In his tragic play Macbeth, the author William Shakespeare tells the story of Macbeth, a man who becomes power hungry and desires to take control of Scotland's throne. Shakespeare employs many motifs into his work such as hallucinations, prophecy and sleeplessness. However, the violence motif is prevalent and quite evident to Shakespeare's audience. Bloodshed is rampant and acts of violence dominate the play's storyline.
             Macbeth is a very violent man and exemplifies this throughout the play. Primarily, after Macbeth and the Scottish army defeat the rebel Macdonwald's army, a bleeding sergeant enters the scene and describes the gallantry of Macbeth and Banquo in battle when he states, "For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name),/ Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel/ Which smoked with bloody execution/ Like valor's minion carvèd out his passage..." (Shakespeare 1:2 19-21). By showing his feats of bravery and by winning honor for his country, Macbeth is crowned Thane of Cawdor. The violence, though it takes place off stage, is described as being very gory and murderous. Macbeth is a very skilled warrior and begins to take pleasure in killing people.
             Violence begins to completely consume the thoughts and actions of Macbeth. For instance, before Duncan's murder, Macbeth imagines seeing a dagger floating in the air before him as he says, "I see thee still;/ And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,/ Which was not so before. There's no such thing" (Shakespeare 2:1 53-55). After killing Duncan, Macbeth realizes what he has done as he sees the blood scattered against his robes. He has become king and now will not be usurped of his power, at least not without a fight. Macbeth's desire for control stimulates his violent behavior.
             The violence that Macbeth causes in the lives of others fatefully impacts his own life. For example, in the play's final scene, as Macduff ...