Ms. Galvin
E6
15 April 2013
Junior Thesis Supernatural characters, such as witches, are often the ones to change and affect the protagonist of a play. This is evident through a careful examination of the Shakespearian play, Macbeth. William Shakespeare, the author of Macbeth plots the actions of Macbeth, and shows how his evilness develops, which was initiated by the witches. In the play Macbeth, Witches are responsible for all the evils in the play. Macbeth’s curiosity and need for power makes him interested in the knowledge that witches retains. Shakespeare presents this idea by showing how Macbeth is desperate for the knowledge of the witches. When Macbeth meets the witches for the first time, he questioned them about the upcoming events. He questioned them about how all these things are possible. In the book Macbeth, Macbeth says:
Stay, you imperfect speakers, Tell me more. By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis. But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives A prosperous gentleman, and to be king Stands not within the prospect of belief, No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence You owe this strange intelligence or why Upon this blasted heath you stop our way With such prophetic greeting. Speak, I charge you. (1.3.73-81). This quote clearly illustrates how Macbeth puts all his focus on the power he has just heard from the witches. Macbeth is so desperate for power that he turned evil, slaughtering everyone in his way. As Macbeth’s hunger for power augmented, he slaughtered those who he thinks will come after him. Macbeth was really vigilant, not only he slaughtered his best friend, Banquo, but he is also about to kill Macduff. He is hungry for power because he wants to kill the person who has insignificant danger to him. He plans to kill Macduff because the first apparition told him to be aware of Macduff. He still wants to kill Macduff even though the second apparition implies that he will not be harmed by people born of a women’s womb. The notion of how Macbeth is hungry for power is how he reacted to the second and first apparition. Macbeth claims to kill Madoff when he notes that “Then live, Macduff, what need I fear of thee? But yet I’ll make assurance double sure And take a bond of fate. Thou shalt not live,” This quote shows how Macbeth desires power because his reaction to the apparitions was meticulous. It was meticulous in a way that he was careful enough to kill Madoff even though he wasn’t really detrimental. Macbeth was vigilant in a way as hell because if he didn’t watch out for Madoff, he wouldn’t maintain being a king. Witches knowledge about Macbeth’s future supports how Macbeth desires power so much. In the article, Shakespeare in Discworld: witches, fantasy, and desire, the author, Kristin Noone, shows how the supernatural world around Macbeth makes him evil. Furthermore, this can be proven through the article, Shakespeare in Discworld: witches, fantasy, and desire by Kristin Noone “The witches of Macbeth serve precisely Woodbridge’s dual purpose of endangerment and protection. Speaking to Macbeth’s desires, they both offer enticing visions and warn of future catastrophe.”(Kristin Noone) This quotes suggest that the witches offer these prescience sights to Macbeth so that he will become eager, wander, and desperate for power. Both the quotes from Macbeth and the quote from the article have proven that witches are the one who leads Macbeth to evil. The first quote introduces Macbeth’s awareness for power. The second quote shows how Macbeth is meticulous toward his actions in maintaining the King. Finally, the quote from the article, Shakespeare in Discworld: witches, fantasy, and desire, shows how that Macbeth was enthralled to the desk for power because he was able to see the future. In conclusion, all these examples emphasize that the witches are the one who lead Macbeth’s development of evilness throughout the play.
Work Cited Page
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. New York: Washington, 1992. Print.
Noone, Kristin. “Shakespeare in Discworld: witches, fantasy, and desire.” Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts 22.1 (2011): 26+. Academic OneFile. Web. 19 Mar. 2013.
Cited: Page Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. New York: Washington, 1992. Print. Noone, Kristin. “Shakespeare in Discworld: witches, fantasy, and desire.” Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts 22.1 (2011): 26+. Academic OneFile. Web. 19 Mar. 2013.
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