Term Papers on Macbeth: A Tale Of Two Theories

Term Paper Title	Macbeth: A Tale Of Two Theories
# of Words	726
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	2.9

Macbeth: A Tale of Two Theories

     Macbeth(c.1607), written by William Shakespeare, is the tragic tale of
Macbeth, a virtuous man, corrupted by power and greed. This tagedy could in fact
be called "A Tale of Two Theories". One theory suggests that the tragic hero,
Macbeth, is led down an unescapable road of doom by an outside force, namely
fate in the form of the three witches.  The second suggests that there is no
supernatural force working against Macbeth, which therefore makes him
responsible for his own actions and inevitable downfall.  It must be remembered
that Macbethis a literary work of art, and as a peice of art is open to many
different interpretations, none of them right and none of them wrong. But the
text of the play seems to imply that Macbeth is indeed responsible for his own
actions which are provoked by an unwillingness to listen to his own conscience,
the witches, and his ambition.
     First, Macbeth ignores the voice of his own psyche. He knows what he is
doing is wrong even before he murders Duncan, but he allows Lady Macbeth and
greed to cloud his judgement. In referring to the idea of the murder of Duncan,
Macbeth first states,"We will proceed no further in this business"(I.vii.32).
Yet, after speaking with Lady Macbeth he recants and proclaims,"I am settled,
and bend up/Each corporal agent to this terrible feat"(I.vii.79-80). There is
nothing supernatural to be found in a man being swayed by the woman he loves, as
a matter of fact this action could be perceived as quite the opposite.
     Second, the witches have to be dispelled as a source of Macbeth's
misfortune before the latter theory can be considered. It is admittedly strange
that the weird sisters first address Macbeth with,"All hail, Macbeth! hail to
thee Thane of Cawdor!"(I.iii.49), a title which not even Macbeth is aware he has
been awarded. Even stranger is the third witch calling to Macbeth,"All hail,
Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!"(I.iii.50). However as stated by
Bradley,"No connection of these announcements with any actions of his was even
hinted by [the withches]"(232). Some are still not convinced though of the
witches less than supernatural role; nevertheless, Macbeth appears throughout
the pla...

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