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Macbeth is categorised broadly as one of Shakespeare's Histories. However, unlike the other historical plays, history is not shown as the Grand Mechanism but rather as a nightmare. Whether mechanism or nightmare, both remain different, illustrating the same struggle for power and the crown. The different metaphors reflect different philosophies - history as a mechanism is characterised by its inevitability, whereas the nightmare paralyses and terrifies. In Macbeth, history, as well as crime, is shown through personal experience - a matter of decision, choice and compulsion. Crime is a personal responsibility and has to be executed with one's own hands - thus, Macbeth murders Duncan himself.
