Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most renowned plays written in the time when James 1 ruled the throne of Britain. It is a story of trust, ambition, loyalty, love, desire and the supernatural. Macbeth is well known worldwide for its discovery or analysis of evil and deep desires. Of all Shakespeare's plays some people say that it is the one most obsessively concerned with evil.
When we first hear of Macbeth he is a great and courageous warrior, steeped in the blood of war (1.2.40-42):
Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds,
The revolt brought by the messengers account to King Duncan of the bloody series of battles in Act I is being used to suggest that Macbeth is a hero at this stage. This is ironic as Macbeth has this horrifying potentiality for death and destruction which is held inside his own human morality only by bonds of loyalty to King Duncan which are easy to snap, as the Thane of Cawdor proves by his rebellion against the King. From the Thane of Cawdors execution, the witches' second prophecy is fulfilled by Macbeth gaining his title. Macbeth now realising that two of the three prophecies has become reality is convinced that he is to take the title of King.
There are many antitheses in this play such as,
When the battle's lost and won
And with his former title greet Macbeth.
What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.
I think Macbeth may have won the title of Thane of Cawdor but, overall, has lost the battle.
I think the most famous and meaningful antithesis throughout the play is (1.1.10)
This was spoken by the witches but Macbeth's first words, (1.3.38)
So foul and fair a day I have not seen
echo what the witches have said in the first scene. It has been said that this adds to the atmosphere and strangeness in the play; that it is unsettling; and that it makes it seem as though everyone is speaking in riddles.
When in Act I Scene 4 the King announces that hi...