Macbeth Essay- Asher p3 Katie Whitworth

Katie Whitworth

Period 3- Asher

Macbeth Essay

In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the main character Macbeth has heard his fate from three witches. Ever since, his ‘perception of fate’ has changed his actions. Meaning, once he knew how his life was going to pan out, he took it upon himself to make sure it happened. And in the end, he lost his friends, family, battle, and life all because of his inability to let fate take its course. Shakespeare however uses a literary device of characterization and uses Macbeth to portray it. Macbeth automatically characterizes his friends, family, and acquaintances as how he needs to deal with them in order to become successful and uphold his fate. Instead of letting fate happen to him by natural actions and causes, he takes fate into his own hands.

An example of how Macbeth characterizes, is shown mostly through him seeing people as threats. Macbeth first sees King Duncan as a threat, since he still has the title of King of Cawdor, and sees to it that he should be killed. Although, seeing Macbeth having some inkling of morals he starts to have doubts about killing Duncan, but once his wife hears word of this she pressures him into proceeding with his dirty deed. “We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking place, and we’ll not fail” (1.7.67-69), Lady Macbeth is assuring Macbeth that their plan will not fail, and he must kill Duncan in order for them to become king and queen. Greed is unmistakably a factor for both Macbeth and his wife. After Duncan’s death was successful, Macbeth then sees that two chamberlains, Banquo, Maduff’s wife and children should all be killed as well. How he sees the people in his life is without a doubt, skewed to how greed takes over making sure the witches’ prophecy comes true.

Another example of Shakespeare’s device of characterization in the play could be shown through how Macbeth characterizes his wife, Lady Macbeth. His point of view and perspective of her definitely changes in this play. Mainly because she was just any other wife until she got dangled a chance at being queen. Macbeth now sees her as an accomplice, and someone he can depend on because she wants to have the title of queen. The fact that she also wanted to take part in making sure Macbeth’s fate came true, shows that truly any man or women’s perception of fate can affect one’s actions. Lady Macbeth is the only one who Macbeth didn’t characterize as a threat but more of an advocate or supporter for what he wanted. Even though greed got the best of her as well, she ended up crazed/ desperate, and killed herself because of it.

All in all, Macbeth takes it upon himself to make sure his fate pans out based on the witches’ prophesy, but sadly one cant mess with fate without coming out dead with your head on a stick. Undoubtedly, Shakespeare’s use of characterization in his play makes you look at each character Macbeth confronts in a different light.

“If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir.” – Macbeth (1.3.153-155).