Violence, blood and death. The quintessential characteristics of war. Shakespeare's Macbeth is based on a war, but not your typical one. The real war in the play and the underlining factor leading to Macbeth's death, is not fought on a battlefield, there are no swords, and no soldiers to swing them. The real war is fought in Macbeth's mind. Macbeth's conscience and vaulting ambition alternate in controlling his actions throughout the play. Many critics of …showed first 75 words of 744 total…

…showed last 75 words of 744 total…of his family. The war between Macbeth's conscience and his vaulting ambition is not fought on a battle field but still had all the exemplary attributes of one that is. Violent acts were carried out, blood was shed, and people died. The struggle going on In Macbeth's head was finally over, his ambition the victor, and Macbeth himself the defeated. When the hurly-burly was done, the war in Macbeth's mind was both lost and won.