplishments. He had no idea of the trouble he was getting
himself into during his stay at Macbeth's. The only real flaw you can give to Duncan is
that he should have had someone watching over him like a bodyguard, or that he should
have been more suspicious about his hosts.
The reason of Macbeth's slaughter of King Duncan was the idea that he was the rightful
King. The three witches had told him he would be the first Thane of Cawdor before he was
given the rank. They also said that he would eventually reign as king. Besides Lady
Macbeth who knew about the three witches, the only other person to know about them was
Banquo. He automatically was considered a threat to Macbeth. "For Banquo's issue have I
filed my mind, for them the gracious Duncan I have murdered." (III I 65-66) Macbeth is
ordering the execution of Banquo. Banquo could have saved himself because he saw that the
danger lies ahead for him. Instead he decided to stay and save his son Fleance from
death.
Lady Macbeth was the real brains of the operation. She was the one who convinced and
forced Macbeth to slain the honorable Duncan. The first scene of the last act shows the
consequences of her actions. Lady Macbeth becomes crazy. She is not able to live with
herself for what she has done. A psyche doctor is brought to examine her but it is to
late to help and she kills herself.
Macbeth is prepared to defend himself at any cost. He was not prepared to give up the
life he had killed for. Macbeth has no chance to win. His men and thanes are battling
bravely. The young Siward tries to slain Macbeth but is unsuccessful and is murdered by
Macbeth. Later when Macbeth meets Macduff, they go into battle. "Painted upon a pole, and
underwrit, here may you see the tyrant." (V viii 26-27) "I will not yield, to kiss the
ground before young Malcolm's feet." (V viii 28-29) Macbeth is killed and Malcolm becomes
the new King of Scotland.
The first Thane of Cawdor, Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth are all victims in
the play. First Thane of Cawdor is killed because of the crime he committed. Since
Macbeth is told he is to be king, he decides to kill Duncan. Banquo knew that Macbeth had
killed Duncan so he was murdered. Finally at the end of the play, it seems that Lady
Macbeth and Macbeth are not thinking clearly. If they did, than Lady Macbeth wouldn't
have killed herself and Macbeth wouldn't have fought a needless battle to the death.