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Macbeth's Predictions

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Background/Context: Shakespeare is considered to be the best writer in history. His darkest, and shortest play Macbeth is his greatest work. No other poem has been written and translated so many times as this one. It has no subplot, but is the most dramatic and dark with multiple references to death. Shakespeare was born in April of 1564 and his birth is celebrated as the same day as his death in 1616. He was the oldest of nine children, and married Anne Hathaway at the age of 18. Their first child was already on the way by the time they got married, twins were born and Anne spent the majority of the time with them in Stratford while William worked in London. During his twenties it is unknown what he did or how he made a living but in 1592 …show more content…

It changes to the end of a war with a traitor being sentenced to death and his title being taken away from him. It is decided that Macbeth will take his title as Thane of Cawdor. Before Macbeth knows this he and his friend Banquo are riding along and come across the witches. They give Macbeth three predictions of what will happen to them and then they give Banquo predictions after he asks for them. Macbeth then tells Banquo that if these things are meant to happen he will wait for it he will not make it happen himself. The next day Ross informs Macbeth that he is now thane of Cawdor, which was one of the predictions. Macbeth then writes a letter to his wife explaining what happened, she wants to make these things happen by killing King Duncan when he comes to visit. Upon his visit he is a thankful, and kind guest and Macbeth does not want to kill him. Lady Macbeth pleads with him saying he would not be a good husband if he did not make her happy, and she would be happy being …show more content…

He targets Banquo thinking that since he heard the witches fortunes he will accuse him of killing the king. In order to handle this Macbeth hires two people to murder Banquo and his son. They trap them in the woods, Banquo is killed but his son escapes. When Macbeth hears of this he is angry because his son was part of the prophecy not Banquo. The murderers are killed to prevent anyone from accusing Mabeth of doing wrong. Macbeth once again knows that what he has done is wrong and guilt starts to eat at him. There is a dinner party being hosted in his castle that night and he starts to have visions of Banquo even though he is dead. Macbeth, being the only one who knows that he is dead, begins yelling and asking who has brought him here. He comes very close to revealing everything he has done, but Lady jumps in and tells everyone that he has had fits like this since he was little and it means nothing. She quickly pushes everyone out of the castle before Macbeth can say anything

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