Macbeth :: essays research papers

The William Shakespeare play  ³Macbeth, ² depicted Macbeth as a loyal subject of King Duncan and his homeland of Scotland. Duncan was so pleased with Macbeth ¹s actions during the war that he was named the Thane of Cawdor, a title not far from king. Soon after, he wrote a letter to his wife that would make his future blood stained. Macbeth told her about the possibility of becoming king and in-turn hooked her on the idea. She then did everything in her power to give Macbeth the crown of Scotland.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Duncan ¹s gratitude for the deeds of Macbeth were displayed when Duncan announced,  ³Would thou hadst less deserved, that the proportion both of thanks and payment might have been mine! Only I have left to say, more is thy due than more than all can pay. (p.34) ² The last sentence of his quote said that he deserved more than everyone could have given him. Duncan ¹s thankfulness resulted in raising the title of Macbeth from Thane of Glamis to that of Cawdor. Only one title then separated him from being next in line to the throne, the Prince of Cumberland.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Macbeth could not help but notice how close he was to being king and hinted his ambition to have the title in his letter to Lady Macbeth. He wrote,  ³...came missives from the King, who all-hailed me Thane of Cawdor, by which title, before, these weyard sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time with Å’Hail, King that shalt be! ² Since the witches had predicted Macbeth gaining Thane of Cawdor, he believed they might be right about him replacing Duncan, as the letter continues,  ³This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to heart, and farewell. (p.35-36) ² This passage also portrays Macbeth ¹s trust in his wife when he addresses her as,  ³...my dearest partner of greatness,... ² His trust in Lady Macbeth later allowed her to convince him to murder Duncan. Macbeth believed her when she said,  ³We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking place and we ¹ll not fail, (p. 42) ² which confirmed the deal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Immediately after Lady Macbeth reads the letter from her husband, the idea of their royalty sets in. She says,  ³Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be what thou art promised.