Shakespeare's shortest tragedy, Macbeth, has also been considered his most powerful. Throughout the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth battle their hunger for power and their guilty conscience. Macbeth is too kind to take the actions necessary to take the throne, but is ultimately influenced by the witches' prophecies, his wife's encouragement, and even his own deep desire to become king. Macbeth must then face the consequences of his terrible actions, and Lady Macbeth's guilt becomes so unbearable that she commits suicide. Shakespeare's famous soliloquies help the reader understand the feelings behind the characters' actions. Macbeth's soliloquies in Acts II and III show the reader a noticeable change in his character which is very important to the play. In Act II, Macbeth contemplates murdering Duncan as he waits for Lady Macbeth to ring the bell that will be his signal. that it's time. He thinks he sees a dagger and that it is stained with blood. Clearly Macbeth is reluctant to kill the king. “Witchcraft celebrates the offerings of pale Hecate” (2.1.51-52). Here, Sh...