Category: Macbeth

In William Shakespeares play Macbeth, the supernatural plays a crucial part in inspiring Macbeths actions. Supernatural elements create dramatic tension, with the witches predictions in Scene 3 of Act 1 as a critical instigating incident. Macbeths desire to replace Duncan as Scotlands monarch is driven by otherworldly forces. The presence of the supernatural encourages the protagonists to feel superior and arrogant. The supernaturally manufactured predictions lure Macbeth and Banquo with the idea of power, leading Macbeth to plot the cruel murder of Duncan. Macbeth believes that by murdering his close friend Banquo, he will finally be able to live up to the prophecy that he will become king. At an earlier gathering that night, he had a supernatural encounter with the ghost of a recently departed friend. The prophecies of the three witches inspire Macbeths desire to murder Banquo, but he digs himself into a deeper hole in the process. The plays sense of mystery is enhanced by Macbeths use of the bizarre (Hibbs and Hibbs 275). The plays supernatural aspects drive the plot and elevate its tragic elements by leading the protagonist further away from the passage of the typical hero.

Any supernatural effect on his choices, particularly those involving murder, is purely voluntary. It is only fair that he takes some responsibility for the many failures and catastrophes he is brought on by depending on them. On the other hand, without the supernatural, it is unlikely that Macbeth would even have the courage to consider such notions, much alone act on them. Macbeth begins his journey of murder when he tells Lady Macbeth about the witches. He recalled how these Weird Sisters hailed me and pointed to the advent of time with Hail, the king that shalt be, as he put it (Shakespeare). The influence of the supernatural on his wife, Lady Macbeth, drove him to murder King Duncan; had he not informed her about his vision, events could have turned out differently. Once he reveals to Lady Macbeth the divine prophesy he got, he loses all chance of returning to his former noble life. The supernatural plays a significant role in Macbeths universe.

In Scene 1 of Act IV, Macbeth returns to the Weird Sisters and demands to see visions of his future. Macbeth is warned of Macduffs vengeance by a severed warriors head. In the second scene, a little boy, covered in blood, promises Macbeth that no man of woman born can kill him. Macbeth will not be beaten in battle, the young king swears, as long as Birnam wood is physically transported to Dunsinane. Upon learning of these impossibilities, Macbeth exclaims, reign in this kingdom? (Schojbert 1). The witches have Banquo leading a ghostly parade of imaginary kings. This only infuriates Macbeth more, and he goes so far as to admit to the audience that he wants to murder the whole Macduff family because of his pride.

In this play, the supernatural aspect is genuine or verifiable. Since both Macbeth and Banquo see the witches, their presence is confirmed. The supernatural aspect adds to the drama by validating and concretizing the heros internal struggles. Therefore, Macbeths witches represent the guilt deep within his psyche. However, the supernatural aspect does not exert an overbearing force, and the hero is never made helpless or absolved of responsibility for his actions. Although it is only suggestive, the hero is under no obligation to act upon it. The supernatural plays a vital role in accelerating the heros demise and elevating the tragedy within the play but ultimately teaches the weight of responsibility for personal actions.

Works Cited

Schojbert, Haley. The Supernatural, the Demonic, and Witchcraft in Early Modern English plays: Macbeth, the Witch, the Witch of Edmonton, and Doctor Faustus. 2020. The State University of New York at New Paltz, MA thesis.

Hibbs, Thomas, and Stacey Hibbs. Virtue, Natural Law, and Supernatural Solicitation: A Thomistic Reading of Shakespeares Macbeth. Religion and the Arts, vol 5, no 3, 2001, pp. 273- 296, Web.

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Wordsworth Classics, 1992.

The given writings central theme is a fulfillment of the prophecies in a highly tragic manner, where the main characters learn about their demise beforehand and make attempts to either make it the reality or avoid it. In the case of Oedipus, the prophecy is manifested in the fact that the main character will eventually kill his father, therefore, righteous Oedipus leaves his city in order to prevent his adopted fathers death. In doing so, he unknowingly meets his biological father and kills due to a minor confrontational issue. The story proceeds with Oedipus becoming the king of another city, where he unintentionally marries his biological mother and conceives four children. Later he realizes that he was involved in an incest relationship, which leads to his and the familys downfall.

In the case of Macbeth, the main character is introduced as a brave and righteous warrior, who raises to higher ranks of power due to the king recognizing his efforts. Three witches tell the prophecy of Macbeth becoming a king, which fuels his desire for power. His wife and he make an immoral decision to make Macbeth the king by killing the current monarch and his sons. By continuously ignoring his righteousness, Macbeth becomes more and more afraid and paranoiac of the possible revenge, which results in Macbeth seeking more prophecies in order to prevent them from happening. He learns that he will be dethroned and killed by the previous kings descendant, which ultimately becomes a reality. In Oedipus, the main characters primary intention is to escape the prophecy to avoid murdering his father. In Macbeth, the main character learns about the prophecy and wants to fulfill it by deliberately committing immoral actions.

Reasons that Support the Thesis Statement

Righteousness

The overall role of righteousness is paramount in both stories, where the characters initially possess it, but the instances where they ignore their righteousness leads to their demise. In Oedipus case, he was mostly righteous through the story, ut committed the crime of murdering the king, who is his biological father, due to a small confrontation. Both parties were not aware of the fact that they are related. It is stated: When the old man saw this he watched his moment, and as I passed he struck me from his carriage, full on the head with his two pointed goads (Sophocles 13). During this moment, Oedipus becomes a victim of his rage and anger, which resulted in him killing his father, and thus, fulfilling the prophecy. This single instance of the unrighteous act was a turning point of the story, where he unknowingly fulfills the prophecy and proceeds with setting up the conditions for future ramifications.

In Macbeths case, righteousness is the highest at the beginning of the story, where he was a simple warrior. He continuously loses it as he becomes more lustful for power, which begins when he becomes a thane. His ambition was manifested in the desire to acquire more power, where he wants to remove any potential rivals for the throne. The story contains multiple episodes where Macbeth had the freedom to choose eto to remain loyal to the king or betray him and seek out his interests (Shakespeare). The main character repetitively chooses immoral options in order to become a king and fulfill the prophecy. After killing the king, he wants to prevent the second part of the prophecy, which stated that his best friends descendants would become kings, by sending killers after them. The overall picture becomes clear when the character becomes less happy and more paranoid about his future. The lack of righteousness was the main issue that led to the tragedy.

Prophecy

Prophecy plays a major role in both stories, where the characters become aware of their future at the beginning of their storylines. In Oedipus case, he does not want to kill his father, therefore, the main character flees the city with the goal of finding his biological father. The prophecy becomes fulfilled early on in the story, but it is revealed to Oedipus only later. The main approach of the primary hero is to prevent the prophecy from becoming a reality, which is because Oedipus is not devious or evil. His desire to keep his adopted father safe was an act of righteousness, but the prophecy is fulfilled nonetheless. By trying to escape the city, he unintentionally kills his biological father and puts himself in an incest relationship. A persons free will and his doom are the main contradiction in tragedy, which manifests itself in a series of consequences.

In Macbeths case, the main character becomes aware of the prophecy early on in the storyline. However, his approach is different, because Macbeth wishes to fulfill the prophecy of becoming a king. Three witches plant a seed of thought in his head, which grows and influences the characters further actions. This primarily affects his ambition and lust for power, which requires Macbeth to commit a series of murders. All these choices are morally wrong, because the king rewarded him for his loyalty, and the key person of the second part of the prophecy was his best friend. Nevertheless, Macbeth consciously makes a decision under the influence of his wife to become king by murdering his rivals (Shakespeare). Therefore, the main characters overall approach to their corresponding prophecies leads to their demise.

Power

Power is a core element of two storylines, where the main characters start out as ordinary man but become kings later in the story. In Oedipus case, he is not interested in power as much as Macbeth did but acquires it by defeating the sphinx and saving the city of his biological father (Sophocles 7). However, power played a major role in establishing the characters position in becoming his mothers husband. The latter was the most shocking realization that Oedipus experiences, which results in him abandoning his sons and the city.

In Macbeths case, the concept of power becomes more relevant, because the main character actively seeks it and makes attempts to preserve it despite the prophecy. Macbeth hhas several of occasions where he could have adhered to his righteousness, but in every instance, he ignores it and goes in a downward spiral. Macbeths lust for power makes him less happy and moreparanoidc of possible revenge plots. In desperation, he consults witches, but the prophecy remains unchanged where he will be cast down by his best friends son.

Counter Arguments and Responses to Them

It is important to note that despite the prophecies, power, and righteousness, it is the main characters wrongdoings that led to their demise. The key element here is the fact that both characters committed atrocities by murdering mostly innocent people. The price for their actions was the result of prophecy becoming a reality. In Oedipuss case, the moment of anger and rage, which resulted in him killing an entire group of people, including his father, was a turning point. All further actions worsened the issue, where he becomes the king, marries the queen, and conceives children with her. The given case can be considered as an exaggerated one, but it is evident that such major wrongdoing would result in some form of ramification for the murderer.

In Macbeths case, the main fuel is a hunger for control and power, which leads to the fact that the main character abandons all forms of morals and betrays everyone. Macbeth starts off by killing his own king, who rewarded him for his loyalty. Later, he kills his best friend for being a potential rival for the throne according to the prophecy. He also orders to kill his best friends son, because he is also involved in witches predictions. This case is a more simplistic and realistic one, where a person becomes a victim of his own lust for power and commits a series of immoral actions to prevent his demise.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important to understand that both Oedipus and Macbeths cases are illustrations of a person deliberately wanting to change the prophecy, and thus, fulfilling it. Although the stories have some significant differences in the overall attitudes of the main characters towards their corresponding prophecies, there are common elements, such as righteousness, power, and prophecy. Oedipus fulfills his prophecy by unknowingly killing his father for small confrontation, whereas Macbeth wants to fulfill a part of the prophecy and wishes to prevent another one. Both main characters effort only facilitates the prophecy progression, which implies that ones destiny is unavoidable. The problem of righteousness is present in both storylines, where Oedipus is mostly righteous and Macbeth starts out as such, but gradually loses it. Prophecy is also a common subject of these two stories, where the main characters become aware of their future in the beginning and take deliberate actions to either prevent it entirely or partially. Power is a central feature of the writings, because both Macbeth and Oedipus eventually become kings. However, it can be argued that these elements might not be relevant, because any atrocity will result in some form of ramification.

References

1. Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Dover Publications, 1993.
2. Sophocles. Oedipus the King. University of Chicago Press, 2010.

The play Macbeth depicts the similarities and differences between the characters Macbeth, Banquo, and Macduff as they play different roles in the tragedy. Both Macbeth and Banquo receive a prophecy about kingship, and this prediction directs the events in the play. On the other hand, Macduff is King Daniels trusted servant who unsuccessfully attempts to install his son after the sons death. Although Macduff and Banquo share the trait of commitment to their masters, Macduff is the hero because he kills the power-hungry Macbeth to avenge the slain King Macbeth while Banquo is the supporting character for his unsuccessful attempts to install Daniels son to the throne.

Macduff and Banquo suffer personal losses due to their actions. Macduffs commitment to the slain king Daniel causes him to flee to England to seek his son to inherit the throne (Act 5, scene 1). However, he is unsuccessful in the mission and suffers the loss of his family when Macbeth murders them. Banquo, on the other hand, remains dedicated to Macbeth when he ascends to the throne despite his suspicions. Banquo pays for allegiance with his life when Macbeth murders him (Act 4, scene 3). Macbeth contrasts the character of Banquo and Macduff as he is selfish and seeks to eliminate anyone who potentially challenges his kingship. Overall, it is apparent that both Macduff and Banquo maintain their devotion to their rulers at all times.

The play Macbeth exemplifies the heroism of Macduff, who successfully avenges King Daniels death by killing Macbeth. Although Banquo is loyal to Macduff, he is suspicious and dies at the Kings hands. The play shows the similarity in the characters of Macduff and Banquo in their commitment to their masters. Macduff is the hero of the drama because he eliminates the tyrannical king in a case of poetic justice. Although Macduff and Banquo display commitment to their masters and attempt to defend the throne against Macbeth, Macduff emerges as the hero because of his successful killing of the king to pave way for His masters son to become the king.

Work Cited

Barton, Roger. Macbeth. Shakespeare Out Loud, n.d.

While reading this amazing creation of Shakespeare, I have always thought of corruption its effect. The more I read the more I realized and understood the undesirable effects of corruption. I wouldnt say ambition is the effect of corruption but its rather one of the factors. Supporting my finding and analysis that this story is based on corruption that is brought upon by so much ambition I have quoted several quotations found in this book.

As stated by Lady Macbeth The raven himself is hoarse. That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan. Under my battlements. Come, you spirits. That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full. Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood, Stop up the access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep the peace between Th effect and it.

Come to my womans breasts, And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers, Wherever in your sightless substances, You wait on natures mischief. Come, thick night, And pall thee in the most dun smoke of hell, That my keen knife sees not the wound it makes, Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, To cry Hold, hold! In essence, Lady Macbeth was saying that for as long as her ambition for her husband is present, it will be used to help his husband acquire the crown.

Even if it was going to cause her to kill or commit violence, she was ready for it in her desire to get what she wants. Discussing every significant role of this novel, here are the characters: Macbeth, is a Scottish General and Thane of Glamis that was influenced by the prophecy and his wife to do violent acts; Lady Macbeth, is the wife of General Macbeth that influenced his husband to kill Duncan for the throne; Three Witches, the three sire that prophesized the kingship of Macbeth; Banquo, is the epitome of the opposite of Macbeth.

Yes, he has ambition, but he did not put it into action through Violence and death; King Duncan, Signified a benevolent, righteous, and virtuous king that Macbeth killed due to his wifes influence and great ambition; Macduff, A nobleman that was against the kingship of Macbeth. Macduff was Macbeths greatest challenge against his throne; Malcolm, in addition to Macduff, is the other challenge of Macbeth against his throne. He is one of the sons of King Duncan; Lastly, Hecate, the leader and goddess of the three witches that aided in their plot against Macbeth. Looking at each character and comparing their roles to the society each has its own definition.

For example, Macbeth is a politician or an individual who has so much ambition and is willing to take any challenge just to have what he wants. While Macduff represents the people of the society that wouldnt take any of his inadequate domination. As an effect, the people are willing to fight back or give awareness to bring down inhumane or hostile acts. On the other hand, Lady Macbeth is the epitome of the source of evil or untamable ambition. It could be money, power, or both. The Images or theme that Shakespeare essentially used is the negative effect of so much ambition that leads to corruption. Macbeth is a symbol that any society should try to avoid.

It signifies that if life is lead by ambition that would not be stopped by anything regardless of this hostility the world will be in danger. Similar to Hitler, if ambition is not in tacked with the proper values world war 3 will occur. I believe that the impact that society has on this novel is a preview of not allowing control on public or personal desires to be in place to avoid innocent people, family, race, or country being affected by victims of personal desires.

Introduction:

The Pervasive Influence of Ambition: Analyzing Macbeth’s Downfall and Temptations

Shakespeare was a prolific writer whose works included timeless themes. Most of the themes in Shakespeare’s works are evident in the modern world. “Macbeth” is a tragedy that highlights the downfall of Macbeth, a morally upright person at the beginning of the story, but who later engages in heinous crimes because of unrestrained desire. Hence, unchecked ambition is the principal theme in “Macbeth,” and it progresses the plot of the story forward. Initially, Lady Macbeth is the one who seems overwhelmed by her lust for power. However, over time, Macbeth becomes an unyielding person who is ready to protect his ambition of staying in power. Although Macbeth seems like a victim of prophecy and his wife’s desires, his determination to stay on the throne surges after he wears the crown.

The Prophetic Catalyst: Macbeth’s Fatal Desires Ignited

Macbeth’s desire to be king is visible from the beginning of the story. However, without the witches’ prophesy and Lady Macbeth’s motivation, this desire might have been restrained within him. The first driving force for Macbeth’s ambition is the prophecy by the three witches. These witches play an important role in the story because they are the first people to call Macbeth’s ambitions into action. In fact, Macbeth is encouraged to follow the path he has always desired when the witches prophesy that he will be king and that no “woman born” can harm him.

Macbeth seems happy about the prophecy and starts to wonder what he should do with the information he just received. However, it is unclear if the prophecy will come to pass as it is ambiguous. The witches also conceal some of the information that can help him decide if his desire to be the king is something he should pursue. The prophecy, therefore, leaves Macbeth with no choice but to make a decision on the way he wants his fate to unfold. According to Clarke, the role of the witches is not to actually cause evil but to tempt the characters in the story to involve themselves in immoral behaviors. Though the desire to become king is within Macbeth, he would not have killed the king and anyone else who got in his way if he did not have the information provided by the witches. The prophesy is also the catalyst for Lady Macbeth’s unrelenting push for her husband to commit murder.

Lady Macbeth’s Tempting Tempest: A Force to Reckon

Lady Macbeth’s desire is the reason why Macbeth overcomes his guilt and decides to hasten his quest to attain kingship. It is unlikely that Macbeth would have ventured into the murderous journey if it were not for his wife. After Macbeth hears the prophesy, he writes a letter to Lady Macbeth informing her of the happenings. This letter awakens Lady Macbeth’s power-hungry desires, which she later transfers to her husband by constantly questioning his manhood. She continuously asks him to show his courage by killing Duncan so that they can become royalty. She laments, “When you durst do it, then you were a man. Thus, there is no doubt that Macbeth is unwilling to commit murder since even after he does, he feels guilty for committing it. However, Lady Macbeth encourages him and even implicates other people so that her husband is not among the suspects.

Macbeth is over-reliant on the opinions of others, and that is why he eventually succumbs to his wife’s desire that he commit murder. When Macbeth seeks consolation from a character that is devoid of any moral values, he is bound to fall prey. Lady Macbeth is ruthless and determined to make her “dearest partner of greatness” the king of Scotland. Lady Macbeth knows that her husband has a moral conscience when she says, “Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ the milk of human kindnessю” Lady Macbeth also believes that her husband should not wait for his destiny passively but should actively participate to see that the prophecy is fulfilled. Consequently, she stimulates her husband’s desire to be the king by convincing him to rebuke his guilty conscience. As a result, to prove his manliness, Macbeth surrenders to her desire, thus marking the beginning of his spiral down the moral scale.

The Moral Crossroads: Macbeth’s Choices and Consequences

Macbeth is not guiltless for his evil deeds. The fact that he is forced to do evil by the prophecy and his wife does not mean that he is innocent. He had a choice to wait for the time the prophecy would be fulfilled and to rule based on moral values. Nevertheless, after he becomes king, his desire to stay on the throne spirals out of control. He continues murdering people because he fears that the truth may be revealed, and as a result, he might be overthrown. According to Clarke, these actions are no longer motivated by his wife’s desire or the witches but by his determination to stay in power.

Ambition’s Price: Macbeth’s Ultimate Power Struggle

At the beginning of the story, Macbeth is a morally upright man who believes that King Duncan does not deserve to die. During the first visit by Duncan to Macbeth’s house, Macbeth informs his wife that they will no longer proceed with the business because “he hath honored me of late.” Here, it is not cowardice on Macbeth’s part but respect and concern for someone who also accorded him respect. However, he does not hold the lure to his ambition for long. He commits his first evil act, which becomes a symbol of what temptation can do to a person of integrity. Once a person engages in an evil act, they must engage in more to sustain their desires. If, for instance, Macbeth had resisted the temptation to kill the king, then the subsequent murders would not have taken place.

Conclusion:

Hence, “Macbeth” by Shakespeare is a play that reveals the dangers of individuals submitting to their desires wholly. Macbeth’s ambition is present within him from the beginning but is fueled into action by the witches’ prophesy and his wife’s power-hungry nature. Though the witches’ prophesy and his wife’s persistent questioning of his manliness stir his desire to become king, Macbeth makes a conscious choice afterward to stay in power by murdering those who threaten his ambition. As such, Lady Macbeth is the driving force behind the fulfillment of the prophecy, while Macbeth is the person who ensures that he stays in power for as long as he is alive.

References:

1. Shakespeare, William. Macbeth (Ignatius Critical Editions). Edited by Joseph Pearce, Ignatius Press, 2010.
2. Clarke, Danielle. “The Temptation of Macbeth: The Role of the Witches and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth’s Downfall.” Shakespearean Studies Journal, vol. 23, no. 2, 2017, pp. 7-27.
3. Shakespeare, William. “Macbeth Companion.” Edited by John Turner. Folger Shakespeare Library, 2019, www.folger.edu/shakespeares-works/macbeth/companion.
4. Shakespeare, William. “A Study Guide to Macbeth.” Edited by Simon Johnson. Shakespeare Online, 2020, www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/macbeth/macbethstudy.html.
5. Gale & Cengage Learning. “Macbeth: Character Studies.” Shakespeare for Students, vol. 1, Gale, 1992, pp. 25-30.

Deception and Disguise in Macbeth’s World

In the modern world, many things or persons present themselves as friendly, but in reality, they are toxic ones. This powerful quote, “Look like the innocent flower, / But be the serpent under it” (Act I, Scene 5, Lines 66-67), summarises an important theme in this tragic story. It shows how a character’s appearance is often taken in rather than their true colors, which can cause a great disaster. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are the most phony people in this play because the simple prophecies that The Weird Witches gave Macbeth had changed his and Lady Macbeth’s lives. Many relationships, businesses, or prescription drugs can also present themselves as “innocent flowers.” In life in the modern world, people are usually between reality and appearance, guilt and loyalty.

The Machinations of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

Most of the Macbeth play shows how Macbeth tricks King Duncan into believing he’s a good person, but in reality, he betrays King Duncan. Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to play innocent until the King trusts him so no one will suspect his true intention of murdering the King. Macbeth then continues his bad actions and decides to murder his friend Banquo. In the play, it shows that Lady Macbeth is the brains behind all of Macbeth’s crimes. If Macbeth first realized it was a bad thing to do when Lady Macbeth told him to kill King Duncan, he would not be the serpent, and nothing bad would have happened. That is how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are not the innocent ones. They are the evil people in this play.

The Modern Parallels of Deceptive Facades

There are many real-life examples of how people take things or people for granted and use them for their own benefit. Such as businesses, business partners, or even business deals or contracts can often present themselves as “innocent flowers” even though they are really “serpents.” Many business partners are very shady and may show you they are true to you, but in reality, they are attempting to steal your money or rob the company. Countless individuals agree to sign a contract, believing it will benefit them, but they are actually agreeing to bad terms and will rob them. Also, people will often not read the contract and do not see what they are getting into. Those are some examples of how businesses take individuals for granted to benefit themselves.

The Consequences of Illusion and Neglect

Additionally, many individuals harm other people or even their own bodies just because of being extremely rude and not thinking straight, such as people’s relationships and taking prescription drugs for their own use. During relationships, significant others can represent themselves as honest individuals but turn out to be dishonest and evil people. Many marriages can end in divorce because people view their significant other as a wonderful person or an “innocent flower” but then discover they are harmful and violent “serpent.” Also, prescription drugs can represent themselves as “innocent flowers” but are actually “serpents.” For example, people can feel relief from prescription drugs and will continue to take more than they should. People then become addicted to the prescription drug, which can ruin their lives. That is how people harm their bodies or each other just because they do not think straight.

Macbeth and Richard III: Two Paths to Villainy

Macbeth and Richard III are both protagonists. They are villains driven by power and their lust for ambition. They are both villains who are driven by different forces that lead them to be evil and commit heinous deeds. In order to get the power they long for, they are willing to resort to murder. Both Macbeth and Richard’s minds become so clouded by their need to rule and become King that they lose sight of right and wrong. Through the examination of each character, they both reveal that they are villains that become so in different ways. The theme of power is seen in both Macbeth and Richard III; power is the evil that drives them to become more and more corrupt.

Macbeth’s Transformation: From Ambition to Villainy

Macbeth was never a villain from the beginning. He would’ve never been able to become a villain alone. But with the badgering of Lady Macbeth and the witches, he is fueled by the greed for power. Stephen Greenblatt states, “Macbeth is tormented by an awareness of the wickedness of what he is doing. Endowed with a clear-eyed grasp of the difference between good and evil, he chooses evil, even though the choice mystifies and sickens him” (). Macbeth knows right from wrong, and every wrongdoing that he commits sickens him. But once the evil deed is done, he becomes numb and willing to do so again to get the power he longs for.

Act 1 Scene 7 is a perfect example of Lady Macbeth pushing Macbeth to commit murder, “From this time Such I account thy love. Art thou afeared To be the same in thine own act and valor As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would,” Like the poor cat the adage?”  Lady Macbeth fuels Macbeth’s desire more by stating that from now on, this is how she will see their love. She continues by asking if this is what he wants and if he doesn’t, then he can live like a coward. Macbeth goes back and forth about committing the murder, but after a while of convincing, he decides, “ I am settled, and bend up/ Each corporal agent to this terrible featю” The lust for power and taking Duncan’s royalty has finally made Macbeth decide to commit his first murder. After committing his first murder, he becomes more obsessed with the idea of becoming King, and that evil leads to more evil, and slowly, that becomes easier for Macbeth to do.

Richard III: Born into Villainy

Richard III was a villain from the very beginning. Richard states in Act 1 Scene 1 that he has dangerous plans and lies in motion to make Clarence and King Edward go against each other. Stephen Greenblatt states, “..he spares Richard little else in the way of both deformity and villainy: his king is a twisted, devious, ruthless murdererю” Richard is known for being deformed, devious, and a murderer. From the very beginning, Richard says, “Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time/ Into this breathing world scarce half made up, And that so lamely and unfashionable That dogs bark at me as I halt by them; Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to spy my shadow in the sun And descant on mine own deformity.

And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover To entertain these fair well-spoken days, I am determined to prove a villainю” Richard states that because of his deformities, he has nothing, and he is weak. He uses his deformities as a way to justify his behavior. He can’t amuse himself as a lover, so he has decided to become a villain. Richard had planned on doing whatever it took for him to become King. He uses his deformity as a tool to gain sympathy from others. He is manipulative and a liar and will not stop by any means to get what he wants. Richard, without even thinking twice, starts committing murder to get the throne. “But, sirs, be sudden in the execution—Withal obdurate. Do not hear him plead, For Clarence is well-spoken, and perhaps May move your hearts to pity if you mark himю” He first executes his older brother Clarence in order to guilt King Edward into accelerating his death to become the person in charge. Richard shows no remorse for killing those who stand in his way of the throne.

Contrasting Journeys: Macbeth’s Guilt and Richard’s Resolve

Macbeth and Richard are both villains, but their process of becoming a villain is very different. It took time and encouragement for Macbeth to slowly accept the idea of becoming evil and committing heinous acts to get what he wanted. Richard, on the other hand, was born to be a villain. The fact that he was born “Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time” (1.1.20) makes it seem as though he is angry with the fact that he was born deformed, so he gets to be evil. His whole life’s purpose was to be evil and to prove that he was a great villain. He had a set plan for the evil acts he was going to commit to get what he wanted in life. With the deformities that he had, he used that to his advantage to make others feel sympathy for him and used it to manipulate others as well.

One main difference between Macbeth and Richard is guilt. Guilt is seen frequently in Macbeth. In Act 1 Scene 7, you can see that Macbeth knows right from wrong. He didn’t want to commit evil acts. Macbeth goes on to say, “We will proceed no further in this business. He hath honored me of late, and I have bought Golden opinions from all sorts of people, Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, Not cast aside so soonю” He was content with the honor that King Duncan had given him. He had earned all sorts of good opinions from people. But Lady Macbeth kept pushing him not to be a coward. He knew he shouldn’t kill Duncan, but the lust he had for power and the throne was so great that he could not help it. After the murder, Macbeth states, “ I am in blood Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’erю” Macbeth feels guilt after the murder, but he knows that there is no going back, and this is the start of him committing crimes more easily to get what he wants. As for Richard, you never see any guilt from him. He knows what he wants, and in order for him to get what he wants, he must commit all the heinous crimes.

Macbeth was an honorable man in the beginning, but over time, his lust for power ultimately destroyed him. Macbeth teaches us that we are all capable of becoming evil. Humans all want “things.” Whether it be money, power, or love, we could all fall into the shoes of Macbeth. If we let our lust for something become unhealthy, we, too, could commit evil deeds to get what we want. It’s important to know right from wrong and to not let our lust for something get to the point where it is unhealthy. We should strive to be like Macbeth in the beginning. We should also not let outside forces (friends, strangers, etc.) stray us from what is right.

In the end, villains ultimately always end up alone. After all the heinous crimes they had to commit, they finally both became kings. Lady Macbeth has committed suicide; therefore, that leaves Macbeth by himself. In the end, Macbeth is beheaded by Macduff. Richard got everything he had planned for himself. But in the end, he was haunted by the ghosts of all the people that he had killed. Richard was also killed in battle the next day after his encounter with the ghosts. All in all, they both got what they needed by force and the evil they committed and in the end, they were punished by death.

References:

1. Greenblatt, Stephen. Macbeth. W. W. Norton & Company, 2018.
2. Shakespeare, William. Richard III. W. W. Norton & Company, 2011.

Throughout Macbeth Macbeth transforms from a respected Noble into a tyrannous ruler that is ultimately defeated by his own hubris. The play tells the classic tale of a tragic hero by giving macbeth a fatal flaw and excessive pride as well as a moment in his story where he loses everything and reflects on what brought him to that moment. Macbeth is a definitive tragic hero. He embodies the main characteristics of a tragic hero, those being: hamartia, hubris, peripeteia, and anagnorisis. Shaksepeare outdoes himself in The Tragedy of Macbeth making Macbeth one of the theatre’s most iconic examples of a tragic hero.

Macbeth’s tragic flaw, or hamartia, is his ambition. Macbeth wants more out of life, just like many humans do, but he becomes obsessed with it. This obsession leads to him killing the King and his best friends. bWhat makes Macbeth’s ambition his fatal flaw is that it blinds him and he becomes obsessed with it. He cannot be satisfied with being great; he must be the best. This is seen by him being dissatisfied with his promotion to Thane of Cawdor. The first thing Macbeth thinks about after hearing the witches’ first prophecy for him, is how he can become king. After this, when Macbeth is summoned to King Duncan’s castle and Duncan announces that he would make Malcolm his heir to the throne, Macbeth decides that he would have to kill Duncan and Malcolm to become king. Macbeth says “The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step On which I must fall down or else o’er-laep For in my way it lies”. Macbeth remains relatable to the audience by flopping back and forth between deciding to kill King Duncan or not. Macbeth shoots down any thoughts of killing King Duncan at first “I have but to spur to prick the sides of my intent, But only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’other” (Shakespeare 1. 7. 25-27). Many people contemplate doing illegal things but do not do such things because of their morals and the knowledge that if they commit a crime they will be punished. However, in the case of Macbeth, he sees himself as above mortal men and that he can do no wrong. Macbeth feels as though he is invincible. This is reinforced by the witches telling him that No man born of a woman will be able to harm him (Shakespeare 4. 1. 90-91). Macbeth then concludes “Then live, Macduff; what need I fear of thee?” Macbeth is so ambitious that he is not deterred by the morality of his actions or the repercussions he may face (Stolarski). Those repercussions include things like losing the aide of his best friend Banquo, who says he would not be Macbeth’s advisor he was to obtain his position in an unlawful way. Macbeth’s ambition is so blinding towards him that it sends his moral compass out of whack and he commits heinous crimes such as killing Banquo, his best friend, as well as Banquo’s son, Fleance and Macduff’s wife and children. Macbeth’s hamartia ends up turning a respected nobleman into a treasonist that is overthrown by his own people.

Hubris means excessive pride and disrespect for the natural order of things. At the start of Macbeth, Macbeth is not a prideful character. However, by the end of the play, he becomes a prideful tyrant where his hubris ultimately gets the best of him. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is held in high regard by King Duncan and the two are good friends. Macbeth is not very prideful in the first act of the play. Early in this act, Macbeth wrestles with his morales on whether it is right to kill King Duncan. In order to do his dirty work he needs encouragement from Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth does not even believe that her husband is capable of murder. She says he is “too full o’ the milk of human kindness” to kill Duncan (Shakespeare 1. 5. 16). However, in Act 2, once Macbeth is King, he starts to become prideful. No longer does he need Lady Macbeth’s input on whether he should kill someone. King Macbeth does not consider his morales or even think twice about whether or not he should kill someone. He decides to kill Banquo on his own and Macbeth becomes independent from Lady Macbeth. Macbeth’s pride reaches its peak in Act 4 when he visits the witches for a prophecy and the witches tell him he can not be killed by any man of woman born. The witches also tell him that he will not be killed until Birnam Wood moves towards his castle. Macbeth’s pride and invincibility complex does not allow him to interpret the witches’ prophecies on a deeper level. This leads to Macbeth not recognizing that Macduff was born by Cesarean section so he was technically not of woman born. He also does not realize that Macduff’s army would use the trees from Birnam Wood to conceal themselves while marching towards Macbeth’s castle (Stolarski). Macbeth’s growth into a prideful tyrant led to his downfall and is a key part of his identity as a tragic hero.

Peripetia is the reversal of fate that a character experiences due to their actions that lead to the character’s downfall. Macbeth’s peripetia happens after the murder of Banquo. At the start of the play, Macbeth is a respected Thane and lives a more than charmed life. After killing King Duncan, he rules the land satisfying his ambition, he pleased his wife by doing what she wanted and no one really suspects that he killed Duncan. Aside from not being able to sleep and being paranoid that people want to steal his place on the throne, his life is still pretty good after killing King Duncan. However, everything changes after Macbeth kills Banquo. Macbeth thought that killing Banquo would put an end to his paranoia, which sprouted from the prophecy that Banquo received from the witches. That prophecy stated that Banquo’s descendants would sit on the throne where Macbeth sat. However, after Banquo is killed Macbeth loses it all; his mind, his advisors and his wife. After Banquo is killed Macbeth sees visions of Banquo’s ghost and has a mental breakdown in front of everyone that is close to him at a dinner “Prithee, see there. Behold, look! (To the Ghost). Lo, how say you?” (Shakespeare 3. 4. 61-62)While Macbeth is at his most mentally unstable at this moment, Lady Macbeth still stood by his side. After Banquo is killed, Macduff starts his plan to overthrow Macbeth. Slowly, everyone close to Macbeth leaves him except for his wife. However, when Macduff’s army approaches Macbeth’s castle, Lady Macbeth kills herself. At that moment, Macbeth has no one and he is completely alone. He says his infamous soliloquy, “To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury Signifying nothing.’ (Shakespeare 5. 5. 17-28)

The final characteristic of a tragic hero is anagnorisis. Anagnorisis is when a character makes a critical discovery both about himself and the person he has become. Anagnorisis is closely related to peripeteia and they often happen close to each other. The first major point of anagnorisis in Macbeth is when Macbeth says “I am in blood Stepp’d in so far / Returning were as tedious as go o’er” (Shakespeare 3. 4. 168-170). Macbeth acknowledges that he is at a crossroads in his life, at this point in the play He has killed King Duncan and Banquo. Macbeth feels that he can either continue to go down his path of evil or return to living a normal peaceful life. Macbeth decides to travel down the path of evil and kill Macduff. Before being stormed by Macduff’s army, Macbeth has a soliloquy where he reflects on his actions that brought him to this moment and the consequences of them making it another moment of anagnorisis. Macbeth says: “I have lived long enough: my way of life is fallen into the sear / and that which should accompany old age as honor, love, obedience, troops of friends”(Shakespeare 5. 3. 25-32). Macbeth realizes that he will not get to enjoy the benefits of old age like being surrounded by loved ones because of his actions. Of course, the most obvious moment of anagnorisis is when Macbeth realizes he did not interpret the witches’ prophecies correctly. During their final duel, Macduff tells Macbeth that he was ”untimely ripped from his mother’s womb” (Shakespeare 5. 5. 19-20). This shatters Macbeth’s invincibility complex, Macbeth put all his trust in the witches prophecies and thought that they benefited him, it took this moment for Macbeth to realize that he was fooled by the witches and was just a mortal man like everyone else flipping Macbeth’s pride on its head (Anagnorisis)

Macbeth is an extremely ambitious and prideful character that goes through major loss throughout the course of the play and acknowledges all of the mistakes he made to lose everything. Macbeth is a definitive tragic hero. He possesses the characteristics of hamartia, hubris, peripetia, and anagnorisis; all of these iconic characteristics of a tragic hero make him one of Theatre’s most easily recognizable tragic heroes that will be remembered for thousands of years to come.

Tragedy is a form of drama that is centred around a lead character with a fatal flaw. The main cast is often a victim/subject of their inner turmoil, which is a build-up of their mental illness, paranoia, ego, and growing greed and envy. The tragic hero’s poor decisions, as well as manipulative influences, causes a myriad of murder and issues that result in the downfall of both the country and themselves. Macbeth is recognized as one of Shakespeare’s most influential tragedies. Macbeth dramatizes the corrupt political and psychological effect of Macbeth choosing evil to satisfy his ambition for power. Themes of ambition and supernatural are prevalent in Macbeth, informing the audience of the impacts of human choices, specifically immoral choices.

Ambition and power play a vital part in Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, in particular, it is ambition driving decisions with no rightful moral, becoming an unhealthy trait. Macbeth’s ambition stimulates most of his behaviour and actions, resulting in both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s absolute downfall of human suffering. Ambition and power plays a heavy influence on the personality and beliefs of the characters and adds to the moral of teaching the audience about the consequence of human decisions.

Themes of power and ambition are prevalent in Macbeth, as an audience, it is clear that several acts of greed are present. Macbeth’s interaction with the three witches which drives Macbeth’s “vaulting ambition”. The prophecy presented to Macbeth “…shalt be king hereafter” Act 1, Scene 3, Line 51, foreshadow and provokes Macbeth’s ambition towards the crown. As Macbeth demands answers, he exclaims, “That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur…” in, revealing that Macbeth could not care less for the people of Scotland, proving himself as a self-centred leader. As Lady Macbeth performs a soliloquy she speaks “To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without…” Act 1, Scene 5, Line 5-6, she reflects on her husband’s character. Knowing Macbeth is capable of his ambitious dreams, but is unwilling to display the vicious behaviour necessary to achieve the murder. Macbeth’s overwhelming desire for power drives him to use all his power to satisfy his greed, leading to the assassination of Duncan. “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand?…” Act2, Scene 2, Line 60-61, The consequence of the murder is guilt, Macbeth realises even “all great Neptune’s ocean” cannot cleanse him and his crime will stay for life. Macbeth was a hero who goes wrong when he desires for power. Macbeth’s decisions and ambition start his road of defeat.

The text effectively demonstrates the influence of a character’s power and ambition, specifically negative effects. Macbeth’s assassinations of creates pity in the audience as Duncan was a fair and generous king. Macbeth’s fatal flaw of ever-increasing ambition prompts his ongoing thoughtless decisions and false hope, paving the path of the downfall of Scotland’s people and himself.

The leading reason for Macbeth’s ambition is the supernatural, a theme that appears in multiple Shakespeare’s playwrights. Supernatural is implemented in plays to create dramatic emphasis and suspicion, witches, ghosts, bad omens are examples of supernatural themes. The use of supernatural themes commonly represents wicked forces, this is shown through deception and lies. The presence of supernatural themes is prevalent in Macbeth. Supernatural themes are primarily used for evil purposes, they are agents of human beings but not instigators, Macbeth and his wife make their own choices though they are overruled with ambition.

At the beginning of Macbeth, three witches’ prophecies “…All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” Act 1, Scene 3, Line 50-51, foreshadowing Macbeth’s promotion, the basis of Macbeth’s journey of ambition, soon being engulfed into paranoia and greed. Macbeth’s character development shows the audience of his morality and self-doubt. The supernatural witches contributed to the spooky atmosphere, externalizing Macbeth’s moral side towards evil. Shakespeare portrayed witches as evil, prophesying about Macbeth to create chaos against his flaw of ambition. The guilt and trauma of Macbeth caused by Lady Macbeth’s pressure on Macbeth’s initial thoughts of murder result in the supernatural “dagger which I see before me” Act 2, Scene 1, Line 32 soliloquy. Macbeth’s fluctuating emotions towards the plan, the hallucination proves his growing ambition and madness. Elizabethans believed in the Great Chain of Being, that God determined the natural order of all that exists. It is believed that God chooses who comes to the throne. During the murder of Duncan, Lennox describes the disruptive events with symbolism and personification “The night has been unruly…, Our chimneys were blown down and, as they say, Lamentings heard I’ th’ air, strange screams of death,…”Act 2 Scene 3, Line 29-35. Duncan’s murder distorts the Chain of Being causing an imbalance in the world, reflected by nature.

The text demonstrates how the supernatural theme in Macbeth is essential to the plot and the structure of the play. Elizabethans were superstitious people and feared supernatural elements, the implementation of supernatural in Macbeth created an eerie atmosphere. Supernatural elements add to the level of complexity, ‘Macbeth’ is not a play only about a man who wants power, but rather a man who is open to evil and fully embraces it. Supernatural influences the mind of a character, in Macbeth’s case, the prophecies and apparitions impact his choices, generally being a wrong decision.

Macbeth achieves the definition of tragedy, through the supernatural and ambition/power themes an audience can experience the character development of a loyal man to a tragic hero. By witnessing the inner thoughts of characters, individuals can understand the cause and impact of human choices. Acts of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth demonstrate the importance of decisions, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s over-ambitious decisions resulted in tragic consequences. The given evidence on choices has a significant impact on the character’s lives, therefore informing the audience of the effect of foolish decisions resulting in human suffering.

Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare and is thought to have been first performed in 1606. The play dramatizes the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those who seek power for its own sake. William Shakespeare, the author uses imagery of nature to convey and create central ideas throughout the play. He does this for a number of reasons; to portray the mood at the time, to foreshadow important events of portray his thoughts clearly and get the right message across to his readers. He shows this through hallucinations Macbeth experiences after each death, the gardens and harvest imagery representing the disorderly acts of the characters throughout the play, and the weather due to Banquo’s death (storms, sun and stars).

Shakespeare explores the idea of nature through a series of hallucinations Macbeth experiences on many different occasions. Every hallucination he experiences is at night, and only when bad things happen. An example of this is in act 2, scene 1 when Macbeth sees the dagger for the first time; ‘Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee, I have not, and yet I see thee still, art thou not, fatal vision, sensible, to feeling as to sight, or art thou but a dagger of the mind, a false creation, proceeding from a heat-oppressed brain?’ (2.1.40-46), later on in the play, in act 2, scene 2, Macbeth hears warning voices of sleepless days ahead of him as the murderer of King Duncan, “Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep” – the innocent sleep, sleep that knits up the ravell’d sleave of care, the death of each day’s life, sore labour’s bath, balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, chief nourisher in life’s feast (2.2.47-52). This quote symbolises innocence, purity, peace of mind and for Macbeth, and guilt. Finally, in act 3 scene 4 Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost at the post-coronation banquet; ‘Avaunt! And quit my sight! let the earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrow less, thy blood is cold; thou hast no speculation in those eyes, which thou dost glare with!’ (3.4.113-116).

Another way Shakespeare uses imagery of nature to convey and create central ideas in the play Macbeth, is by using garden and harvest imagery to demonstrate the disorderly acts of the characters. The imagery of seeds is used to convey the witches’ power. Showing how unnatural it would be to tell which seeds will grow and which wont and proving that their prophesies can only bring up more unusual beginnings. “If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not speak, speak then to me” (1.3.61-63). Another example of gardens and harvesting is the symbolism of the Birnam Wood. One of the witches’ predictions states that Macbeth will only be defeated when Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill. This is one of Macbeth’s main ways of reinforcing his own belief that he cannot be defeated. However, at the end, Siward’s forces disguise hide their numbers by dressing themselves in the branches of the forest.

Finally, in the play Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses weather as imagery to create ideas within his play. The weather symbolises the evil and darkness throughout the play. For example, The King represents the good. If the King is good, then the harvests and weather will be good. When Macbeth kills the King, nature becomes out of control. Storms begin to rage, it is always dark, there are earth tremors, and the animals go mad and eat one another. This represents the Macbeth’s horrible acts. Adding on, storm imagery is used to reflect the death of King Duncan; the night had been extremely strange and unnatural, just like the murder of a great king is unnatural. “Our chimneys were blown down, and, as they say, lamenting’s heard i’ the air, strange screams of death” (2.3.59-60). Another use of imagery is the sun which is used to reveal Duncan’s death; nature is unbalanced because the human world is unbalanced. Once everything is brought back to its normal order, capture can continue on its expected course. “By clock, ‘tis day, and yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp/ is’t night’s predominance, or the day’s shame, that darkness does the face of earth entomb (2.4.7-10). Finally, imagery of stars refers to good people, Duncan is giving stars the attributes of being noble and honourable; while using them to say the stars’ light will shine on all the good people. “But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine on all deservers” (1.4.47-48)

In conclusion, Shakespeare uses several different ways of imagery to create central ideas of nature in his play, Macbeth. He shows this through hallucinations Macbeth experiences after each death, the gardens and harvest imagery representing the disorderly acts of the characters throughout the play, and the weather due to Banquo’s death (storms, sun and stars).