Causes Of Honor Killing Around The World

Did you know according to United Nation, every year 5000 women are murdered in the name of honor killing?(Amnesty International).According to Human Rights Watch, “Honor killings are acts of vengeance, usually death, committed by male family members against female family members, in response to a belief that the women have offended a family’s honor and have brought shame to the family unit”(Tarun, n.d.). The perpetrators are considered honorable, when they commit this heinous act. Honor killing has consistently been occurring in the Middle East, and South Asia. It first originated from ancient Arab culture that has its roots in Pakistan (Dailey & Singh, 2016). Major causes behind honor killing are patriarchal social views, unacceptance of marriage and misinterpretation of religion.

Firstly, in the patriarchal society women are subjugated under male violence, which plays a major role to trigger honor killing. “Patriarchy means a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property” (IGI Global, n.d.). The word honor is linked to women’s bodies. For example, a model in Pakistan Quandeel Baloch was killed by her brother for posting provocative video on social because she was considered to bring shame on the family (BBC Stories, 2017). Quandeel’s example proves that, women are considered as an object and men hold the responsibility of maintaining female’s virginity and moral authority. Therefore, women’s voice to their desires is unacceptable to their father, husband and brother which leads to honor killing.

Secondly, woman’s choosing a life partner against family’s will is another cause of honor killing. Typically, the head of the family fixes the marriage for daughters and female members. Dating or marrying someone outside the caste or religion against family’s will, refusal of marriage or getting involved into homosexual relationships are regarded as cultural taboo. One example is two Texas teenagers Amina Said and Sarah Said, who were killed by their father for dating against their family’s approval. They were believed to stain the honor of the family by disobeying the orthodox norms (Real Story, 2018). Thus, marriage without family’s consent has been a for honor killing.

Finally, religion is used as a ground to justify honor killing. If a woman has an extramarital affair or engages in premarital sex, she is considered to disrespect the religion and is punished to death. For example, the remarkable case of Soraya M., an innocent girl in Iran who was falsely accused of adultery by her husband, was stoned to death by the family members and community by following an interpretation of the Sharia (Khaitan, 2017). However, there is no mention in the Quran about honor killing. According to Islam, punished of adultery is lethal stoning if it is witnessed by 4 good character male Muslims (Muhammad, 2010). Hence, misinterpretation of religion plays an important role in honor killing.

In conclusion, the dominance of patriarchal society, disapproval in marriage and misconception of religion are the prominent causes of honor killing. In the patriarchal society, if women challenge the societal norms, they are punished to death. Moreover, marriage of women against family’s decision is considered as family’s dishonor. Furthermore, religion is used to defend honor killing especially in Muslim countries. A suggestion to this problem could be, stricter law implementation. Another suggestion could be raising social awareness among men and women alike. Also, women education is needed to understand their rights.

References

  1. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. (n.d.). The horror of ‘HONOR KILLINGS’, even in US. https://www.amnestyusa.org/the-horror-of-honor-killings-even-in-us/
  2. BBC Stories. (2017,July 14). Qandeel Baloch murder: One year on (full documentary) [Video file]. https://youtu.be/ptVjXHgsal4
  3. Dailey , D., & Singh ,R.N. (2016, August 3). Honor killing. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/honor-killing
  4. IGI Global. (n.d.). Patriarchy. In IGI-Global.com dictionary. Retrieved from January 13, 2019, from https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/identifiable-challenges-as-global-complexities/52625
  5. Khaitan , S. (2017, April 25). The stoning of Soraya M 2008 720p [Video file]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/66pGaMGHBFM
  6. Muhammad , A.A. (2010, June). Preliminary examination of so-called ‘Honour Killings’ in Canada. Canada.ca. https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/fv-vf/hk-ch/p3.html
  7. Real Stories. (2018, March 18). Why did a Texas dad kill his two teenage daughters? (Honor Killing Documentary) [Video file]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/1EUfxrtFGzA
  8. Tarun, C. (n.d.). Impact of honor killing in the society of India. Legal Service India. http://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-397-impact-of-honour-killings-in-the-society-of-india.html

My Understanding Of Honor And Dignity

I have always been found it interesting why and how the people came up with the whole concept of honor and dignity so long time ago. In ancient Greece, in ancient Rome and even in Britain we see these two concepts being highly valued and caused people’s admiration. In epics like Iliad and Beowulf we see how both Achilles and Beowulf posses’ similar qualities and how their decisions are more or less influenced by the ideas of honor and dignity. Kind Arthur even says that he prefers to die rather than losing his honor.

The definition of honor is a high regard or respect; personal integrity; reputation; privilege (Webster’s Dictionary). Because of honor we’ve seen how big heroic acts have been performed but we’ve also seen how wars might start because of it. Honor basically defines the duties of an individual within a social group. To huge extend it is related to social position and is a social term. Through the years the meaning of honor has changed a bit but it’s still hard to explain what exactly is honor. I believe it has something to do with reputation and maybe the way you other people see you.

The definition of dignity is the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or esteemed (Webster’s Dictionary). Human dignity is a sense of self-worth. Therefore, dignity is a sense of pride in oneself that only a human being has with them. This conscious sense makes them feel that they deserve respect and honor from other human beings. Dignity has a very long philosophical history – Pico della Mirandola, Kant, Mortimer Adler and Alan Gewirth all have slightly different philosophical ideas about what exactly dignity is (Wikipedia).

When we are talking about honor or dignity it is really difficult give a specific definition as they both are pretty much about how a person interprets them. In my opinion honor is the feeling of self-conscience and is best reflected through actions. Honor must be the center of what one’s moral revolves around and is the capstone of a person. I think dignity is the sense of self-worth. Human dignity to me means not only possessing strong morals that help society to prosper and improve, but following through on them. Dignity is one of the most unique characteristics any being can possibly possess.

References

  1. Dignity. Wikipedia. Retrieved March 17, 2019, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dignity
  2. Kee A. Jeremy. 2014. What is Honor?
  3. Honor. Wikipedia. Retrieved March 17, 2019, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honour
  4. Retrieved March 17, 2019, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dignity
  5. Retrieved March 17, 2019, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honor

Honor vs. Natural Desires In The Tales Caterina And Ricciardo, And Tancredi And Ghismonda

The themes natural desire and honor are emphasized in the tales Caterina and Ricciardo and Tancredi and Ghismonda. Natural desire and honor conflict with each other in these tales. This conflict causes some of the characters to react positively to their situations while others react negatively. Obeying the laws of natural desire and honor results in Caterina’s marriage while opposing natural desire and abusing honor leads to Ghismonda’s death.

In Caterina and Ricciardo, Caterina’s marriage is foreshadowed by her sleeping with Ricciardo and her father witnessing their act. Caterina convinces her parents to let her sleep on her father’s balcony. Messer Lizio says, “‘Take whichever bed you please…Then let her sleep there and hear the nightingale singing to her heart’s content.’ “(396) In this case, the nightingale refers to Ricciardo. By allowing her to sleep on the balcony, her father is maintaining his authority while she can satisfy her sexual desires. She longs to be with Ricciardo and is free to sleep with him. Additionally, the balcony is a symbol of adulthood for her. (Lecture 5) She is also intelligent because she is being very deceptive and sneaky towards her parents in order to get what she wants.

Although Caterina is intelligent, her father eventually finds out about her affair. Messer Lizio says, “‘Your daughter was so fascinated by the nightingale that she has succeeded in way-laying it and is holding it in her hand.’ “(397) Caterina’s father is obviously disappointed by his daughter and Ricciardo for playing him. She thought that rebelling against her parents and hiding out on the balcony with her lover would allow her to get away with her behavior. Even though she has some freedom, she is still not out of her father’s grasp. He has the power to watch over her and make sure she is obeying his rules. However, her father understands that her behavior is caused by her sexual desire to be with Ricciardo.

Fortunately, Messer Lizio resolves the situation by allowing Caterina to marry Ricciardo. He says, “‘She will remain yours for as long as she lives…secure your freedom and my forgiveness; otherwise you can prepare to meet your Maker.’” (398) By commanding Ricciardo to marry Caterina, he is following his patriarchal duty and society’s expectations. When he tells Ricciardo that he will meet his “Maker” if he does not wed her; he is implying that he has no other choice. This proves that although he is thrilled to be with the love of his life; Messer Lizio’s threat to punish him is not the only reason why he marries her. Therefore, Messer Lizio is able to maintain his honor and the two lovers are able to satisfy their sexual desires.

While both parties won in Caterina’s tale; that is not the case in Tancredi and Ghismonda. Ghismonda’s death is prompted by her father’s refusal to marry her and the killing of her lover. Because Ghismonda’s father is unwilling to marry her; it will lead to negative consequences for the both of them. Boccaccio writes, “Her father was so devoted to her…she decided to see whether a secret lover was worthy of her affections.” (292) This demonstrates Ghismonda’s bravery to attempt to fulfil her natural desires although she might feel guilty about upsetting her father. She understands that she has to take action and stand up for what is right and acceptable in society even if her father does not like it. Tancredi has an unnatural obsession with his daughter and is jealous that she is interested in another man. (Lecture 7) Ghismonda represents a clutch that her father wants to hold on to and has a very difficult time letting go.

Tancredi’s failure to adhere to his patriarchal duty causes Ghismonda to continue to meet up with Guiscardo until he discovers her secret. The author says, “The sight filled him with dismay…he could carry out the plan of action that had already taken shape in his mind.” (294) This is contradictory because Tancredi is not carrying out his plan of action yet. He is so shocked and scarred that all he can do is sit and watch Ghismonda and Guiscardo. His intention is to kill Guiscardo, but he is taking the time to process what is happening because it is too much for him to handle. Ghismonda is being insubordinate to her father even though that is not her intention. She does not want to hurt her father, but at the same time she wants to satisfy her love for Guiscardo.

This sin motivates Tancredi to murder Guiscardo when Ghismonda defends herself. Ghismonda says, “‘The daughter you fathered was also made of flesh and blood, and not of stone or iron.’” (296) Ghismonda is justifying her love for Guiscardo to Tancredi. She knows that it is natural for humans to have sexual desires and is trying to convince her father to understand her point of view. The way in which she addresses her father demonstrates her emotional maturity. On the other hand, her father acts feminine and as a “jilted lover” because he is desperate to have her all to himself. (Lecture 7)

Guiscardo’s death harms Ghismonda so much that she commits suicide. The author writes, “She said no more, but leaned over the chalice…and began to cry in a fashion wondrous to behold, her tears gushing forth like water from a fountain….” (300) Although Ghismonda has presented herself as tough; she has emotions. This emphasizes that she is not immune to misfortune and is not afraid to express herself. She is paralyzed and is willing to do anything to unite with her lover even if taking her life away is necessary. Tancredi is not bringing honor to his family name and is ruining his reputation. He is unconcerned about defying the laws of nature and is not aware of how much his cruelty toward his daughter has impacted her soul.

Honor and natural desire do not always agree with each other. This occurs because humans do not always think rationally. If every character is strong-willed, then both honor can be conserved and natural desires met.

The Meaning Of Honor And Dignity Of The Person

Honor is a set of human qualities, due to which he gains self-esteem. It includes such qualities as nobility, justice, valor, courage, honesty and strict moral principles. In the past, honor was associated not so much with the internal qualities of a person, as with his ability to behave in society, to comply with established norms and rules of conduct. It was required to maintain reputation and respect for oneself from others. Honor is closely related to the concept of honesty. Indeed, in the first place, a person should not deceive himself. The concept of ‘honor’ is revealed in the requirements for the behavior, lifestyle and actions of a person, which imposes public morality on a person as a member of a certain group, as a carrier of public functions. Hence, a set of specific requirements for the behavior of a man, a woman, a doctor – is a man’s honor, female’s, professional’s.

It is accepted in society, seeing a well-dressed man, to say that he looks decent. But, does dignity manifest itself only externally? Should it not affect the heart of a person and influence his actions? Let’s see what human dignity is. The dignity of a person is his respect for himself, a sense of the importance of himself as a person, the ability to get out of any situation, without overstepping his principles.

This is the ability to interact with the world, without compromising its principles, without making concessions to base desires and bad actions. Self-esteem is an individual’s awareness of self-worth and value, and adherence to certain rules of behavior based on self-esteem. It is inherent in everyone from birth. The dignity of man allows him to realize the importance of not only himself, but also those around him. Man has to shape it, educate and train it in itself. People who have this quality are respectful of others. Dignity gives a person a sense of confidence in themselves and in their abilities. The higher we evaluate ourselves, the more potential opportunities open up before us. Probably everyone in his life found himself in such situations when one experiences a feeling of lack of self-esteem and his own worthlessness. It happens that people do not feel worthy, believe that they have nothing to respect. This usually happens when a person commits a particular act for which he later experiences remorse. In such cases, it is said that honor and dignity are lost. As a rule, after some time a person smooths his guilt, improves his reputation and again deserves respect. He ceases to consider himself a loser and nothingness, removes this definition from himself. Honor and dignity at the same time again returned to the person.

Should An Individual’s Life Depend On Rigid Societal Code Of Conduct?

Afzal Kohistani was a man on a mission, a mission that he believed in and eventually sacrificed his life for. His struggle started in 2012 when he brought the Kohistan video scandal to our attention. The scandal shows the ugly face of “honor” in our society which ironically ends in death for those accused of bringing dishonor upon their families. And it takes very little to bring “dishonor”. Something as simple as clapping or dancing is enough. And that’s exactly what happened in the Kohistan video scandal (Sheikh Ismail).

Honor killing, regionally called ‘karo-kari’, ‘siyahkari’, ‘tor tora’ and ‘kala kali’, is a multifaceted subject whose characterization and execution has varied over time and across global cultures. Between varying definitions, honor killing can be best described as “actions that remove a collective stain and dishonour, both gendered and locally defined, through the use of emotional, social, and physical coercion over a person whose actual or imputed actions have brought that dishonour” (Hossain and Welchman, 50). The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimated that approximately 5000 women and girls are killed in the name of honor, annually. Within that significant number, around 1000 are victims of crimes committed in Pakistan. Distributing the number statistically, around 25 per cent of honor crimes in the world occur in Pakistan only. Ranked 6th on the list of “most dangerous countries for women” according to a Thomson Reuters Foundation poll, Pakistan is topped by India and Afghanistan (Thomson Reuters Foundation poll). It is considered that honor killing is a private family or regional affair and therefore it should be solved privately, there are no accurate statistics available on this social abhorrence. It ought to be noted that this is a gender-neutral concept however larger number of victims are women. The only principal contrast is that the male blamed of dishonoring might be allowed to clarify his position before the jirga (trible leaders) and can escape the severe punishment by offering remuneration to the family who has been “disgraced”. Women are rarely given such opportunities to explain their side of the story and the only possible way to re-establish the honor is by killing the women. The wide spectrum of activities that can trigger dishonor usually range from women seeking divorce, having “illicit” pre or extra marital affairs, rape victims, not giving consent in marriage proposals, talking to unrelated men, going out of the house without consent, property-related issues to everything that demeans men’s fragile ghairat. Furthermore, the accusations of engaging in such activities do not need to be necessarily true; mere suspicion is enough to tarnish the family’s honor. “Men” of the family who believe their izzat(respect) has been compromised deliberate on and inflict the punishments by themselves without consulting the accused’s defence. Although some argue that honor killing is rooted in religion (Islam), reasons for honor killing show that it is inextricably linked and deeply rooted in the binds of culture, and tradition. Therefore, it should be treated as a crime against the state as this is necessary to eradicate state’s patriarchal structures, lack of education and endemic lawlessness.

Since honor killings occur predominantly, not exclusively, in Muslim countries and the perpetrators usually justify it in religious terms, it is imperative to consult the Islamic jurisprudence on the matter. Honor killings are induced by an alleged failure of women to preserve their chastity in regards to their Islamic obligations. The Quran, however, instructs both Muslim men and women to characterise modesty with the men ordered to “lower their gaze” (An-Nur 30) and the women to “lower their gaze and guard their modesty that they should not display their beauty and ornaments” (An-Nur 31). Moreover, the Quran is unambiguous in forbidding believers to engage in horrific acts like honour killing with verses like “You shall not kill your children for fear of want…To kill them is a grievous sin” (Al-Isra 31). The Quran strengthens its stance against barbaric crimes like honour killing in its “penultimate verse on the sanctity of human life, the Quran clearly states that for anyone who murders an innocent human being unjustly, it shall be as if that person ‘had killed all of mankind.’ (Al-Ma’idah 32)” (TIME). Considering the Islamic doctrine, prominent Muslim scholars from across the globe have issued various statements condemning honor killings and declaring the practice “un-Islamic”. Misogynistic crimes like honor killing are older than Islam with ubiquity in areas like Rome and pagan Arabia; the advent of Islam helped eliminate such practices including female infanticide, and protected women’s rights. Despite having no sanctions in Islamic doctrine, honor killing is commonly justified in Pakistan on Islamic grounds. It is a consequence of people referring to ignorant scholars for Islamic knowledge and contorting Quranic verses out of context to fit their own misogynistic agendas. While Islam condemns honor killing explicitly, Pakistan’s feudal structures and patriarchal mindsets fail to acknowledge it as such.

The prime perpetrators of “honor killing” in Pakistan are the accused woman’s family; it is estimated that “the woman’s family of origin was responsible for 78 percent of the killings while husbands of ‘adulterous’ wives accounted for another 16 percent” (Chesler and Bloom 46). The statistics raise questions about the cultural conceptions that drive one’s own kith and kin to murder them. Honor is an evocative label in the traditional Pakistani society where relations are interlinked and the shame of one’s family spreads like ink on parchment to the extended community. Gossip and scandal within and across these communities augment societal pressure on the accused’s family to restore the community’s honor code. In the interwoven community, hence, honor functions to protect and strengthen the social standing of a family. Where honor becomes a currency, women become the commodity. Women in collective cultures like Pakistan are viewed as repositories for familial izzat; women represent it and men protect it.

Men’s protection of women derives from their vested interest in female honor owing to the Pakistani society’s subscription to patrilineage and its sexist cousin, patriarchy. In patrilineal societies, women’s fertility and reproductivity ensure the construction and maintenance of family power structures. Hence, the code of honor centers around gender hierarchies with men dominating women. Reducing women to just their wombs with men exercising dominion creates patriarchy in the society; a societal arrangement where men enjoy an achieved status and women are given an ascribed status with respect to men. In patriarchal societies, every abstract societal element is valued in terms of men. Men should safeguard women because “they are our mothers, daughters, and wives” and men should respect women because “that is what real men do”. By bracketing women within men, Pakistani society suppresses women to hide behind, bow down and make way for men. Men’s superior status, meanwhile, entitles them to exert control over women’s actions and its consequences are that any woman attempting to exercise her own independent will is perceived as challenging the family’s ghairat. Such was the case of Qandeel Baloch: transforming herself into Pakistan’s first social media sensation with her promiscuous Facebook videos, she liberated herself from social convention’s dictation of her life and was, consequently, strangled by her drug-addict brother in the name of ghairat, in 2016. Patriarchy, specifically in Pakistan, not only exists in the socio-cultural context but is seeped into and armoured by the country’s legal framework. The State’s institutions and legislations did not formally endorse the gender differentials of patriarchy until the presidency of Zia-ul-Haq in 1978. The ‘Islamization’ of Pakistan in General Zia’s era “systematically worked towards the removal of women from the public sphere and the perpetuation of the image of the modest and chaste woman” (Lari12). The state outlined policies that ascribed women to roles secondary to men and established conventional behaviours for women to be dominated by men. Such an administrative action withdrew state’s security and protection of women and enabled greater freedom to the society’s insidious patriarchy to be manifested publicly. Zia’s administration unofficially promoted the idea that men could freely form judgment of women and any negativity within that would be through the women’s faults. Gender was segregated in communal activities and women’s educational institutions, most crucially, were separated with most building household abilities, rather than developing the literacy skills of their female pupils.

The conventional subjugation of women, moreover, cuts them off from access to opportunities like education. Denying women an education is crucial as it limits their awareness to seek social and legal help following threats of possible “honor killing”. The latest consensus 2017-18 shows that literacy rate in females in Pakistan is only 45% (Zaman). It, also, restrains their economic freedom to build secure futures for themselves; their economic dependence on men reinforces their inferiority that promotes gendered violence like honor killing. Additionally, lack of education immobilises women and restricts them from participating in and influencing public dimensions that shape cultural phenomena like honor killing. Lack of awareness further inculcates low confidence level in them, shrinking the possibilities to speak up for help.

Since these cases go unreported and often families declared them as natural deaths or suicides, it leads to endemic lawlessness. Honor killing is used as a tool to settle scores by targeting the rival families’ women and as a means of dishonoring the family and disintegrating its lineage, that leads to endemic lawlessness. Such was the case of Mukhtaran Mai. “In 2002, Mukhtaran Mai, a resident of village Meerwala village, was gang-raped on the orders of a tribal council as a form of revenge for a crime which her adolescent brother Shakur allegedly committed” (DAWN). In the context of a traditional Pakistani society, women are encumbered with the burden of honor that strengthens the notions of masculinity; men resort to extreme measures like honor killing to ensure that women shoulder the burden in ways men deem right.

Following the discussion on social, legal, and religious apparatuses that produce the phenomenon of honor killing, it is worthwhile to delve into the corrective apparatuses that could mitigate the problem. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has declared around 300 women as victims of honor killing in the first half of 2016 (Chen and Sophia) and Pakistan ranks 144 out of 145 countries on gender disparity (World Economic Forum). The statistics manifest a growing, toxic social epidemic in dire need of acknowledgment and resolution. Conclusive of aforementioned arguments, Pakistan’s failure to act thus far stems out of a male-controlled socio-cultural backdrop, an insufficient and ineffective legal mechanism, and misinterpretations of Islamic jurisprudence. However, the State’s inertia has to change and the primary reason for that is best summarised in Quaid-e-Azam’s own words: “No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you; we are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of their houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable conditions in which our women have to live” (Jayawardena and Alwis, 56). To eliminate the deplorable conditions and help Pakistan achieve the height of glory, there must be a cultural shift in the country alongside tighter legal reforms and their effectual implementation that provides greater security and equality for women by declaring honor killing as “the crime against the state”. In addition to maximising penalty for abettors of honor killing and other gendered violence, women must be provided with opportunities to empower themselves through education, training, and legal support. Political discourse and manifestos should comprise of committing resources to advocacy of women’s rights; the steps would elevate female agency and contribution to building social agendas and influencing cultural perception. Moreover, awareness must be raised about the misperceptions of Islam to counter the narrative of ignorant religious scholars so that people are not beholden to invisible religious obligations such as killing one’s own daughter to cleanse the family of the shame she has allegedly brought. Activists in Pakistan are headed in the right direction for emancipation of women but they need each of us to actively support in furthering their agenda so that there are no more Saba Qaisars or Qandeel Balochs or Mukhtaran Mais or Kiran Bibis or Samia Sarwars or Ambreen Riasats in this country.

Works Cited

  1. “Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem – القرآن الكريم.” Surah Al-Isra [17:31], quran.com/17/31.
  2. “Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem – القرآن الكريم.” Surah Al-Ma’idah [5:32], quran.com/5/32.
  3. “Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem – القرآن الكريم.” Surah An-Nur [24:30], quran.com/24/30.
  4. Bhatti, Haseeb. “Mukhtar Mai Rape Case: SC Adjourns Review Petition after Suspects Show up without Legal Counsel.” DAWN.COM, 6 Mar. 2019, www.dawn.com/news/1467962.
  5. Chen, Kelly, and Sophia Saifi. “Pakistan Passes Milestone Law for Women.” CNN, Cable News Network, 8 Oct. 2016, edition.cnn.com/2016/10/06/asia/pakistan-anti-honor-killing-law/index.html.
  6. Chesler, Phyllis, and Nathan Bloom. “Hindu vs. Muslim Honor Killings.” Phyllis Chesler, 19 July 2012, phyllis-chesler.com/articles/hindu-vs-muslim-honor-killings.
  7. Hossain, Sara, and Lynn Welchman. “Honour.” Google Books, Google, books.google.com.pk/books/about/Honour.html?id=EeO5xoKCd3UC&redir_esc=y.
  8. Iftikhar, Arsalan. “Don’t Turn a Blind Eye to ‘Honor Killings’.” Time, Time, 29 July 2016, time.com/4415554/honor-killing-qandeel-baloch/.
  9. Jayawardena, K. and Alwis, M. (1996). Embodied violence. London: Zed Books, p.56.
  10. Lari, Maliha Zia. “’Honour Killings’ in Pakistan and Compliance of Law.” Aurat Foundation, Nov. 2011, www.af.org.pk/pub_files/1366345831.pdf.
  11. Sheikh, Ismail. “Afzal Kohistani and the Deathless Video Jirga | Samaa Digital.” Samaa TV, 8 Mar. 2019, www.samaa.tv/opinion/2019/03/afzal-kohistani-and-the-deathless-video-jirga/.
  12. Thomson Reuters Foundation. “The World’s Five Most Dangerous Countries for Women 2018.” poll2018.Trust.org, poll2018.trust.org/.
  13. World Economic Forum. www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2018.pdf.
  14. Zaman, Fida. “Female Literacy Rate.” The Nation, The Nation, 4 Aug. 2016, nation.com.pk/05-Aug-2016/female-literacy-rate.

Essay on Honour in ‘Much Ado about Nothing’

Despite being written and set around three hundred and fifty years apart, both William Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ and Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Edible Woman’ are regarded, to varying degrees of popularity, as being landmark texts for the Feminist movement. Atwood herself has noted that ‘there was no woman’s movement in sight when [she] composed the book’. Both authors make profound use of female characters that interact with the institution of marriage, to explore the potential for female social reflexivity in each period. It could be argued that the differences seen between female characters in ‘The Edible Woman’ and ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ could be due, not to varying individual attitudes towards their patriarchal domination, but to the variation in realistic autonomy that each woman has to reject these values. This disjunction between what is desired and what is achieved can be analyzed from a psychoanalytic perspective to examine the effect that it has on the self and psyche.

Two such characters which make for an interesting comparison between the two texts are Marian McAlpin, the protagonist of Atwood’s ‘The Edible Woman’, and Beatrice, of Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. First performed in 1612, audiences of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ immediately responded warmly to Beatrice, finding her a likable and humorous character; yet despite her witty, outspoken nature being received well, up until 1967 women could be legally persecuted as a ‘scold’ or ‘shrew’ for being too opinionated in the company of men. This implies that had Beatrice existed in society, outside the world of Shakespearean literature, she would not have been met with the same level of freedom and positive regard as she receives in the play. Part of what makes Beatrice such a formidable, revolutionary character is her apparent total dismissal of traditional female and societal expectations. She declares before her uncle ‘Just, if he send me no husband, for the blessing I am at him upon my knees every morning and evening’. In this way, Beatrice rejects the ideas of feminine honor that were perpetuated throughout Elizabethan society, as well as family honor. Yet through doing this, Beatrice ensures that she can retain the most autonomy possible, in the absence of further male control over her. Furthermore, Beatrice can be seen to appropriate male language styles, as seen through Benedick’s comment ‘she speaks poniards, and every word stabs’ to Benedick, her speech has taken on a violent and phallic nature. Despite her conscious defiance and contempt for traditional gender roles, Beatrice isn’t bettering the lives of women, she is only mirroring the cynical attitudes towards love and marriage found in men as a mechanism to prevent exploitation of her perceived weakness- emotion. Furthermore, this level of defense is only effective in her current company and, as already explored, would not have had the same effect in wider society, where female submission to the world of marriage was paramount. Therefore, she has just internalized and projected another aspect of traditional masculine views. She uses traditionally masculine behaviors to protect against people perceiving her as femininely weak and passive.

Ideas contrasting those presented by Shakespeare, regarding the role and desired escapism of women at the time, can be found in ‘The Edible Woman’. Atwood uses her protagonist Marian to show the process of coming to terms with one’s position in society, the concept of social reflexivity, and the effects that such a process has on the self. At the outset of the novel, Marian describes herself as ‘stolid… magnanimous… efficient’, adjectives used deliberately by Atwood to present Marian’s ideal self as the archetypical aspiring housewife, despite such a sophisticated lexical choice indicating that she is well-educated. Yet as the narrative progresses, she is shown to ‘feel [like she is] subject to rules [she] has no interest in and no part in making’, eventually identifying herself with an innocent rabbit that Peter describes how he gruesomely hunted. Following this, Marian runs away and takes on the role of prey (‘no longer a game…it was threatening’ ); leading to her inability to eat anything that she believes to have been hunted and taken advantage of. Here, it is possible to interpret a separation between Marian’s conscious acceptance of patriarchal values, and her subconscious repulsion at such ideas. This progressive narrative appears to explore Marian transitioning from demur and submissive to rebellious against her patriarchal restraints- as epitomized by Peter. In the absence of taking any actions to live independently of men and outside the restrictive controls of 1960s Canada, her body has provided an ultimatum- she frees either herself from her perceived predation, or she dies by her hand. As argued by Emma Parker, ‘her not eating is a physical expression of her powerlessness and at the same time, a protest against that powerlessness’. This level of self-inflicted, restrictive control as a ‘protest’ in response to the widespread entrapment of women is a response that cannot be achieved by Beatrice in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’, due to the highly repressive nature of Elizabethan society, in which any violation of social code would be met with dire consequences, such as Hero’s disownment. Perhaps this suggests that while gender equality has not been fully achieved, it has certainly improved considerably between the early 17th and mid-20th centuries. Through Beatrice’s failure and complete inability to escape her societal restraints, M.D. Friedman notes that ‘the marriage between Benedick and Beatrice silences her’; her autonomy in society will only continue to decrease. This is likely due to the presence of laws surrounding the vocal freedom of women in the presence of their husbands, as mentioned previously. Due to the condemnation of divorce in Catholicism, Beatrice is tied to Benedick for life- essentially signing away her freedom. Beatrice’s decision to marry can be interpreted in various ways, whether it be due to the promise of Benedick providing a richer and more autonomous life for her, or whether her ‘motivations’ have a much darker face, such as familial and societal pressure to wed. Hence why it is so important that Marian breaks off her engagement to her domineering fiancé, as seen through the switch from first to third person narrative; from a psychoanalytical perspective this is representative of Marian’s depersonalization and mental strain as she loses all conscious self-jurisdiction.

Between these two characters, 21st-century readers and audiences can see how female attitudes toward their lifestyle have evolved, as in the Feminist meta-narrative there is a tendency to diminish the stories of women who were unable to revolt, despite having grievances with their treatment.

Through the character of Hero in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’, Shakespeare creates an epitomized representation of a demure and desired female in Elizabethan society and uses this to demonstrate the paradoxical nature of gender codes. Hero has been perfectly crafted to encapsulate the core components of female honor, including virginity, respect for male authority, and having a calm disposition. One of her first lines in the play is ‘you walk softly and look sweetly and say nothing’, which could be seen as a clear comment from Shakespeare on the heavily misogynistic socialization that Elizabethan girls received. Carol Cook notes that ‘Hero becomes, in effect, a sign to be read and interpreted by others’, as evidenced structurally by Hero having a mere 44 lines, in comparison to Beatrice’s 106 lines, and Leonato’s 120. The hero becomes so vocally absent in the play that it’s unsurprising she appears to be without a personality of her own, simply defined by her relationships with other people. Yet the ‘read[ings] and interpret[ations]’ that other characters give of Hero remain the driving force of the play itself. In saying ‘Leonato’s Hero, your Hero, every man’s Hero’, Don John points to the generic nature of her character, and to the fact that Hero is almost used by Shakespeare as a vessel for portraying female honor. In Act 4, Scene 1 ‘[Hero faints]’ in response to the relentless accusations and insults being directed at her surrounding her rumored infidelity; this provides a visual demonstration of the contrast between Hero’s vocal absence and immense metaphorical presence in the play as a whole. When unable to eloquently defend herself, like Beatrice or the male characters would, she is left only with the option of using and removing her physical presence to be understood.

The appellation of ‘Hero’ itself is deeply ironic, as she lacks the power and autonomy to save anyone in the play- least of all herself. This technique is in direct contrast to Atwood’s use of ‘Marian’, connoting the damsel-in-distress ‘Maid Marian’ figure, who can protect herself to some extent. Though Shakespeare attempts to keep Hero at the center of the audience’s attention, through the foil dynamic between her and Beatrice, ultimately she does fade into the background of the play, despite the driving narrative being centered around her. Such irony continues throughout the play, such as the notion that it is not the brash, outspoken, and unconventional Beatrice who is the cause of male anxieties, it’s instead the docile Hero. Despite demanding submission and aiding to creation of a society in which women’s dispositions are molded by men, it is this very vulnerability that causes a paradoxical fear in them. They fear being cuckolded and the betrayal of trust, this is shown at Hero and Claudio’s wedding, when, despite being the very definition of a loyal woman, Hero is disowned and villainised by her father and fiancé Claudio. This demonstrates the tragic relationship between acceptance and defiance of female gender codes. Regardless of whether women choose to accept or reject the societal requirement to be demure and passive, the outcome is always the same in Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’- women fall victim to the accusations and insecurities of men.

Honour in ‘Hamlet’ Essay

Hamlet and Fortinbras have opposing viewpoints. As previously shown, Hamlet is a thinker who must consider all aspects of a situation before acting. He also appears to need a lot more just before agreeing to do something. For example, Hamlet is unlikely to have reacted in the same way that Fortinbras did in the preceding example. All that is expected of Fortinbras is that an action is the ethically correct one to take.

Instead of immediately seeking to honor the man with whom he sympathizes, Hamlet is likely to have asked numerous questions about what had occurred before deciding to act at all. On the contrary,   Fortinbras necessitates far fewer explanations. Additionally,   He appears to be entirely content with choosing the most honorable option and is far less concerned with the details than Hamlet. The only thing that matters to Fortinbras is that an action is morally correct.

Furthermore, based on the example used to illustrate Hamlet’s points of view, Fortinbras would have acted differently than Hamlet. If Fortinbras had been in Hamlet’s situation and discovered Claudius alone praying, he would almost certainly have killed him. Fortinbras would understand that simply killing Claudius and getting it over with would relieve him of his obligations, restore his mother’s image, and most likely grant him the throne of Denmark. Given Fortinbras’ dedication to honoring, it is unlikely that he would have wanted to send Claudius to hell, as Hamlet did because such a devious intention is far from honorable.

As has been demonstrated, Hamlet and Fortinbras hold opposing views on justification, and these opposing viewpoints have a significant impact on their behavior in a variety of ways. Now that the contrasts between the two men’s perspectives have been explained and the significance of the contrasts outlined, it is useful to look at the example given in the play. Hamlet builds a window into them by contrasting Fortinbras’ and his perspectives on the conflict of an issue to see both men’s perspectives. This example appears in Act IV Scene IV and allows the reader to see the opposing viewpoints of both men on a specific issue.

The scene in Act IV where Hamlet sees Norway fighting Poland is a great example of Hamlet and Fortinbras disagreeing. In this scene, Hamlet notices men fighting over a plot of land and learns that Norway is fighting Poland, led by Fortinbras. When he asks the Norwegian captain in his company what kind of land is being fought over, he is told, ‘We go to gain a little patch of ground That hath no profit in it but the name.’ 4.18-19. This simply means that the land has almost no resources and is only valuable because it is Polish territory. I believe this might imply that the two factions are fighting over the land solely for the sake of national pride, and not for any actual practical benefit to their respective nations. It becomes clear that Hamlet cannot comprehend this, as he sees no real justification for the fighting and death.

He even goes so far as to say, ‘Why then the Polack will never defend it.’ 4. 4. 23 . Before being told strongly otherwise, Hamlet believes the Poles would not defend such a worthless land. This should reinforce Hamlet’s beliefs about the need for justification for action, but he does not stop there. Hamlet goes on to say that nations at peace tend to invent worthless conflicts out of thin air, resulting in the unjustified deaths of many men. 4. 4. 7-29 (Shakespeare) With this, Hamlet reduces the internal conflict he is experiencing to the type of conflict just described, a bloody struggle for nothing. Hamlet builds a window into them by contrasting Fortinbras and his perspectives on the conflict. After seeing what Fortinbras did during the battle in Poland, Hamlet compares himself to him in the soliloquy. This is the only occasion in the play that Hamlet does this, but it reveals a lot about Fortinbras’ viewpoints and the disparities between the two characters.

After finding out that the land being fought over is utterly meaningless, Hamlet attempts to understand why Fortinbras would rush headlong towards, as he puts it, ‘the imminent  death  of twenty thousand men, That for a fantasy    and trick of fame.’ Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot where the numbers can’t try the cause, where the tomb isn’t big enough to hide the slain, and where the continent isn’t big enough to hide the slain. The question is why Fortinbras would send 20,000 men to their deaths for a parcel of land that isn’t big enough to bury the troops’ bodies. In the same soliloquy, Hamlet answers this question.

When honor is at risk, he says, Fortinbras will find conflict in anything, even if it has no intrinsic value. According to Fortinbras, it’s all about that one dominant theme once more. All Fortinbras needs to justify an action is for it to be the most honorable thing to do. This example may be the most compelling of this concept, as it is clearly stated that the land for which he is fighting is worthless, and so there is virtually no other possible justification for Fortinbras committing the actions that he does.

The significance of Fortinbras’ perspective should be highlighted now that the two men’s opinions have been properly outlined and contrasted. This is noteworthy because it demonstrates that Fortinbras is a complex and vital character in Hamlet. When looking for information about Fortinbras as a character, there is virtually little available, and what is there frequently dismisses him.

Fortinbras is a character in Hamlet who is supposed to symbolize the opposing viewpoints on the justification of Hamlet. Moreover, Fortinbras has well-developed views on the justification that drives his actions. Therefore, these viewpoints are on the polar opposite end of the spectrum from Hamlet’s and thus serve as a useful counterbalance to the play’s dominant viewpoint. These opposing viewpoints have been created and both of their values have been shown using many examples from the play.

To sum up, Fortinbras’ importance to the play has also been highlighted, with his point of view serving as the central focus, leading to a significant ending. This conclusion is that, despite his widespread neglect in critical studies of Hamlet, Fortinbras is an immensely valuable character who deserves far more attention than he now receives in the academic world. It is the scholarly community’s job to guarantee that every character in works as important as Hamlet is adequately investigated, yet despite his obvious worth, Fortinbras has been mostly ignored to this point.

Works Cited

    1. Hamlet: Entire Play, http:shakespeare.mit.eduhamletfull.html.

The Kite Runner’ Honour Essay

Novelist Paulo Coelho once said, “When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change.” Much like this, Amir is influenced by challenges put in front of him by the cultural environment in Khaled Hosseini’s, “The Kite Runner”. This cultural environment, represented by the settings, characters, and the Afghan culture in the novel, influences Amir. Various settings within the novel influence Amir.

One such setting that changes Amir as a person is Soviet-ruled Afghanistan. Amir thinks, “I thought of the way we’d left our house where I’d lived my entire life as if we were going out for a bite” (Hosseini 118). Amir reflects that he has completely abandoned his old life as an Afghan boy and has adopted that of an outcast, a refugee who was forced out of his country by the Soviets, demonstrating his change in quality of life. Amir is also affected by the Afghan flea markets in California. While there, Amir continues a conversation with a girl by saying, “‘Can I ask what you’re reading’ She blinked. […] Suddenly, I felt the collective eyes of the flea market shift to us” (Hosseini 154). Although nervous, Amir deliberately chooses to break the Afghan norm of single men avoiding talking to single women. This shows that while Amir is still connected to his roots, California has changed his viewpoints and personality. Amir is also affected by Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. This is seen when Amir says “I feel like a tourist in my own country” (Hosseini 244). This illustrates how Amir notices how much Kabul has changed during his time in the U.S. The Taliban-ruled Afghanistan influences Amir because it causes Amir to realize that he does not belong. In these ways, Amir is affected by the different settings of the novel. Amir is also influenced by different characters in the novel. One such character is Baba. Amir says, “There were only two things […] I couldn’t stop looking at: One was the blue kite […] the other was Hassan’s brown corduroy pants” (Hosseini 80). Amir only notices two things because of the influence Baba has over him. He notices the kite, the object that will help him please his father, and then he notices the corduroy pants, the symbol of the horrific acts being done to Hassan. Baba would feel proud of Amir if he returned home with the last kite that had been struck down. This is why instead of helping Hassan in this situation, Amir runs away. In this way, Baba influences Amir by causing his internal conflict, which ultimately influences his decisions. Amir’s actions and emotions are also influenced by Hassan. Amir says, “He was gone now, but a little part of him lived on. It was in Kabul. Waiting.” (Hosseini 239).

Amir rescues Hassan’s son, Sohrab, because of the guilt he feels from betraying Hassan’s trust. In this way, Hassan influences Amir’s actions because Amir feels guilty for causing Hassan’s death. Amir is also influenced by Sohrab. Amir states, “‘For you, a thousand times over,’ I heard myself say. Then I turned and ran.” (Hosseini 391). Amir tells Sohrab what Hassan had told him a long time ago. These words spoken by Hassan symbolize unwavering loyalty, meaning that when Amir says them to Sohrab, he means them as a symbol that Sohrab is not just a nephew, but a son. By being the son of Hassan, Sohrab evokes these affectionate emotions from Amir Therefore, Amir is affected by Baba, Hassan, and Sohrab through the novel. Furthermore, Amir is influenced by Afghan culture throughout the novel. A significant part of Afghan culture is the conflict between Pashtuns and Hazaras. Amir accepts this caste system as he says, “In the end, I was a Pashtun and he was a Hazara […] and nothing was ever going to change that. Nothing.” (Hosseini 27), and thinks, “But he’s not my friend! I almost blurted. He’s my servant!” (Hosseini 44). Amir accepts that Hassan is a Hazara and is afraid to call him a friend or be near him in public because of how people will react. This is due to the cultural environment of the Afghan people. Kite fighting is also an important aspect of Afghan culture. Hassan offers to chase the kite Amir had cut with his own as he says, “Inshallah, we’ll celebrate later. Right now, I’m going to run that blue kite for you,” (Hosseini 71). As the winner of every kite fighting tournament is praised in Afghan culture, Amir aims to achieve this praise from his father as well as from everyone else. This desire to succeed at kite fighting is part of the cultural environment that influences Amir. Additionally, Afghan honor and pride are another big aspect of this culture. Baba displays pride when he refuses money saying, “Thank you very much, Mrs. Dobbins, but I don’t like it free money.” (Hosseini 138) Amir is influenced by everyone around him displaying this pride. So much so, that when wanting to marry Soraya, he does not propose or try to elope, but rather remembers the honor that his father taught him.

This honor and pride that he learned from his culture affect Amir by influencing his actions, as it makes him ask his father to ask for Soraya’s hand in marriage. Therefore, Amir is greatly affected by Afghan culture. In conclusion, Amir is affected by the cultural environment which includes the settings, characters, and the Afghan culture in the novel. Different settings that influence Amir include Soviet-ruled Afghanistan, flea markets in California, and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Moreover, characters such as Baba, Hassan, and Sohrab also significantly affect his actions. Furthermore, Amir is also influenced by different aspects of Afghan culture influencing the conflict between Pashtuns and Hazaras, kite fighting, and Afghan honor. From this, one can learn that while some challenges may seem too difficult, everyone can overcome them. 

Essay on Honour in ‘The Odyssey’

There was a time when the goal of all good, great, and decent men was to obtain honor. Every motive, dictated by their sense of honor, was aimed at bolstering it or regaining some that had been lost. To fulfill their sense of honor, men of valor would slay the dragon, overthrow an evil villain, or defeat the monster. In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, Odysseus is considered honorable for his actions on his journey home to Ithaca. Not only is he loyal to those around him despite difficulties, but he also exhibits many heroic attributes such as bravery and cleverness.

Although he faces difficulties on his way home, Odysseus is honorable by remaining loyal to his crewmates. For example, on the land of the Lotus-Eaters, Odysseus sends three of his crewmates to explore the land. Drugged by the Lotus plant, his men did not want to return and Odysseus “drove them, all three wailing, to the ships, [and] tied them down under their rowing benches’” (101-103). By coming back to save his men, it shows how much Odysseus cares for them. Even though he had enough men to continue his journey home, instead of abandoning them, he saves them from the Lotus-Eaters by convincing them to get back on the ship. As a hero would do, Odysseus puts the safety of his men above his own goal of reaching home. Having the choice of leaving the three men and continuing his journey home, his leader-like qualities shine through, allowing him to save his men, which they are thankful for. Odysseus’s honor also comes from his loyalty to his wife, Penelope. While in Ogygia Isle, Calypso “imprisoned [Odysseus] in her echoing cave, and cared for him and swore to make him ageless and immortal, though she could never touch his heart” (Bk XXIII:300-372). Despite the temptations of being immortal and staying with the beautiful Calypso, Odysseus denies her offer and says he wants to return home to his wife, Penelope. He would rather die with Penelope as a mortal than live forever with the enchanting Calypso, showing how much he loves her. This also proves the extent of Odysseus’s love, and how he is true to her no matter what, which he can be praised for. In addition, he is honored, regardless of his relations with Calypso since his heart remains with Penelope, following the Greek culture. By being loyal to his crewmates and wife, Odysseus is considered honorable.

Secondly, Odysseus displays heroic qualities based on his actions. For example, while taking down the Cyclops, Polyphemus, Odysseus’s “hand could bear to thrust and grind th[e] spike in Cyclops’ eye” (280-281), showing his valor. Although Odysseus is faced with Polyphemus, the large man-eating monster, he is not frightened. Instead, by saying that Odysseus can “thrust and grind” the stake at the Cyclops’s eye, the strong word choice indicates his strength and ability to overcome the obstacles he may encounter. Not only is this impressive to face the terrifying monster but it is also an honorable action to blind Polyphemus so Odysseus and his men to easily escape. He is seen as heroic here for avoiding certain death and calling upon his courage to gouge out Polyphemus’s eye, in addition to saving his men. For undertaking this dangerous task to save others and oppose great obstacles, Odysseus is given respect from his crewmates. In addition, Odysseus is clever in his encounter with Scylla and Charybdis, later reflecting, thinking, “But as I sent them on toward Scylla, I told them nothing, as they could do nothing” (783-784). The decision to not tell his men was difficult for Odysseus, but he could not let his crew persuade him to sail back, otherwise, they would never reach Ithaca. Using his cleverness, he had to think of what would be best for the greater good to save him and his men. The decision to choose which monster would be in his best interest to encounter was also difficult for him. However, he chose Scylla which prevented everyone on the ship from dying. Odysseus was also smart to not go on a suicide mission so that they could reach Ithaca. Moreover, he is also smart in his ability to separate his feelings and actions, choosing his actions based on pre-arranged plans instead of current feelings. By choosing Scylla, Odysseus knows she will tear some to shreds but knows he has to witness the atrocities to save more of his men. By not fighting back in blind rage, and subduing his grief, he devises a plan allowing them to escape. His men who survived, although sad about those they lost, have respect and thank him for his heroic qualities. In his encounter with the Cyclops, Scylla, and Charybdis, Odysseus exhibits his impressive bravery and qualities.

Throughout history, every man’s main goal has been obtaining honor and glory by defeating their opponents or making it back from dangerous journeys alive. For this reason, Odysseus is honorable for his actions on his way home to Ithaca. He displays loyalty to his crewmates and Penelope and is also honorable for his heroic qualities such as his bravery and cleverness. Using the best of his abilities, Odysseus is loyal to and constantly makes decisions to try to save his men. He also remains loyal to his wife since all of his actions are revolved around finally being with her. Moreover, Odysseus’s loyalty and perseverance relate to the theme that by not giving up and following what is right, everyone benefits. Although circumstances seem tough to overcome such as with the Cyclops, at Calypso’s island, and Scylla and Charybdis, by continuing to fight and not letting the temptation get to him, Odysseus can return to Ithaca. His attitude can be helpful to everyone because by persevering and staying loyal, respect, honor, and trust are gained. These attributes also create strong and dependable leaders, making them a more honorable and respectable person. Furthermore, by staying loyal and having heroic qualities, honor can be brought as a result. 

Power Vs Honour Essay

The violence of the dishonorable Thanes of Cawdor led to a snowball effect of civil unrest in Scotland in Macbeth. The Thane of Cawdor, before Macbeth had the title, was dishonorably initiating a rebellion against King Duncan for more power in Scotland. In response to the Thane of Glamis, Macbeth enters the fight for his honor and the honor of his King, Duncan. He fights beside Banquo in a heroin battle “As cannons overcharged with double cracks”(I, ii, 41) where eventually “The victory fell on…”(I, ii, 65) the honorable Macbeth and for King Duncan. That leads to Macbeth being rewarded for his honorable action with the newfound title of Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth acted honorable in his violent efforts to defeat the dishonorable rebels yet if there were no dishonorable actions due to the lust for power at all then there would be no violence or bloodshed. The only reason this occurred was due to the dishonorable actions to quench an individual’s lust for power and violence that begets more violence from the honorable side, a lesson that should’ve been learned by the victor, Macbeth.

However, Macbeth did not learn his lesson but copied the mistakes of his previous enemy. When Macbeth dishonorably took the throne from Duncan, after killing him in cold blood while sleeping, he became blinded by his hubris due to the second prophecy of the weird sisters. He believed that even due to the dishonorable action he is to “..beware, MacDuff..” (IV, iii, 71), that “..none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (IV, iii, 80-81), and that he “..shall never vanquish be until Great Birnam wood to high Durninane hill” (IV, iii, 92-93). Due to the second prophecy, he found himself to be invincible in his rule it is impossible for the woods to be moved, or that any man who opposed him, especially the honored MacDuff or otherwise could kill him as each child must be a woman born. Macbeth at this time acted dishonorably again as he ordered the slaughter of Macduff’s defenseless family. Thus, when the honorable army made by MacDuff and Malcolm moved to Macbeth’s castle and broke each prophetic message by coincidence the battle between the dishonorable Macbeth and the honorable Rebels was already decided. Alike to Macbeth’s previous battle against the dishonorable Thane of Cawdor, the honored side won the fight. Especially as MacDuff broke the first and the second prophetic message as he “..was from the mother’s womb untimely ripped” (V, vii, 15-16) meaning he showed “.. the blood will have blood”(III, iv, 123) as he avenged his family and freed his country from bloody torment of Macbeth. Shakespeare emphasizes once again that dishonorable violence begets honorable violence. If Macbeth had not been tainted by dishonor and stuck to his honorable values such as loyalty then there would be no violence. Yet dishonor and blood followed Macbeth’s lust for power, which blinded him to his inevitable death.

The fall of Macbeth’s honor all began due to his lust for more and more power. Before meeting the three witches, Macbeth acted honorably, towards his king and country, yet once he heard that his fate was to become “..Thane of Cawdor!”(I, iii, 51) and “..thou shalt be king hereafter!” (I, iii, 52) and that the king was going to “..call thee [Macbeth] thane of Cawdor..most worthy thane!”(I, iii, 109-110). Something in Macbeth must’ve changed as it seemed his prophesied fate was to come true since he began to act dishonorably on that same day with his wife, Lady Macbeth. For Macbeth and his wife commit one of the worst possible sins to quench his lust for power, he murders his king whom he was previously loyal to in his sleep and his wife “..gild the faces of grooms withal: for it must be their guilt” (II, ii, 70-71). This despicable and extremely dishonorable action sets into motion events that destroy the two inside and out.

Macbeth is tormented by his blood-soaked hands that “..all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand..will rather..incarnadine..the green one red” (II, ii, 75-78). Macbeth is also haunted by the ghost of whom he ordered to be killed, Banquo, who they killed for the threat that his “..children shall be kings”(I, iii, 88). Banquo’s ghost “..that dare look on that which might appall the devil” (III, iv, 58-59) at Macbeth’s banquet leads to each one of his fellow leaders believing that he is going mad. This madness would later be turned into blinding hubris to his final battle. Lady Macbeth deals with her demons as she begins to “..rise from her bed, throw her night-gown upon her, unlock her chest, take forth paper, fold it, write upon’t, read it, afterward seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while most fast asleep” (V, I, 6-9) that inevitably leads to her death as she gets no treatment from her doctor, as he ran away from Dunisandane. This turmoil within both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth occurred due to their dishonorable killings to quench their lust for power and keep that power. The turmoil that began in their heads as if they were poisoned with nightmares by their dishonorable actions inevitably led to their demise on the battlefield or by simple misfortune.