Macbeth

Essay by woombyetennisplayerHigh School, 12th grade October 2006

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"If chance will crown me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir." Superstition is very real in the play Macbeth, but the belief of superstition is only real when an individual makes it real. Some superstitions of the Elizabethan time are what some people still believe in now, like Karma, for instance if you do something awful to someone it will get you back, probably worse that what you did to them Today's society also shows a belief in superstition, through individuals visiting fortune tellers, astrology, numerology and using tarot cards.

Macbeth, like everyone at this time, definitely had a belief in superstition. When the witches tell him their prophecies, he immediately wants to hear more from them because he thinks whatever they say will come true. Macbeth had already thought of murdering Duncan, the prophecy of the witches put his thoughts into words, "My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical."

He is very intrigued by what they have to say, he says "Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more". After Macbeth is informed he is in fact Thane of Cawdor, he treats the witches prophecies as truth and doesn't question them.

Lady Macbeth's belief in superstition is not as strong as Macbeths. When she receives the letter from Macbeth informing her of the weird sister's prophecies, she instantly begins to think of a way to make the prophecies come true more quickly. If she truly believed in superstition she would know that no matter what happens the witch's prophecies will come true. Lady Macbeth desperately wants to be queen and she is determined to make this happen by murdering Duncan. She does not believe in superstition enough to let life run its course, she has to interfere.

Macbeth does not want to murder Duncan, he...