From Rise to Fall. An Elaboration on the Influences leading to the Macbeths' Criminal Acts

Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject Didactics - English - Literature, Works, grade: 1,3, University of Wuppertal, language: English, abstract: This term paper is concerned with William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth, focusing on the instances which lead to the protagonist's, Macbeth's, rise and fall. In this context I will analyse the major characters', Macbeth's as well as Lady Macbeth's, tragic progression with respect to whether the belief in the witches' prophecies is the reason for their mutual downfall as a couple or if there are any other circumstances, which lead to their demise. Hence, both characters' perspectives on the course of events will be demonstrated. An aspect which indispensably needs to be mentioned in connection with this topic are relations of power at the time the novel was written, that is Elizabethan England. Queen Elizabeth I as the most powerful human being in the country plays a significant role, since power is also attributed to females. In order to understand the role of the female character in The Tragedy of Macbeth, one needs to be aware of the fact that this work was written in the year 1606 , three years after the death of Queen Elizabeth I . Given the fact that Queen Elizabeth I was considered the most powerful person in England at that time, this fact might shed light on Lady Macbeth's actions and behaviour. The first section of the main part, which makes Lady Macbeth the subject of discussion, will provide information on her capability and potential as a woman, her purposes as well as her immoral and vicious commissions, which influence her husband, Macbeth. Furthermore, her fall into complete madness and despair will be addressed. Subsequently, Macbeth's role with regard to the importance of the function of the witches as a source of influence, as well as his diverse visions, such as Banquo's ghost, will be examined. Ensuing, the interminable striving for power as well as his anxieties, which make him end up in insanity, will be presented. In the end a conclusion will be drawn, which summarizes the reasons for Macbeth's as well as his wife's downfall. It will be indicated whether it is the witches' prophecies, which mislead Macbeth into committing his crimes and in the end made him and his wife fall, whether Lady Macbeth herself is the one to blame or whether several instances in a body brought the misery about.