“Macbeth is referred to only as The Scottish
Play by actors and theatre-makers, such is
the dark power of the play. How does
Shakespeare exploit the conventions of
language and theatre to fill his play from the
crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty –
and moreover, why is this so essential to the
universal meaning of the play?”

In my original paragraph, I made too many statements. These statements lead me to giving far to many examples which clouded the point that I made .

In my response to the above question I want to discuss how Macbeth’s ascent to power gives him a burning desire to control the world around him, and how this in turn leads to the collapse of the wellbeing of his country and closest allies.

Plan: I want to talk about the following topic: Macbeth’s desperation to control the world around him in relation to the collapse of the natural order and the witches’ prophecies (only a mention).

Passages: “Send out more horses; skirr the country round; Hang thosethat talk of fear. Give me mine armour.” Macbeth Act 5, Scene 3

“Cure her of that. Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased, Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, Raze out the written troubles of the brain And with some sweet oblivious antidote Cleanse the stuff’d bosom of that perilous stuff Which weighs upon the heart?”

See English book for notes on this quotation.

P1: An analysis on Macbeth’s demanding nature in this passage; contextually explaining how he wishes to control all around him.

P2: How Macbeth’s failing mental state is shown in this passage through Shakespeare’s use of techniques like meter.

P3: How Shakespeare’s use of metaphor in this passage shows Macbeth’s despair and contextual paranoia.