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William Shakespeare is probably the most famous writer of all time; and 'Macbeth' surely one of his most famous plays, performed at court in August 1606, it marked the visit of King James' brother in law, King Christian of Denmark.The play itself is set in Scotland in 1040, at a time when there were many wars between fellow countrymen and their brothers overseas. Even though the play was written such a long time ago, it still deals with many of the issues that arise to day, e.g. loyalty, ambition, guilt.The main character 'Macbeth' was co-leader of the Scottish army with Banquo, they had just returned from a battle, which they had won with the Scottish Highlanders. On his way back to King Duncan, Macbeth and Banquo come across three witches. The witches tell Macbeth that he will become Thane of Cawdor and eventually King. They also tell Banquo that he won't be King but he will be an ancestor of King's. Macbeth is very puzzled by this because he is the King's cousin and not the next in line to be King. As soon as the witches say their piece, messengers come from the King, telling Macbeth that he has been made Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth now believes what the witches said was true, so then he will become King and Banquo also believes that this will happen too. Macbeth sends Lady Macbeth a letter explaining to her what has happened, and that he will become the future King. When she reads this she is ecstatic of the though of her being Queen, she vows to do everything in her power to help Macbeth reach his goal of being King.
College Essays on Macbeth
Macbeth returns home to his wife, along with King Duncan, who has come to stay the night. Lady Macbeth sees this as her chance of killing Duncan and therefore becoming Queen. She drugs the guards at Duncan's door, and then sends Macbeth in to kill him, which he did by stabbing him with the guards' daggers. The following morning when Duncan is found dead, his sons flee to England and Ireland, fearing that the fate that their father met will happen to them. Macbeth is then made King.When Macbeth remembers that Banquo was there when the witches told him that he would be King, he orders the death of him, fearing that he knows too much about what happened murderers kill Banquo, but his son Fleance escapes. At a formal banquet that night, to honour the newly crowned King, Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost, Macbeth is very worried and scared of this. In his confusion he starts going mad and shouting things at a presence, which is invisible to his guests. Lady Macbeth tries to assure them that he is just not feeling well, and that the pressure is getting to him. Macbeth wants to know what's going on so he returns to the witches the next day, they tell him to be wary of Macduff, they also tell Macbeth that he can't be harmed by anyone 'born of a woman', and that he will never be defeated until Birnam Wood moves towards Dunsinane.Macbeth fears Macduff now, and he orders the death of him and his family. They get the family, but Macduff escapes, when told about this Macduff goes mad and raises an army against Macbeth, along with Malcolm. As Macbeth prepares to defend his castle he hears that Lady Macbeth has killed herself, overcome with guilt.Macduff's army approaches Macbeth's castle at Dunsinane, they stop on the way, to cut branches from Birnam Wood to use as camouflage. Macduff's army attacks and easily over powers Macbeth's army, Macbeth is killed by Macduff who was 'from his womb untimely ripped'; Malcolm is then made King of Scotland. For my coursework I am going to study Act scene 4, which is about 'Banquo's Ghost'. I have chosen this scene because I find it very interesting in the way that Macbeth reacts to the ghost at different times, and how his attitude changes towards firstly his wife, and then his guests. I also want to see how the ghost is portrayed in the different videos that we watched.The background for the scene is the accession of Macbeth. He has prepared a Banquet at his palace. This is his first public appearance as the new King of Scotland, and it is in front of all his new Lords and Chiefs. Macbeth seems very calm at the start and he tries to make good first impressionMacbeth enters and recognises his guests by telling them to be seated. While they are seated one of the murderers (whom Macbeth hired to kill Banquo) enters the hall, Macbeth sees him at the door, excuses himself from the table and walks over to him, and says,'There's blood upon thy face,'The murderer replies to this by saying,'Tis Banquo's then,'Macbeth says,'Tis better thee without than within.'This means that it is better on the outside of the murderer than on the inside of Banquo.From this Macbeth knows that Banquo is dead, he then asks if they got Banquo's son Fleance, the murderer replies by saying,'Most Royal Sir, Fleance is 'scaped,'Macbeth is very angry and afraid when hearing this; he knows that Banquo probably told Fleance what had happened when the witches spoke to them, because of this Macbeth is in danger of being found out. The murderer sees that Macbeth is getting very distressed, so he tells him what he did to Banquo,'Ay, my good Lord safe in a ditch he bides,With twenty trenched gashes in his head, The last a death to nature.'Macbeth acknowledges this and is grateful, the murderer then exists the Banquet hall.Lady Macbeth proposes that Macbeth makes a speech of welcome, she is trying to be a good hostess but we can feel her anxiety quite clearly. The way that Macbeth is acting with his erratic behaviour is giving her cause for concern. Macbeth stands up and says a few words; Lennox then gracefully asks if Macbeth will join them. At this point we see the ghost for the first time. He enters the Banquet and sits down in Macbeth's seat. Macbeth doesn't see the ghost he says;'Here had we now our country's honour roofed,Were the graced person of our Banquo presentWho may I rather challenge for unkindnessThan pity for mischance.'Macbeth implies that Banquo is just bad mannered and that it's Banquo's fault for not being there. The rest of his guests agree and they feel anger towards Banquo for not turning up. Macbeth is attempting to divert attention from what will inevitably be yet another suspicious death. Macbeth overdoes this speech greatly; because of this you can start to believe that because he is thinking so hard about Banquo, that Banquo appears.He turns around to his seat and that is when he sees the horrid figure of Banquo with his face cut to bits with twenty gashes in his head.Macbeth shouts with anger,'Which of you have done this?'The lords and guests don't know what Macbeth is on about, of course because they can't see the ghost. 'Thou canst not say I did it; never shake Thy gory locks at me.'Ross, who is a thane, notices that Macbeth isn't well and asks the Gentlemen to arise. Lady Macbeth tries desperately to hold onto the original plan'Sit my worthy friends. My lord is often thus,And hath been from his youth. Pray you keep seat,The fit momentary, upon a thoughtHe will again be well.'She tries to calm the guests down by saying that Macbeth often has fit and he has been getting them ever since he was small. She then says to sit down because the fit will only last a short while, and that if they leave and Macbeth sees them leaving, his anger will grow and you would be offending him. She draws Macbeth's attention with,'Are you a man?'We can see here the Lady Macbeth of the earlier scenes such as the first banquet to honour Duncan. Macbeth is still in fear of the ghost,'Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on thatWhich might appal the devil,'Macbeth is telling Lady Macbeth that he is a man, and that he is a murderer by saying,'Which will appal the devil.'She glares at him furiously in just the same terms as Act 1 Scene 7,'O proper stuffThis is the very painting of your fear.This is the air-drawn dagger, which you saidLed you to Duncan.' 'Shame itself,Why do you make such faces? When all's done,You look but on a stool.'Here she means that because Macbeth is so afraid of being found out as being a murderer, that he is imagining this, and that it is a load of nonsense. Macbeth is imaging the dagger cutting through the air, and puncturing into Duncan. Because Macbeth is seeing this, he has to make his feeling heard before he goes completely mad, so he does so by imaging this ghost. Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth that he is nothing but a 'wimp' and he is making a mockery of himself. He then says,'Prithee see here, Behold, look, lo, how say you?'He can't believe he's the only one that can see the ghost. Macbeth goes through his first fear and confronts the ghost. What do I care, he says to the ghost, if you can move you can also speak, if the dead arise from the graves, there shall be no dead. Maws of kites, which are flesh-eating birds, shall eat the dead bodies. The ghost disappears while Macbeth says this Lady Macbeth says,'What, quite unmanned in folly?'She is telling Macbeth that he has gone mad, and that he is talking a load of rubbish. Macbeth tells her that he has seen the ghost, from where he is standing. 'Blood hath been shed ere now, I' th' olden time,Ere human stature purged to gentle weal;Ay, and since too, murders have been performedToo terrible for the ear. The time has been,That when the brains where out, the man would die,And there an end. But now they arise again.With twenty mortal murders on their crowns,And push us from our stools. This is more strangeThan such a murder is.'Macbeth feverishly thinks out loud. In olden times, before the laws changed and times became more peaceful. There was a great deal more blood shed than his murderers have performed. Acts disgusting and pointless, have been performed. In olden days, when a persons' head was chopped off it stayed off, but nowadays their heads rise again and come back to haunt the murderer. (The twenty mortal murders refer to the gashes in Banquo's head). He is horrified and outraged at this change, as he sees it, in the natural order of things. His poor wife realises that the future she dreamed of is slipping through her fingers. She tries one last time to divert Macbeth away from his accusing thoughts'My worthy Lord,Your noble friends do lack you.'She is telling Macbeth that he has guests and he isn't being a very good host. He then tries to, by saying, return to the enjoyment of such an evening'I do forget.Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends, I have a strange infirmity, which is nothingTo those that know me. Come, love and health to all,Then I'll sit down. Give me some wine, fill full.I drink to the general, joy o' the whole table,'Macbeth apologises for his actions and asks them to forgive him. He explains that he has had a problem that is not serious or frightening to those that know him. He sits down and asks for more wine, making sure that his glass is filled full to calm his nerves. As Macbeth is speaking the ghost of Banquo returns to haunt Macbeth. The ghost enters because Macbeth has said Banquo's name and has taken it in vain by making a toast to Banquo. He also repeats that Banquo should be here. Macbeth's comments came true and Banquo does indeed turn up. At this stage Macbeth does not see the ghost. Things appear briefly, to be returning to normal, whenever Macbeth sees the ghost again and he goes into another rage of frustration and anger,'Avaunt, and quit my sight, let the earth thee!Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold;Thou has no speculation in those eyesWhich thou dost glare with!He rages at the ghost, his guests must now be in no doubt about the deed that has happened. Lady Macbeth sees that Macbeth is going through another 'panic attack' and she makes excuses to the Lords and tells them that it will only last a short time and to pay no attention to what Macbeth does or says. She is now getting very worried that Macbeth might say something that will connect them to Duncan or Banquo's murder. Macbeth is totally absorbed in his confrontation with the ghost and he challenges 'it'.'What man dare, I dare.Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,Take any shape but that, and my firm nervesShall never tremble. Or be alive again,' [The ghost disappears] Macbeth says that the ghost can take the shape of a rugged Russian bear, an armed rhinoceros or the Hyrcan tiger [Hyrcania was a region of eastern Europe], but not the shape of Banquo because that makes him tremble. When he uses the words of banishment (Hence, horrible shadow, unreal mockery, hence!) The ghost leaves. Macbeth cannot believe that the ghost has left, because he is now not afraid of it any more, Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that he has yet again made a fool of himself and brought a disgrace to the family, with the most amazing lack of self-control. Macbeth tells the Lords and Lady Macbeth,'You make me strangeEven to the disposition that I owe,When now I think you can behold such sights,And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks,When mine is blanched with fear.'Macbeth wonders how he has seen a ghost, because he didn't think such things existed. He can't believe that it had such an effect on him, even though he knew that he was guilty of Banquo's death. He knows now that he could see these sights again, which make his cheeks go white with fear. Ross questions Macbeth about his experience. Lady Macbeth hears this and fearing that Macbeth will say something incriminating says,'I pray you speak not; he grows worse and worse.Question enrages him. At once, good night.Stand not upon the order of your going.But go at once.'Questions make him very angry, and that all of the Lords should leave. 'Stand not….going,' refers to at formal occasions when there was an accepted order in which the guests would leave, with the least important leaving first. Lady Macbeth does not pay heed to this tradition as she ushers the guests out very quickly. In the banquet hall there is only Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, all is quiet, but they both feel that some mark has been passed. Each in their separate way feels their fate has come upon them'It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood.Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak.'Macbeth refers to Banquo's murder by saying 'It', blood will have blood refers to a Bible reference that says 'Who so sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed'. He says that the stones over which a man has been buried have been known to move. By saying this we know that he realises he is doomed. We can see him already lining up his next victim'How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his personAt our great bidding?'Macduff stands in the way of Macbeth's security- he must go. His last speech reveals a new Macbeth. He is no longer a weak murder who needs his wife's tongue to make him carry out his plans. The roles are reversed. She has opted out,'You lack the season of all natures, sleep.'He is grimly determined to find out the full horror of the path he has chosen'I will to the weird sisters,'His words are not hot and excitable but chillingly cold,'I am in bloodStepped in so far, that should I wade no more,Returning were as tedious as go o'er.Strange things I have in head, that will to hand;Which must be acted ere they may be scanned.'He tells Lady Macbeth that he heard that no one would be in Macduff's house from a spy, and therefore there was no point in sending an invitation. Macbeth will go to the witches tomorrow, by saying this Macbeth has admitted his guilt, he goes because he needs to settle his mind. Macbeth is now in too far, so that even if he wants to turn back he can't because it is like wading across a river of blood, which is easier to go forward to go on than turn back. Because he has admitted his guilt and he can't turn back, he might as well go and ask the witches what his fate is. To Macbeth's audience this would have startled them, because now that Macbeth has said that he will visit the witches he can't ask for forgiveness of the priest, he has to take full responsibility for his actions. Macbeth has strange actions going on in his head that must be done, and come to light,'Come, we'll to sleep. My strange and self-abuseIs the initiate fear, that wants hard use.We are yet but young indeed.'We'll go to sleep. His strange self- deception is because this was the first time that he had seen the ghost, and he is just a beginner, if he sees it again he will be tough enough to handle it. He then tells her that if she thinks he has done anything bad so far, its nothing to what he is now capable of.Having analysed the scene in its original form, I want to turn now to two modern versions on film. Film allows a range of interesting features, which are not available in a stage production. The two versions I have chosen show some of the possibilities.The first clip I am going to study is 'Macbeth on the Estate'. The setting for this clip are set in modern times, probably the early 10's. The dress is very 'scruffy' with most of the men wearing just jeans and a shirt with the buttons open, nearly all are overweight and have hairy chests, this portrays a very sleazy and dirty meeting.Macbeth and his friends are down at the local pub, Macbeth walks through the door, on the stage his wife and Lady Macduff are singing the song 'I will survive' on the karaoke machine, this is very interesting, as both these females kill themselves near the end of the play, the producer has been very clever here, we think that they are just singing this song for no apparent reason, but then we learn that they kill themselves, making us think about this scene again. There is a drinking competition taking place, Macbeth challenges Ross to this competition, in which they are in a circle and they have to go round 'downing' pints of larger, then spin around ten times after each pint. Ross accepts and they start the competition. During this Macbeth seems to be 'totally out of it' and he ends up collapsing on the floor. While he's on the floor Banquo's ghost appears dancing. This is interesting because we don't know if the ghost is real, or if Macbeth is imagining him because of all the spinning around and his very high alcohol intake. Macbeth then gets helped onto a stool, Ross then mentions Banquo's name, the ghost appears, Macbeth is very scared of the ghost this time and falls off his stool, and crawls into a ball in the corner. In this interpretation Macbeth doesn't seem aggressive towards the ghost or guests. The actor's interpretation of Macbeth is very good here. At the start we can believe that Macbeth is having a good time, but when the ghost appears you can almost feel his fear and anxiety when he sees this ghost. The actors' reaction to the ghost makes it almost clear that the ghost is real and not in his head, he squints and rubs his eyes vigorously, he glares at this image, thinking is it real or not? The actor is then certain it's real as his facial expressions turn from being drowsy and sleepy, to an expression of fear and guilt. This, I feel, was pretty hard to get into context, but when I did the production ran very smoothly, Macbeth especially was acted very well, his facial expressions and his reactions were portrayed with a lot of passion and skill.The second version of 'Banquo's ghost', which I am going to analyse, is the version from 'Shakespeare Shorts'. This version is very different from 'Macbeth on the Estate'; there are many Army Officers and their companions with them, unlike scruffy old men and shabby women. The room is very glamorous with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Approximately there are 14-18 people attending this dinner. The dress is formal and there is champagne on the table, everything is polished and shined to the last detail. This differs from the last version as the setting was in a 'hole' of a pub. Macbeth is giving a speech at one end of the table, and then Banquo's ghost appears. The ghost seems to be very gruesomely cut and beat, as there are at least twenty penetrating gashes on his forehead. This is great skill from the director, as we can see how gruesome the killing was, and wake up to reality that death is not always clean and simple, but brutal and ugly. The actor reacts very vigorously to the ghost and he goes around shouting and he even pulls a women's hair. The actor gets very involved with Macbeth's character and he portrays Macbeth's character very well and it is very easy to follow and understand how Macbeth would have felt. This I feel is my favourite out of the two versions, as there is a sense of class and elegance. I consider the acting by Macbeth to be extraordinary, for the ways in which he expresses himself and his reactions to the actions around him.If I were to reproduce this version of Macbeth, I think I would follow the theme of 'Shakespeare Shorts'. This is because Macbeth was a king not a Gang leader, like the portrayal in 'Macbeth on the Estate'. I would make the ghost scarier, e.g. have him 'floating' around the room, and have a spookier feel to the room. I think I would keep the actor who acted Macbeth as I though he played him role with great ease, although I would change Lady Macbeth and replace her with Kate Winslet as I feel she could play the role better than the current Lady Macbeth, who I thought struggled to act this difficult scene.The two versions of the Ghost scene show the range of possibilities in the interpretation of Macbeth's nature. The brilliance of Shakespeare's writing is that his words allow such wide variations by actors but overall the story's impact stays the same. Please note that this sample paper on Macbeth is for your review only. In order to eliminate any of the plagiarism issues, it is highly recommended that you do not use it for you own writing purposes. In case you experience difficulties with writing a well structured and accurately composed paper on Macbeth, we are here to assist you. Your persuasive essay on Macbeth will be written from scratch, so you do not have to worry about its originality.
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