Essay On Shakespeare's Influence On Macbeth

Before a writer can create a brilliant story, he must conjure up a provocative idea. Before he can have that idea, his brain needs the fuel to process that idea: Influence. It’s obvious that Shakespeare didn’t just completely make up the story of Macbeth on the spot, he was clearly influenced by the history of the medieval Scots, with their rises to victory and glory, as well as their falls due to corruption and defeat. Although Shakespeare’s Macbeth is truly original, it definitely took inspiration and influence from famous medieval authors before Shakespeare’s time, such as that of the writings of Jeffery Chaucer and Christopher Marlowe.
Even Shakespeare himself took inspiration from his own ideas! It may seem unusual, but it happens more …show more content…
In Macbeth, the sequence of events is quite different than you might expect. Macbeth (the protagonist), begins as a man who wants to end the rule of the evil King Duncan by slaying him. At first, we see him that as a headstrong, brave and intense hero and we begin to root for him. That is until Macbeth kills Duncan in way that demonstrates his lust for power. This further proves Shakespeare’s desire to explain heroism as a potentially destructive journey rather than a challenge ridden path with a happily-ever-after ending like many of today’s predictable stories of …show more content…
Let’s recap briefly: Macbeth is set in medieval Scotland, a land of rolling green hills, beautifully cloudy skies, colossal stone castles, and cobblestone roads. This effectively cements the mood of this dramatic and tragic parable with its beautiful and romantic setting. The setting blends perfectly with the time period and sets the stage for intense battles on the lush fields of Scotland, giving our story the needed epic and dramatic feel. The scene in which the castle of Macbeth is under siege, we feel as if we are alongside Malcolm and Macduff, fighting beside the walls of this great stone