Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course
Date
The Growth of Macbeth to Power
The character Macbeth experiences a gradual increase in power as his character gets assassinated. However, the contrast helps in developing the plot of the play. Shakespeare in his book ‘Macbeth’ relates the themes of ambition, deceit, and power as well as the murder to develop Macbeth, who is the central character. The main character is initially a good man who presents as a courageous fighter. The author also shows how self-doubt affects a brave individual and makes them depend on the individuals within the circle for strength. The discussion on the character of Macbeth will illustrate his growth to power and how it affects not only his life but also the play.
In the beginning, Macbeth is a perfect warrior in the army of King Duncan (Bloom 7). Other soldiers in the battle bear his testimony and also would wish him to receive a title due to his good work. He is presented as a person full of kindness as said by Lady Macbeth. His goodness faces tumult when he meets the witches. They prophesy to him that he would be the king (Bloom 7). At once the bad part of him gets to live, and hunger for power blinds him. His joy cannot be hidden as he has longed to be in power for long. He sets on a mission to see himself rise to power.
Macbeth is named the Thane of Cawdor by the king (Bloom 27). When he receives the news, he sees a great opportunity for him to rise to power. However, his courage is affected by the fact that he has self-doubt. His particular nature curtails his courage to get involved in evil things. However, Lady Macbeth knows his weakness and decides to empower him. Together, they plan to assassinate the king when he gets to their home. At first, Macbeth is reluctant to start join plan or do anything that pertains to it. Eventually, the king arrives and after their mission he goes to sleep. Lady Macbeth drugs the guards of the king’s chamber and at this point Macbeth seizes the opportunity of killing the king (Bloom 30). He also kills the witness guards. The body is discovered in the morning by Macduff, who is a loyal follower of the king and has been sent to wake him.
On the death of King Duncan, Macbeth is promoted to be the king of Scotland. His plan to murder Duncan was to prevent the reign of his son who had been appointed as the heir. He knew if he waited longer, the king might die of old age and the heir would be old enough to be a king. He, therefore, wanted to counteract the plan as he had the ambition of becoming the king. His full journey to leadership had begun. However, on killing the prime witnesses, Lady Macbeth faints. She gets disturbed by what Macbeth had turned to be (Bloom 53). The lords of Scotland together with the new king assemble and plan to avenge the death of their new king. They suspect the heir to be the murderer, and this makes the two sons of the late King Duncan to flee. Donalbain flees is therefore forced to flee to Ireland while, Malcolm, his brother is made to flee to England (Bloom 78).It is in England where he raises an army.
The new king, Macbeth is disturbed by the second prophecy of the witches. According to the witches, the generation Of Macbeth will not get to power. Instead, the generation of his colleague soldier, Banquo, would take over. Threatened by that prophecy, he plots the death of Banquo and his son Fleance (Bloom 100). At this period, he is no longer cautious or fearing. He plans with the murderers on how to kill the targets and also tell them where to wait for the targets. The killers only manage to murder Banquo and let the son, Fleance to escape. At the banquet, Banquo’s spirit haunts Macbeth (Bloom 111). He becomes disturbed but does not want to reveal the reasons for his haunt. There are a few people who know that he was being haunted by the person he had killed.
The haunt disturbs him so much that even Lady Macbeth is not able to calm him. Macbeth then decides to visit the witches. They confirm that Fleance would rule Scotland. They also tell him that there would be war and during the battle, the forest of Biman would move towards the stronghold of Dunsinane (Bloom 131-140). He is also told that his downfall would begin as soon as he meets an enemy who is not born of a woman. Macbeth does not take heed to that prophesy but continues to prepare for the invasion.
Prophesy about the moving of the forest is fulfilled when Macduff deserts him. Macbeth decides to clear his wife and children (Bloom 179). When they are killed, Macduff receives the news. For the sake of revenge, he joins the army of Malcolm that is planning to invade Scotland. Meanwhile, Macbeth is training his army to counter the invasion. The killing of Macduff’s family is the final step of Macbeth’s bloody journey in leadership. Eventually, the England army led by Malcolm invades Scotland.
At the battlefield, the last prophecy gets to be fulfilled. It stated that Macbeth would come to an ultimate end when he meets a man not born of a woman. Macduff reveals that he had been born through caesarean. He was the man who had not been born of a woman. Without heeding to prophesy by the witches, Macbeth throws himself to him, and he gets slain (Bloom 173). In this context, Macbeth meets his death on the battlefield where he had started. The story shows the beginning to the rise of power of Macbeth at the battlefield and also his fall is set on the battlefield.
The desire to rise to power makes Macbeth to change from a good person to an evil murderer. His change is gradual, but each evil deed is geared towards his rise in power as well as being maintained in the position. His strength comes from his wife, Lady Macbeth, and the witches. They are the characters that strengthen him to undertake the evil deeds. They encourage him to try the very best to retain his power.
In conclusion, Macbeth maneuvers a bloody journey to power. From a soldier, he is promoted to be a Thane out of his good work. He kills the king, and he is promoted to be the king of Scotland. He also kills other people that he thinks would be a threat for him to get into power. As a result of the plot, he plans to murder Banquo and his son. He also plans for the death of Macduff’s family. In the long run, he manages to remain the king. However, his life comes to an ultimate end when Macduff kills him. The character of Macbeth is the conflict in the book that is solved by his death.
Work cited
Bloom, Harold. Macbeth. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 2004. Print.