Macbeth Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Macbeth - Research Paper Examplethe everlasting value of it, as all these elements combined with ill ambition, craving for high political position, fit enormously rich in a dishonest way, etc., characterize modern societies in our time.Mac Bethad mac Findlaich or Macbeth for short in English was a Scottish king (1040-1057) who ruled successfully and wisely after killing his predecessor Duncan (1034-1040), who on the other hand was a weak and terrible leader. Macbeth was killed in 1057 in a battle led at Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire on 15th August against Malcolm, Duncans rightful heir to the throne. The events that took place shortly in advance Duncans murder and until Macbeths defeat were described in Shakespeares play Macbeth written sometime between 1604 and 1606. (Mala Enciklopedija Prosveta Belgrade, 1970, vol.2, p.15).Having a broad knowledge of Raphael Holinsheds Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (1587), Shakespeare apparently used it as a main source for writing thi s play. According to Holinshed, Duncan, the king of Scotland was a young and incapable ruler, but Shakespeare deliberately show him as an old and almost saint person in order to darken Macbeths crime even more than it actually was. Shakespeare used this news report to write a tragedy, not a historic play. George Buchanans History of Scotland in Twenty Books (2 volumes, 1733) written originally in Latin could have been some other source for some scenes in the play. There are also things which must have been products of Shakespeares fantasy (the scene with the banquet and the appearance of Banquos trace or Lady Macbeths sleepwalking). Some critics even claim certain scenes were influenced by the Roman history, and some give credit to the legends Shakespeare knew so well.Yet, whatever the sources, at that place is no doubt that the tragic status of Macbeth would be far weaker, were it not for the facts given in the Holinsheds chronicle that Duncan was weak,