macbeth 4

• Keywords:

  • Tyrannical demeanor, imperatives, foreshadowing, ambiguousness, ephemeral sense of security, invincibility, excessive blood thirst, heinous acts.
• Macbeth's hubris is explicit as he enters, he speaks with imperative phrases such as "tell me" and "call 'em" - he is driven by greed and hunger for power.
• This is the first time Macbeth has intentionally encountered the witches, reinforcing his abandonment of resisting evil.

  • He no longer can pretend himself to be scrupulous (moral), he now embraces his tyrannical demeanor.
• Macbeth threatens the witches with an "eternal curse" which is ironic as we have all seen the witches' overt supernatural power, he believes he can supersede this.
• The apparitions give Macbeth an ephemeral (temporary) sense of security and invincibility.

  • Yet he still plots to kill Macduff ("thou shalt not live") exposing how he is now driven by a thirst for blood and violence rather than fear and ambition.
• Conversely, it is intentional that Macbeth does not carry out the murder of Lady Macduff and her child himself, as it ensures he is somewhat redeemable from the epitome of evil.

  • This is vital in constructing the play as a tragedy as a tragic hero must be able to elicit some sympathy from the audience, despite their flaws.