Abstract
This Macbeth commentary focuses on the interpretation of Act 1, lines 115-155, and offers a discussion of the literary devices used by Shakespeare. The paper highlights the themes present in the passage and notes that this scene was not as visual as the previous one; it seemed more focused on the characterization of Macbeth and Banquo and progress of the play. It was more inclined towards the attitudes Macbeth and Banquo seem to have towards the prophecies and their fulfillment.

From the Paper
"This part of Macbeth is a continuation of the events that occur after Macbeth and Banquo encounter the witches. The witches lure Banquo and Macbeth by telling them a series of prophecies which will or might occur. These lines come just after Ross informs Macbeth that he has become the Thane of Cawdor, thus fulfilling one of the prophecies the witches told Macbeth earlier in the play. The following lines depict Macbeth's reaction to the news and how he starts to believe that they might actually be true. The lines also serve as a comparison of Banquo's and Macbeth's characters. These lines show that Banquo has a stronger character and doesn't believe the witches but it also shows the extent of the friendship between Banquo and Macbeth. The lines begin with Angus telling Macbeth that even though the Thane of Cawdor still lives, but the Thane of Cawdor has betrayed his country and since "treasons capital" Duncan has "overthrown him". With the end of Angus' speech the reader finds out that Macbeth has become the rightful Thane of Cawdor purely by chance. This seems to both shock and intrigue Macbeth, it's as though the prospect of becoming king greatly pleases Macbeth. Macbeth is unable to hide his excitement, and in his aside tells the audience that "The greatest is behind" and yet to come."

Tags:Banquo, Thane, of, Cawdor, Chance, Valour, Fortune

Abstract
This paper studies the tragic character of Macbeth in Shakespeare's play "Macbeth". The paper discusses how, true to Shakespearean tragedy, the character's downfall stems from his own actions. The paper examines Macbeth's murder of King Duncan and his role in instigating the demise of both Banquo and Fleance, as well as eventually engineering the deaths of Lady Macduff and her son. The paper also discusses the play's atypical elements in Shakespeare's tragedy formula -- such as the fact that Macbeth is more villain than hero in comparison to other well-known tragic characters. However, the paper concludes that since there is resolution for the survivors after Macbeth's death, the reader is truly able to see him as a tragic character.

From the Paper
"The reader detects a sense of urgency as the murders evolve - another characteristic of the tragic play. Macbeth is desperate to realize his ambition of becoming and remaining king. But his obsession drives him even further as he attempts to exterminate all those who might challenge or succeed him. Even as he proceeds down this ever-darkening course, Macbeth is aware that his flaw may prove fatal."

Tags:duncan, banquo, fleance, macduff, lady, tragedy, king

Abstract
This paper compares Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" and Milton's epic "Paradise Lost," and discusses the central role of the fall of man in both works. The writer explains that the strongest correlations between Macbeth and Eve are how they fell and the consequential character changes thereafter. The writer describes how both Shakespeare and Milton present a foreboding mood when Macbeth and Eve commit their most critical sins, and further draws parallels between the witches and Satan, Banquo and Adam, and King Duncan and God.

From the Paper
"Just as the serpent, inhabited by Satan, tempted the innocent Eve to sin through subtle appeals to her vanity and faith in God, the witches used trickery and deception to lead the guiltless Macbeth to his original sin. The prophecy that Macbeth first received from the witches was the dream that Satan offered Eve; both sharply beguiled the consciences of the initially content and innocent characters. While Eve's shaken character is made obvious through "[her] tresses discomposed and glowing cheek, as through unquiet rest", Macbeth begins to undergo a self-conflict between morality and ambition (Milton 106; Shakespeare I, iii, 140-155). This observation provides another parallel between Shakespeare's witches and Milton's serpent: Both offer a potent, and highly desired, reward for an abhorrent crime."

Tags:symbolic Apollonian corruptive tyranny demon, original sin, tragic innocence

Abstract
This paper emphasizes the hallucinations of Macbeth when he sees the dagger floating in midair before him and when he sees Banquo at his coronation banquet. This paper also emphasizes the hallucination of Lady Macbeth when she sees blood on her hands that won't come off. This paper has references to the play, as well as references to two critics.

From the Paper
"In the beginning of the play, MacBeth and his wife have total control over their own lives. But, MacBeth loses his self-control, which makes him see a dagger floating in midair, before he kills Duncan. He also loses his self-control when he hallucinates that Banquo is at his coronation banquet. Lady MacBeth loses her self-control at the end of the play when she hallucinates that she has spots of Duncan's blood all over her body. The hallucinations of MacBeth and his wife symbolize a loss of self-control by those characters in the play."

Tags:lady, blood, daggar

Abstract
The paper examines the use of lying among the various characters in the play "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare. It discusses how lying and deception spreads from a supernatural phenomenon to become entrenched as a human modus operandi among the characters, especially Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

From the Paper
"Even Duncan himself is unwittingly drawn into the witches' web of equivocation, saying that "what the Thane of Cawdor hath lost noble Macbeth hath won" (I ii 67). He means to say that Macbeth has inherited the title which the Thane of Cawdor has relinquished by rebelling against the king. As the play unfolds however, this statement takes on an added dimension as it becomes evident that Macbeth has inherited not just Cawdor's title, but also his role as the traitorous murder of the king and usurper of the throne."

Tags:banquo, equivocation, macduff, Thane, of, Cawdor

Abstract
The paper analyzes the tragic play, "Macbeth" by Shakespeare. The paper explores several aspects of the play including: The images and symbols used in "Macbeth"; gender contradictions in Act V; interpretation of the phantasmagoric aspects; male anxiety about maternal issues and why "Macbeth" is more than just a story about a heartless, ambitious murderer.

From the Paper
"Male anxiety about maternal issues is addressed in the play. Macbeth mentions maternity in some form in many of his speeches. An example is where he describes sleep saying, "the innocent sleep, / Sleep that knits up the raveled slave of care, / The death of each day's life, sore labor's birth" (II,ii). This is relevant as a reference to the power of women, a maternal force that Macbeth does not have. It is relevant that the witches and Lady Macbeth both lead Macbeth into murder and then madness. These references to birth can be seen a reference to wanting to avoid the power of women, but being unable to. It is also relevant that Lady Macbeth and the witches both take on maternal roles with Macbeth. In many ways they treat him as a child, especially by uses his weaknesses to trick him."

Tags:Duncan, Lady, Banquo, MacDuff

Abstract
This paper discusses the more complex character and motives behind Macbeth's actions which characterize him as a tragic hero. The paper shows that Shakespeare's Macbeth must have seemed like nothing more than a butcher to his victims but upon careful analysis of the text, one realizes that Macbeth was not fully evil, but a potentially great man who was led to evil through errors and forces beyond his control.

From the Paper
"In the culmination of Shakespeare's Macbeth, Malcolm refers to Macbeth as "this dead butcher". Superficially, Macbeth is nothing more than a butcher - he murdered his king, his kinsmen, even innocent women and children. From Malcolm's perspective, Macbeth is no more than a heartless killer gone mad, Key lines in this play show that Macbeth is not heartless or a butcher. Macbeth had a potential for greatness, but tragic errors led to his downfall - both in his death and his "fall from grace". Macbeth also experiences intense remorse for what he has done. The character of Macbeth is a tragic hero."

Tags:error, tragedy, Malcolm, Banquo

Abstract
This paper looks at how the banquet scene in Macbeth is not just the dramatic culmination of the play's action; but the events occurring at the banquet represent a culmination of many of the themes found in the play. The author examines some themes and how they are symbolized at the banquet.

From the Paper
"The banquet scene in Macbeth, Act III scene 4, can be seen as the climax of the play. Beyond this point there can be no hope of recovery for Macbeth. The scene is the climax of the story line for the play, but also goes beyond this. It is a culmination of all the themes and metaphors that run through the play. By combining the culmination of all these events in this scene, the deeper meanings to the events of the play are truly demonstrated."

Tags:Macbeth, analysis, themes, symbolism, Shakespeare, Banquo, blood, Lady, Duncan, evil

Abstract
The author of the paper shows Shakespeare's skillful use of imagery in developing the character of Macbeth in the play. The paper shows that although imagery is used throughout the play, it is most dominant in appearances with clothing, light and darkness imagery, and blood imagery.

From the Paper
"Using clothing imagery, Shakespeare develops Macbeth's character. This is evident, as, imagery of clothing shows us Macbeth's ambition, and the consequences thereof. We see this ambition, through Banquo, when he says, "New honors come upon him, / Like our strange garments, cleave not to the / mould" (144-146), meaning that new clothes do not fit our bodies, until we are accustomed to them. Throughout the entire play, Macbeth is constantly wearing new clothes, that are not his, and do not fit. "

Tags:Banquo, Thane, of, Caldor, King, Duncan, Macduff

Abstract
This essay discusses the changes in the relationship between Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's tragic play, "Macbeth". It shows that as the events of the play progress, so too does their relationship progress from a loving one to an abnormal and unhappy relationship.

From the Paper
"In the beginning of the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth seem to be deeply in love with one another, as proven by such things as his referring to her as his " dearest partner of greatness" and his wanting to go ahead of everyone to get to his home quickly. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth seems to be the "lesser of two evils" as it may be, and Lady Macbeth seems to be domineering. After the murder of Duncan, Lady Macbeth tries to calm Macbeth down by telling him "These deeds must not be thought so it will make us mad", which is ironic because her own thought so of the murder eventually drive her to suicide. Lady Macbeth begins to manipulate Macbeth and challenges his feelings of guilt and pity for King Duncan and replaces them with malicious and spiteful feelings "look like th'innocent flower, but be the serpent under't". Lady Macbeth now instructs Macbeth on how he should act, encouraging him to be deceitful to Duncan. Macbeth becomes so absorbed in his mixed feelings about the murder that he withdraws from the loving relationship that he had with Lady Macbeth in the beginning of the play."

Tags:domineering, King, Duncan, Macduff, Banquo, Fleance