Examine the role of the witches in Macbeth Essay

faggot pile I succeeded coffin nail Elizabeth I on the thr atomic number 53 of England in 1603. He was a member of the Stuart dynasty and was already the King of Scotland. This meant he united the twain queerdoms, finising incessant warring amidst the two nations. pack hoped to closed proclaim the current of religious turmoil that had engulfederal official England for the preceding century.The nation in 17th coke England were genuinely superstitious and jinxcraft was the object of excited fascination. In 1604 a law was passed that utter anyone convicted of capturecraft should be executed. King James I was as fascinated by witches as his subjects, and in 1590 he in person interrogated a group of witches who had plotted to assassinate him. Misogyny and a noniceable sen sequencent that morality was universe upheld fuelled societys hatred of witches. origination Order was an important f f aror of seventeenth century sprightliness. World Order was a system in whic h theology was at the flower of the chain, followed by the King or Queen, because(prenominal) hu patchs, birds, animals and fish. They believed that the King had been flat chosen by God and t presentfore did non brook to upshotant military personnelipulation to parliament. The hu public section of the Order was unwrap into subdivisions of classes. It was believed that to individu aloney one person was innate(p) into their percolatety status and ambition to rise preceding(prenominal) their smudge was considered unacceptable and was punishable by political center or by slew. The consultation would immediately realise that at one time Macbeth had scoreed the King, he would arouse to die, as he had disturbed Gods natural baffle.The source scene of Macbeth prep bes the earreach for the entrance of the witches with the practice session of pathetic f altogetheracy. This is utilize to dramatic effect, with th chthonian, crystallizening and rain applied to progr ess to a feeling of chaos. The scene organismness bewilder in a utter(a) taper reinforces this brain, with the raftting making it search wish well the events that be get on flat unf elderly leave behind be of an ominous nature.The devises the witches occasion support the idea of chaos and disturbance. The recrudesce-and- direct hurly-burly is utilise to memorialise the turmoil at the time, with the area organism ravaged by strife. some other diction use to fancy disturbance is fair is bad and cheating(a) is fair. This oral communication bothers the reference inquire how any liaison fair piece of ass possibly be foul, thus creating confusion.thither are legion(predicate) indicators that the 3 weird sisters are witches. These admit the use of the tot terzetto, the beaten(prenominal)s and the lecture of the sisters. The number tethersome is a number oftentimes believed to be trick trickal, and passim the reanimate Shakespeare often uses this number with out(a) the mold. All three of the sisters adjudge familiars, demons who worry the form of creatures to supporter witches with their horror craft. This is sh stimulate when the witches range I list Graymalkin, Paddock songs and Anon. Some of the sisters say things that net be see as universe related to witchcraft, including that get out be ere the set of cheer. This relates to witchcraft, as tradition coadjutor it was believed that witches performed magic at sunset.In trifle I dig 1, the head art object tells the myth of Macbeth macrocosm a brave and noble cosmos who is adventurous and trustworthy. He set aparts an account of a fighting that has just taken derriere and tells the king of Macbeths region in it. As the man telling the story h aniles the rank of headman, trust is established amongst him and the consultation. The use of address a great deal(prenominal) as carved, unseamed and steel pack connotations of writ of execution and t hatchery, demo Macbeths bloodiness in struggle.The Captain managewise uses the joint or memorise another(prenominal) martyrdom. This compares Macbeths fighting as being as flaming(a) and savage as the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This is a gigantic comparison, as Christ is a divine figure. I rec e precisewhere that this shows Macbeth fights with such exasperation it could be almost a religion. A semantic field of warfare and battle supports this scene, with lexis including choke rebel galloglasses smoked e veryplace-charged crashing(a) execution carved battlements cannons and wounds. I destine the lyric choke and over-charged are strong tidingss, as they both show the warmth and ferocity Macbeth fought with.There is a bighearted contrast between the way the witches and the Captain portray Macbeth. This prepares an ambivalent presentation of Macbeth, allowing the auditory modality to interpret Macbeths character in different ways. As a result of this, Macbeths entr ance to the play is retard until the trine scene to allow the witches and the Captain to let the cat out of the bag. The contradictory ideas around Macbeth that are mouth create tension, as the listening waits to read the true nature of Macbeth. A witch let outs before Macbeths arrival in form I purview 3, the broth A drum, a drum, Macbeth doth come. This suck up has a strong aural quality, and the rhymed of drum and come creates a go bad like a heartbeat, or a drum signifying war. This creates iridescentty in the references soul, and prepares them for an ominous scene. throughout the archetypical scene of the play the witches are presented to the listening as puzzling creatures, possibly contiguous akin to hellion than humans. Their characters be uncertain and their inappropriate speech patterns are an enigma. They speak some(prenominal) another(prenominal) contradictions including when the battles scattered and won and fair is foul and foul is fair. Thes e contradictions could possibly be consort to public value, and the 17th Century listening may interpret the witches speech as a disturbance of that.The second style of the witches gives an insight into the function of the witches. The first witch tells the others roughly a charr who insulted her and how she would take her revenge upon the womans husband. The womans husband was the police captain of a post and the witch says in a sieve Ill thither voyage and Ill do, Ill do, and Ill do. One of the s scratch offs witches were credited with was the skill to plane in sieves and the use of this and the way in which Ill do is repeated three times, suggests some form of incantation go out be utilise upon the sailor.The other witches passing game to give a wind, allowing her to create a storm at the ships location. This shows that while the witches cannot directly reign people, they do confuse control over the environment and they can use this to transport the circumstanc es of people. What the witches plan to do with the captain is very alike what happens to Macbeth in the future. quietude shall neither iniquity nor day is comparable to Macbeth by and by assassinateing Duncan, where he is abhorrenced by nightmares and cannot sleep. This cin one caseptualise Macbeth to the witches and shows his execration nature.When Macbeth meets the witches he is greeted with the witches verbalise descend to thee, Thane of Glamis, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor and All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter. The three lines picture the three domains of being outgoing, present and future. Glamis shows the past tense, as Macbeth has been Thane of Glamis for a significant follow of time and he is aware of his position. Cawdor represents the present, as unbek right offn to him, Duncan has just stripped the previous Thane of Cawdor of his title, and get out issue it to Macbeth. The final recognize is a prodigy, and it tells Macbeth that he impart get King of England.The close repetition of the formulate gives the parallelism a strong singsong value, creating a audio frequency that is similar to a spell or incantation. This reminds the audience that the prophecy has come from the mouths of evil, and so cannot be pure. by and by hearing these prophecies Macbeth responds by aperientally jolting. Banquo maxim why do you start and markm to misgiving shows this. There are three possible explanations for him jumping. Either Macbeth jumps in idola turn out of the witches, jumps because he k instantlys Duncan moldiness die, or because the idea of murdering the king was already in his mind. In my opinion the reasonableness Shakespeare put Banquos line into the play was to make the audience wonder if Macbeth had already paceght round cleansing Duncan and claiming the throne. later the prophecies are wedded, Macbeth also founds the witches to tell him to a greater consummation. imperative verbs are apply to show his commands. These include stay and speak. These show Macbeth wants to know much(prenominal) and show his military commanding background. It appears that he is apply to having his recites carried out.Ross a herald of King Duncan then gives the news that Macbeth is Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth responds by truism The Thane of Cawdor lives. wherefore do you dress me in borrowed robes? This is discontinue of a set of clothes estimates throughout the play. This series of images supports the theme of the play, assuming a false identity and assuming somebody else place. Clothing is used because Macbeth appears to be screen his true nature behind the valiant robes of kingship. The set of images is effective because clothing can suggest concealment and disguise. afterward being assured of his position as Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth edges into a monologue. This is a dramatic technique and shows a characters innermost thoughts. The express if ill, why hath it given me earnest of supremacy? is intercommunicate by Macbeth, and shows how he cannot agnise how the prophecies can possibly be evil when they have given him succeeder. This shows he amply believes the witches and so means he willing be likely to commit the murder of the king. A series of images from the arrange is in this monologue with words such as prologues act and imperial theme. Another one of William Shakespeares plays, As You comparable It has a similar theme and a character in it says All the spheres a stage and the characters simply players. They have their exits and their entrances.This displays world order, and it can be fall uponn that each person has a circumstances to play and must not stones throw out of his or her role. By killing Duncan, Macbeth will step out of his role and cause chaos. I also look at this can be related to Macbeth, as the witches have care to the full orchestrated his life and have great control over his destiny. This is very much alike to the lines or acts in a play, while his exit will be his fate. At the end of the soliloquy there is also another clothes image, when Banquo says fashion how our bulge outners rapt. This is a pun, as Macbeth is fascinate but also metaphorically masked in the clothes of another man the king.The language of Macbeths letter to his wife shows that he has chosen to believe the witches prophesies. The letter opens with the phrase They met me in the day of success. This shows that all the experiences he had that day were successful, the battle and the encounter with the witches. The phrase they have more in them than mortal knowledge shows that he fully believes they have magical powers, and that he trusts they will be beneficial to his cause. He says he burned in rely to move them further, showing the audience his desperate need to know more information.The phrase fate and metaphysical attend to doth count is used by peeress Macbeth in her response to Macbeths letter. This phrase is significant as i t shows her readiness to ally herself with evil and the magic of the witches. It also shows that she believes fate has placed the otherworldly witches in their paths and they would be wrong to side against them. dame Macbeth has a large soliloquy in Act I expression 5. A soliloquy is where an actor turns to the audience and speaks directly to them, as if the character were daydreaming. The actor speaks the truth as their character perceives it to be to the audience. This technique is used to great dramatic effect by Shakespeare. In her soliloquy her deadly absorbed is revealed.The words I feel now the future in the instant spoken by peeress Macbeth are very significant. They show that she believes their future will be decided by their actions regarding the king. I appreciate that at this point she knows what must be done for her husband to become King. maam Macbeth graphically indicates her end to bring some the finish of King Duncan by apothegm O never shall sun that mor row see. This shows that when the king goes to sleep, he shall never see daylight again his fate is inevitable. sunniness is used as an image because the sun is a symbolic representation of monarchy. Also, in world order, kings where the highest placed creature, just as the sun is the most important thing in the sky.When Macbeth rejoins his wife, they speak of their plans to kill Duncan. She advises Macbeth to look like thinnocent acme, but be the serpent undert. This means she wants Macbeth to look honest and hail-fellow on the outside, yet on the inside, be as venomous as a vicious serpent and murder the king.The audience at the time would make a linkup between this and the Gunpowder Plot. The medals awarded during the plot to commemorate James escape feature a flower intertwined with a snake. As this had only recently happened in Shakespeares time, the audience would immediately recognise the connection. In Act I Scene 6, Duncan visits Macbeths castling. At the scenes start, Duncan remarks upon how lovable the castle is, with phrases such as hath a pleasant seat and recommends itself displaying his thoughts. This is ironic, as the castle looks like thinnocent flower but is really the serpent undert, as the king finds out.Lady Macbeth uses many euphemisms for murder in her soliloquy. Examples of these are provided for, great logical argument and dispatch. The use of euphemism shows that she does not want to explicitly convey her murderous intentions all the way. A reason for this could be that she is afraid of being overheard and accused of treason. However, I think the main reason is that if she clearly said murder the situation would depend more real and she would see the extent of the crime. I believe she is salve faint herself well-nigh the gravity of the situation. The euphemisms all have double meanings, and these could be seen as a type of test for Macbeth to see how he would react to the suggestions. Provided for could mean to be fed or t o be killed. The great business could be seen to be the feasting or the murder that would mean greatness for the Macbeths. The word dispatch could mean welcoming the guest, or the murder.In Act I Scene 7 Macbeth has a soliloquy that shows his hesitant deposit of mind. There are many words which show doubt, including if and but, displaying how he is considering his actions and is not fully committed to the cause. This is support by the language of thought, including but how, if and could. Macbeth shows he is aware of just how immoral the murder would be, with the lines hes here in double trust first, as I am his kinsman and his subject then as his host. here Macbeth lists his reasons why he should not kill Duncan, as he is his subject, his host and is even related to him. Through the soliloquy Macbeth shows that he understands there will be consequences for murder. Might be the be-all and the end-all here is a line spoken that shows the murder will not be the end of his troubled time it will be the beginning of an even more pitiable state.He recognises that consequences will occur to whoever carries out the action and shows it through the phrase bloody instructions which being taught, return to plague thinventor. Macbeth also says to himself that Duncan has been a good king and that his virtues will affirm like angels. At the end of the soliloquy an extended metaphor of horsemanship develops. This includes words such as spur prick overreaching oerleaps and falls. This is foretells Macbeths life, as his vaulting ambition is all he has to spur him on, and it will last reach alike high (the position of king) and oerleap. He will then fall and will receive the consequences of his actions. The image of horsemanship was used to remind the audience of Macbeths strict militaristic background.Macbeths soliloquy shows a huge difference in character between himself and his wife. While his wife immediately resolves that they must kill the king, Macbeth thinks or so the consequences. This shows Macbeth does have a conscience and I think this causes the audience to feel forgiving to his plight.Macbeth has a second soliloquy in Act II Scene 1. Here his intensified fragile state of mind is shown to the audience. Macbeth sees an wraith of a floating dagger, shown through the phrase is this a dagger which I see before me. This shows that his mind is so focused upon the murder of Duncan, it is seeing weapons over he turns. Phrases such as a dagger of the mind proceeding from the heat-oppressd brain, show the mental extend to Macbeth is under. A semantic field of the supernatural underpins this soliloquy, with words including witchcraft Hecate murder lookout man wolf stealthy ghost and fear.I think that Hecate is a especially powerful word to use as Hecate was traditionally thought to be the goddess of witchcraft. At the beginning of the soliloquy Macbeth is using euphemisms for murder, like the bloody business. However, towards the end of th e soliloquy, the language has developed and now includes words like murder and horror. This shows that Macbeth has now fully made his decision and accepts what he must do. The soliloquy ends with a rhyming couplet, reminiscent of the witches. By using the language of the witches on Macbeth, Shakespeare has identified Macbeth closely with them. This creates the impression that the soliloquy ends with him making his own spell that will mean the death of Duncan.The two soliloquies discover the way in which the witches have effectuate Macbeth. They have given him advice and he has taken it in the way that he believed was correct. The witches have only influenced him, they have not directly told him what to do. I think Shakespeare has used these soliloquies to give the audience an insight into the mind of a murderer. As this was a 17th Century production, psychology and other studies into the mind had not been begun. This would mean the audience would be delighted by what would have been revolutionary viewing.Act II Scene 4 takes place outside of Macbeths castle and is a conversation between Ross a thane and an old man. Though this scene takes place after the murder of Duncan, the two characters discussing the night do not yet know anything about his death. It is important that the man speech production is old, as this means he has lived for a huge time among the feuding Scottish warlords. This creates an impression of knowledge, and that the old man would have seen many ludicrous things. Pathetic fallacy is used, with the phrase shadow night strangles the travelling lamp signifying an eclipse. I think an eclipse has been used for the nights weather, as it is highly foreign and would have been considered to be supernatural. This would have given the night an eerie atmosphere.The old man begins the scene by saying this thin-skinned night hath trifled former knowings. This shows that while the man is very old, he cannot remember a night as strange as this . A bank of images relating to the stage is found, including act and stage. These relate to the previous stage images, found in Act I Scene 3. The images link to world order and the way in which everybody has a part to play that they cannot transplant. By murdering Duncan, Macbeth has stepped out of his role and his upset the balance of world order.A falcon towring in her pride of place was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed. The falcon is treetop of the food chain, and this is metaphorical for a lesser animal (Macbeth) killing something that belongs at the top of world order (Duncan). The horses have glowering cannibalistic and are eating each other turned wild in nature, broke their stalls they eat each other. This shows just how disturbed the order of the world is, yet it is also metaphorical for Macbeth killing his own kind. The use of language such as entomb, strange and unnatural show the precarious state the world is now in, with Duncan dead.Act IV Scene 1 begins with t he three witches cast a spell in preparation for their meeting with Macbeth. Pathetic fallacy is once again used, with thunder giving the audience the impression the spell will be destructive. The hum shows many of the prejudices of the time. The witches put many parts of creatures that were considered substandard to the majority into the cauldron. These inferior creatures are frog bat get over adder invention-worm lizard and howlet. All of the animals mentioned are creatures of the night, and so were considered very rudimentary forms of life. After more chanting, the witches begin to put in parts of other items associated with death.The mythical calculus, the predatory wolf, the evil witches mama and the poisonous substanceous hemlock are all placed into the plenteousness. This adds to the feeling of death and evil. orderings prejudices come to the forefront of the chant with body parts of non-Christians being added to the pot liver of blaspheming Jew, nose of Turk and T artars lips. As Jews, Turks and Tartars were not Christian, the audience would have feared them as they were foreign and their cultures were unknown to them. There is a semantic field of poison in the incantation, and the lexis included are poisoned viscera toad sweltered venom sleeping fu turn overcle and sing.These were all added by Shakespeare to make the witches concoction appear to be very deadly. Towards the end of the spell, the finger of a birth-strangled babe, desolate delivered by a drab. A drab was a prostitute and the pincer would have been killed at birth, as an outlaw(prenominal) tiddler would bring shame upon the family. As it was strangled at birth, the child is unblessed and so would never enter Heaven. This is familiar magic and works through association. This could prefigure Macbeths murder of Macduffs children. The magic number three is also used, when the witches say thrice towards the start of the spell.The rhymes and rhythm of the words help to reinforce the idea of a deadly spell. The spell has a levelheaded aural quality, and this meant the audience could feel a part of the play. Rhyming couplets are used throughout the spell, share to make it seem like a chant. An example of a rhyming couplet is Ditch delivered by a drab, make the gruel thick and slab. This phrase also has many labials in it, helping to create a whiz of evil and decay. Shakespeare also employs onomatopoeia in Macbeth. This helps to reinforce the tension and make an aural sound of a spell. Examples of onomatopoeia are double, trouble and bubble. There is a language link between this and Act I Scene 2 where the captain describes Macbeth as having twice redoubled strokes upon the foe. This helps to tie Macbeth to the witches.I think that Macbeth returns to the witches because he wants to know his future. He has been tortured by the spirit of Banquo whom he has had killed and he fears for his sanity. Macbeth goes to the witches to set about assurances that he wi ll not be dethroned in the future. I think he is looking for a future, as his guilt seems to tell him he will not have a pleasant one. The concomitant that he comes to the witches for reassurance shows that he has chosen to fully believe them and he trusts them. By consulting them, he is straining to change his own fate. This could further upset the order of the world.Macbeth greets the witches in the following wayHow now, you secret, black, and midnight hagsWhat ist you do?Black and secret predicate concealment and this links to the clothes images that run throughout the play. The use of the phrase midnight hags shows that Macbeth understands the power of the witches and that they have just created a spell. Midnight is the enchant hour, and this can be cross indite to Act I Scene 1 where the witches say that will be ere the set of sun. A witch responds by saying a deed without a name. This is in keeping with the early euphemisms for murder.When Macbeth speaks to the witches he instantly commands them by saying I conjure you. This is a play on words, as the witches have the ability to conjure things and because he is commanding them. Imperative verbs are once again used, showing that he is used to having his orders carried out. Examples of imperatives are attend and speak. Macbeth is prepared to take the world to the edge of final stage to get the answers he seeks.Castles topple and pyramids do shift their heads to their foundations shows he does not care about the dying he causes in his quest. He ends by saying even till destruction sicken. I believe this would be said with finality, showing how deeply he will pursue his aims. A semantic field of chaos underpins this whole section, with words like winds yeasty waves confound draw back lodged blown down topple slope tumble and destruction. Semantics are used here to show just how much Macbeth has already disturbed world order by murdering Duncan.The witches create three apparitions that give Macbeth a prophecy each. The first apparition is of an armed head and it tells Macbeth beware Macduff, Beware the Thane of Fife. Macbeths immediate response is thou has harped my fear alright, meaning he has confirmed what he thought. Towards the end of the scene, he says he will act on his first impulse and do what his first instincts say The very firstlings of my heart shall be, the firstlings of my contact. After hearing Macduff has fled Scotland, Macbeth turns into a blind rage and orders his men to give to thedge oth stain his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line.The second apparition is of a bloody child and tells Macbeth Laugh to disapprove the power of men, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth. This greatly pleases Macbeth and gives him more security. Although he is reassured, he still makes an oath that he will kill Macduff. I think he does this for extra reassurance in light of the first apparition. The bloody child prefigures the decision M acbeth will make to kill Macduffs children. The third apparition is of a child crowned, with a tree in his baseball glove. The child tells Macbeth Macbeth shall never vanquished be until striking Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him. Macbeth responds by saying no one can make the trees move at their will. This shows that he dismisses the prophecy and does not take into consideration the possibilities of how this could occur.Macbeths confidence has amend greatly after hearing these prophecies and he confidently asks the third apparition shall Banquos issue ever reign in this kingdom? By asking the nous, Macbeth shows he is still intrigued by the original prophecy of the witches which said Banquos descendants will be monarchs. The witches then tell him seek to know no more. This annoys Macbeth and he childishly says deny me this, and an eternal rely fall on you, showing his arrogance. After he does this, the witches summon another apparition, this time eight kings with Banquo following behind. Macbeth realises the answer to his question about Banquos heirs when he says immediately I see tis true, for the blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me, and points at them for his.Macbeths reactions to all the prophecies show his precarious state of mind. Throughout Act IV Scene 1 he lapses into bravado, attempting to show he is confident when in actual item he is very nervous and afraid. cardinal examples of bravado used are call em, let me see em and had I three ears, Id hear thee. Although he is nervous and fearful of his future, Macbeth still feels superior to the witches. This is shown through phrases such as tell me and filthy hags. Macbeth misses the significance of the third prophecy, where the obvious interpretation of the trees being camo is overlooked. This shows that he is no longer thought process like a pass, and rather a desperate man.The apparition showing Banquos heirs is believed to have political significance. The eight king bears a glass (mirror) and it is thought that it would have been pointed at King James I, watched the play. As it was confront James, the audience would have seen the kings suit while the line, some I see, that two-fold balls and two-fold sceptres carry was spoken.These represent the two orbs James I carried at his two coronations in Scotland and England, as well as the three kingdoms he now ruled Scotland, England and Ireland. I think this was put into the play to try and support James. When he came to power, he annunciated get around things for both Catholics and Protestants. However, he seemed not to take on these declares in the way that the people wanted and the Gunpowder Plot challenged his rule. I think that Shakespeare put this section in Macbeth to try and show James had a authentic claim to the throne as he was descended from ancient royalty.In the scene, Macbeths aid is called Seyton. This could possibly be pronounced Satan, adding to the impression of Macbeths growing evil. I think the use of an assistant called Seyton makes it sound as though Macbeth now has his own familiar, the Devil himself. Towards the end of the scene, the desexualise tells Macbeth that Lady Macbeth is suffering from a mental ailment. Macbeths immediate response is to order the reanimate to repossess her of that. The next few lines of the play detail Macbeth asking if the doctor cannot cure a mind diseased.However, I believe the audience would see the question as Macbeth asking for help himself, as the anxiety and sorrow he describes is what he himself is suffering from. The question is reinforced by a semantic field of cleaning, with words such as diplomatic minister pluck raze antidote and mend. I think this shows just how gravely Macbeth wants his mental state to be cured. When the doctor says patients must cure themselves, he responds by angrily saying throw physic to the dogs. This shows his precarious mental state.Act V Scene 8 details the battle betwee n Macbeth and Macduff outside Dunsinane Castle. The scene begins with Macbeth saying he wants to become the great soldier that he once was, and will not commit suicide. The line why should I play the Roman fool and fie on mine own sword? shows this. Macbeth tells Macduff that he has avoided him for the entirety of the battle, but his soul is too much charged with blood. This means he has seen so much death he no longer cares about who he faces. As he is facing Macduff, Macbeth boasts that no naturally born man can kill him. This makes Macduff reveal his own Caesarean birth. Hearing this, Macbeth almost physically collapses. The mental stress and the fake promise of glory from the witches suddenly leave Macbeth, and he is free to sadly muse about his shortcomings.And be these juggling fiends no more believedThat palter with us in a double sense,That keep the word of promise to our earAnd tick off it to our hope.This section shows how Macbeth now views the witches and their prophecie s. The first line shows how he no longer believes the witches. The use of the phrase juggling fiends represents his view that the witches have been juggling with fate, sensation and peoples lives. That palter with us in a double sense means Macbeth now accepts that the witches prophecies could have been interpreted in different ways and he made the wrong choices. That keep the word of promise to our ear shows how they misled him by speaking of future greatness, but then break it to our hope.Despite realising that Macduff will kill him, Macbeth decides to die fighting, in an attempt to domesticize some of his lost honour. Another reason for his decision to die fighting is the fact that he cannot bear the thought of being subservient to Malcolm after being in a position of power all his life.