MacBeth - Attitude Changes Essays (1215 words) -

MacBeth - Attitude Changes MacBeth - Attitude Changes In the tragic drama Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare in 1606 during the English Renaissance, the hero, Macbeth, constantly declines in his level of morality until his death at the end of the play. Because of his change of character from good to evil, Macbeth's attitude towards other characters, specifically Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macbeth, and the witches, is significantly affected. The first of the four characters is Duncan. Since Macbeth interacts with Duncan only a minimal amount before Duncan's death, Macbeth's attitude towards him changes very rapidly. Before Macbeth hears the witches' first prophecy, he is very close to Duncan, and would never even think of doing something against him. When the thought of murdering Duncan crosses his mind immediately after he finds that he has just been named Thane of Cawdor, he cannot believe he "yield[s] to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs" (I, iii, 133-35). In scene 5 of act 1, however, his "vaulting ambition" is starting to take over, but partly because of his wife's persuasion. He agrees that they must "catch the nearest way" (17), and kill Duncan that night. On the other hand, as the time for murder comes nearer, he begins giving himself reasons not to murder Duncan: First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself. (I, vii, 13-16) When Lady Macbeth enters, though, she uses her cunning rhetoric and pursuasion techniques to convince Macbeth that this is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, the right thing to do. He then tells her that "I am settled." (79). He is firmly seated in his beliefs that killing Duncan is the right thing to do-until he performs the murder. He is so horrified by this act that for a moment he forgets where he is or whom he is with. We learn from this murder that Macbeth truly had faith in the king and was very loyal, but under the forces of his wife's persuasion and his own vaulting ambition, he is put in the evil frame of mind for just long enough to kill Duncan. This murder does permanently alter him from his moral state of mind, however, and he soon does not feel much remorse for murdering Duncan. The Second of the four characters towards whom Macbeth's attitude changes is Banquo. Before he murders Duncan, Macbeth is a very close friend to Banquo, and they are almost always together. After the murder, however, Macbeth senses suspicion on Banquo's part. He realizes that Banquo's "wisdom that doth guide his valour / To act in safety" (52-53) will cause Banquo to want to turn Macbeth in for his crime. Macbeth knows he must also get rid of Banquo since, according to the prophecy, the throne will pass to Banquo's sons otherwise. Macbeth starts showing his extreme hatred towards Banquo while he is convincing the two murderers that killing him is right: Macb: Both of you Know Banquo was your enemy. Murderers: True, my lord. Macb: So is he mine; and in such bloody distance That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near'st of life; (III, i, 114b-118) Finally, Macbeth actually shows signs of relief when the murderer calls him to the door during his banquet and tells him of Banquo's death: Macb: There's blood upon thy face. Murderer: 'Tis Banquo's then. Macb: 'Tis better thee without than he within. (III, iv, 12-14) Macbeth's last statement, "Tis . . . within", means that Banquo's blood is better on the murderer than in Banquo, showing that Macbeth is, in truth, happy that Banquo has been killed. the killing of Banquo by Macbeth shows extreme selfishness; he cannot bear to see even his best friend's sons succeed him on the throne. However, a more important reason that Macbeth kills Banquo is because of Banquo's suspicion of him, and what Banquo will do to him once he finds out for sure that Macbeth has commited the murder of Duncan. One can see that Macbeth becomes extremely harsh if he wants his way. He will go to horrid extremes just so that he does not have to live his kingship in fear, but instead "to be safely thus." (III, i, 49) Lady Macbeth, the third character, interacts with Macbeth a considerable amount, and influences him greatly. He and his wife as a pair are dangerous because his ambition combined with her bloodiness can cause fatal situations.

Tips For Writing An Argumentative Essay

Tips For Writing An Argumentative EssayWhether it is a sample argumentative essay for your college essay, an essay for a book report, or your essay for an exam, it is important to follow some tips for a good argumentative essay. Following these tips will help you write an argumentative essay that is effective, honest, and is very interesting.The best essays are the ones that engage readers and make them want to learn more about the topic you are writing about. Remember that your audience is reading your essay, and what they are learning will be absorbed in your writing. The more interesting the writing is to the reader, the more successful the essay will be.When you begin writing your essay, you need to choose a topic that you have researched or have some idea of the author's topic or the article's topic. This will help to keep your essay fresh and original. Even if the essay is about a subject that is familiar to you, it is important to write about a topic that is new. It will be a surprise for the reader when they find out how much you know.Start by starting off with a good question. Questions are an excellent way to get started on your essay. In fact, it is recommended that you begin your essay with a question. The better your questions are, the better you will do with your essay.Always make sure that your essay flows well and makes sense. Don't forget to place your keywords or key phrases throughout your essay to make it more attractive to the reader. Avoid the use of slang words or language that is not appropriate for your audience.A common problem with many writers and essay readers is that they fail to read back through their essay when they are done. For this reason, it is important to read the entire essay before you actually finish writing it. This will make sure that you understand the ideas that you have written and that your essay flows well.Research is an important part of your essay. Even if your topic is not highly researched, it is important to include some research on your essay. This will allow the reader to understand your essay and will give you an added benefit in case you choose to use the information in your future writing.Above all, remember that essay writing is an art that can be learned through practice. Follow these simple tips for a good argumentative essay and you will be able to start writing your own essay very soon.