Many works of literature introduce some of the major themes to the reader during the first chapter or opening scene. The first act of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth introduces many of the main themes that are portrayed throughout the play. Macbeth is about an intelligent and brave man, Macbeth, who purposely murders his king. Macbeth then must immediately kill two other people as a consequence of his first murder.
The murders put Macbeth on a road to disgrace and a violent death. Three major themes portrayed in Act One are the corrupting power of immoral ambition, the relationship between cruelty and gender and the difference between appearances and reality. The main theme of Macbeth, the corrupting power of immoral ambition, is most strongly introduced in the play’s two main characters. Macbeth is a courageous Scottish general who is not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds, yet he deeply desires power and advancement. Macbeth kills Duncan, the king, against his better judgment and afterward marinates in guilt and paranoia. On the other hand, Lady Macbeth has a greater determination in achieving her goals.
Ambition helps, but only with the libel prophecies of the witches. The Witches’ prophecies promote immoral doings to reach goals. Characters in Macbeth often dwell on issues of gender this represents the theme of relationship between cruelty and gender. For example in Act One of the play Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband by questioning his manhood, wishes that herself is “unsexed”, and does not contradict Macbeth when he says that a woman like her should only give birth to boys. Lady Macbeth and the witches also provide a thought of women being evil in the play. The women seem to cause the problems occurring.
The Essay on Macbeth S Vaulting Ambition
Macbeth s Vaulting Ambition Puts Him in an Evil Frame of Mind A favorable character trait, when carried to the point of obsession, can often have disastrous effects. William Shakespeare particularly highlights this idea in his tragedy Macbeth. Macbeth s actions are the result of his own ambitions to be king. Macbeth s reaction to the witches prophecies is one example of his ambition to be king. ...
The theme of the difference between appearance and reality are also introduced in the beginning of the play. When Macbeth first hears the witches’ prophecies he has some doubts. It is not till he gets home and the King gives Macbeth the title “Thane of Candor” that he starts to think there is a little truth to what the witches tell Macbeth. This theme plays a major role in the resolution of the play because it leads to Macbeth’s death.
The beginning of a literary work is important because it introduces many things. Some of the most important things the reader is introduced to are the theme or themes. The introduction of the characters and their actions develop the theme. Introducing the theme in the beginning of a work is important because it establishes not only the plot but also the future actions of the characters.
