How has Shakespeare presented conflict and rebellion in the play so far?

Macbeth is a Shakespearean play, written to please Kind James I of England,

about a war hero who turns into a traitor. Themes of witchcraft and
deteriorating mental health contributes to this being Shakespeare’s darkest and
most powerful tragedies. The use of Witches helps to create conflict between the
audience and actors as Witches were seen as traitors to the crown. This essay
will discuss how The Witches, Macbeth’s Speech and Lady Macbeth help to
further disruptive tendencies throughout the play.

Shakespeare uses witches to open up the play. The use of ‘thunder, lightning, or
in rain,’ helps to convey the negative effects of the weather relating to the
witches. The pathetic fallacy helps to make the audience mistrust the witches.
This helps to cause conflict, as it is controversial as Macbeth was written to
please King James I as he hated witches and was fascinated by witch trials. This
also helps to promote rebellion as witchcraft was seen as treason in the 1600’s.
Shakespeare uses alliteration to create a chant like sound. ‘Fair is foul, and foul is
fair,’ helps to set the scene of the play as it shows that some believed you could
not get anywhere in life without being ‘Foul’. This fraise helps to promote
conflict, as throughout the play Macbeth will use this line of thinking to help
justify his actions.

The use of the witches in act one scene three creates conflict as they spread
mistrust and prophecies. ‘Drain him’ shows how the witches tempt men to do
evil. This is contextually relevant as women were seen to lead men astray. The
man the witches are referring to is from a boat the ‘Tiger’ that went missing at
sea, this would help to link the witches to supernatural experiences that they will
know about. The prophecy that Macbeth will be ‘king’ but Banquo will ‘get kings’
helps to promote conflict as Macbeth begins to mistrust Banquo and start to
fantasize to kill the king. When Macbeth meets the witches they describe Banquo
as ‘lesser than Macbeth, and greater.’ The juxtaposition helps to show that whilst
Banquo is of a lower status than Macbeth he is a better person. This helps to
drive a wedge between Macbeth and Banquo as Macbeth is driven by a lust for
power and ambition however; Banquo is content where he is.

Lady Macbeth talks about ‘fate and metaphysical aid.’ This will create conflict, as
the audience will associate her with the supernatural. The word ‘aid’ implies that
Lady Macbeth would be unable to be as powerful as she is in society without the
help of the ‘devil’ who was believed to control evil woman. The word
‘metaphysical’ creates an air of mysticism as it implies that she is in contact with
powers beyond human comprehension. This would add to rebellion as in the
1600’s all witchcraft and things associated with witchcraft were not allowed.
Lady Macbeths use of prose when reading Macbeths letter then to verse when
she speaks shows how she is of higher status to Macbeth in their relationship.
This is contextually relevant as woman are usually less educated and of lower
status than men.
In Conclusion Shakespeare uses the supernatural which is a stigma in the 1600’s
to present conflict and rebellion; as witches were seen to lure and tempt men as
well as mess with the weather and cause bad fortune therefore they were
banned in England. The use of prophesies helps to create tension and therefore
results in conflict as it drives apart characters in this Shakespearean tragedy.