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Macbeth character analysis
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The Corruption of Macbeth Perhaps the most fundamental theme of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is the inherent corruptibility of even a seemingly good man when ambition turns to greed, and Macbeth himself exemplifies this concept throughout the play. While at the outset he is seen to be loyal to his king, generally considered trustworthy, and displaying numerous other laudable qualities, Macbeth ultimately succumbs to the influence of those around him and becomes unequivocally evil, setting aside all his previously held morals and coming to be driven only by his lust for power. This transition is brought about by a wide variety of factors and plays an integral role in the development of the plot. In his tragedy Macbeth, William Shakespeare employs …show more content…
These creatures are presumably omniscient, though not omnipotent; however, they do appear to have considerable power to influence events. It is they that initially prognosticate Macbeth’s rise to power, implying his fate by proclaiming to him, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! / All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (1.3.51-53) Here Macbeth is promised the thaneship of both Glamis, a title which he has recently come into possession of after his killing of Macdonwald, a traitor to the state, and also of Cawdor, which then belonged to someone whom Macbeth knew to be alive. Most notably, he is referred to as being “king hereafter”, though Duncan still lives and Macbeth is not of his lineage. It soon becomes clear to him that the only way to bring this about is to assassinate Duncan and somehow circumvent his sons’, Malcolm and Donalbain, claims to the throne, marking the beginning of his descent into …show more content…
These ambiguities are iteratively explained, corresponding with the changes in characterization; for example, when the second vision granted to Macbeth by the Weïrd sisters advises him to, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn / The power of man, for none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth” (4.1.90-92). Upon hearing this, Macbeth appears to simply disregard the earlier prophecy that it will be Banquo’s children, not his own, that will take the throne after him and believes himself to be effectively invincible, which coincides with another shift in Macbeth’s nature, more specifically his growing arrogance that eventually leads to his defeat at the hands of
“Character is like a tree and reputation its shadow. The shadow is what we think it is and the tree is the real thing.” Once quoted by the late President Abraham Lincoln, this quote relates to the character of Macbeth in Shakespeare's play Macbeth, as he appeared as an unexpecting new leader but was really a greedy, murderous monster. Though he is constantly manipulated by his wife Lady Macbeth in their horrendous plan to murder their King, Duncan of Scotland. Shakespeare uses both flowers and birds to convey a theme of appearance vs reality.
“In the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding on the back of the tiger ended up inside.”
In the early 1600’s, William Shakespeare penned an Aristotelian tragedy ‘Macbeth’ which provides his audiences both then and now with many valuable insights and perceptions into human nature. Shakespeare achieves this by cleverly employing many dramatic devices and themes within the character of ‘Macbeth’. Macbeth is depicted as an anti-hero; a noble protagonist with a tragic flaw that leads to his downfall. This tragic flaw of Macbeth’s, heavily laden with the themes of ‘fate or free will’, and ‘ambition’, is brought out by Shakespeare in his writing to present us with a character whose actions and final demise are, if not laudable, very recognisable as human failings.
The Corrupting Power of Unchecked Ambition The main theme of Macbeth - the destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints - finds its most powerful expression in the play's two main characters. Macbeth is a courageous Scottish general who is not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds, yet he deeply desires power and advancement. He kills Duncan against his better judgment and afterward stews in guilt and paranoia. Toward the end of the play, he descends into a kind of frantic, boastful madness.
Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragic plays. It is considered a tragedy because the main character has a tragic flaw, and this is the cause of his downfall. One major reason for his downfall is how corrupted he becomes due to the power he has. Shakespeare utilizes the aspect of corruption of power in Macbeth.
Power can transform even the most loyal of men. In Shakespeare’s gloomy and morbid Macbeth, nothing is as it seems. Even the most loyal characters are duplicitous in their nature, exemplified by Macbeth. The greatest Scottish warrior becomes power hungry in his quest to re-kindle his relationship with his wife, Lady Macbeth, and is thrown over the edge when he is not appointed the Prince of Cumberland, an honor he feels he deserves. This same hunger for power ultimately destroys Macbeth, leading him to betray all those he loves, including king Duncan, his friend Banquo, and his wife.
Macbeth is a play revolving around many key ideas observed in Shakespeare’s time with various messages communicated to the audience successfully, despite the lack of the cinematic effects present in today’s literature entertainment. The interweaved themes of immoral ambition and corruption are displayed throughout the text, unveiling the corruptive nature of one’s excessive greed for supremacy, affecting both themselves and others. This idea in Macbeth is successfully conveyed to the audience in Shakespeare’s time through the literary devices of characterisation, soliloquy and plot.
It is in human nature that the more power one desires the more corrupt actions one must do to attain it. In Shakespeare’s tragedy of Macbeth, a Scottish noble's craving for power leads him to do terrible deeds that leads to his demise. Shakespeare shows that power corrupts by using Macbeth who corrupts under the thought of have power over others. Macbeth becomes corrupt under the thought of becoming king and gaining almost complete control over the people that he rules. Macbeth wants the power badly enough to do horrible deeds such as commit regicide. Lady Macbeth becomes very ambitious and allows herself to become seduced to the idea of becoming Queen. Her ruthlessness urges Macbeth to commit regicide by questioning his love for her and his own manhood.
William Shakespeare illustrates how Macbeth corrupts himself in the play, Macbeth. Even with others influencing him, Macbeth ultimately makes the decisions that lead to his own corruption. After the three witches talk to Macbeth and Banquo, Macbeth makes the conclusion that he must kill the king and nobody else contributes to that. Later on, Macbeth decides to have his friend, Banquo, murdered because his son was a threat to the throne. The last sign of his self corruption comes when Lady Macbeth ends up having a weak mind which lead to her death and Macbeth did not care.
The vigorous desire to achieve and willingly attain something holds the capability to greatly affect one's life. William Shakespeare's play Macbeth establishes the immense effect and influence of ambition. After gaining power over his country Scotland, the protagonist, Macbeth, experiences an internal downfall as he battles between his wants and moral judgement. He struggles to maintain stable relationships with others as his selfish desires and goals hurt those around him when achieved. In addition to clashing with himself and others, he is seen as a tyrant leader and is slowly turned against by Scotland's nation as well as England. Shakespeare's play Macbeth provides the reader with a clear understanding of ambition's corrupting power in Shakespeare's tragic character Macbeth, through his inner conflicts, struggle to maintain stable relationships with those surrounding him, and clash with society.
From William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, the round character, Macbeth, is complex in multiple ways. Macbeth changes his reputation throughout the play. He is an ambitious character filled with self-doubt.
Each witch exclaims that Macbeth will be the thane of Glamis, the thane of Cawdor, and afterwards he'll become the king.... ... middle of paper ... ... Once King, Macbeth becomes everyone’s enemy, he is convinced he is invincible, which leads to his inevitable downfall and demise.
The tragedy of Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, is one of the most revolting and dark pieces of poetry from the Elizabethan time period. The main character, Macbeth, is one that cannot be related to harmony, warmth and peace. This play is filled with bloodshed and continuous felonies. Macbeth approaches his ambition to become king in a negative manner; he commits treason and murders king Duncan. Yet, even though Macbeth continues with his devious and sinister plots, we still feel pity toward poor Macbeth. For the play Macbeth to work as a tragedy, Shakespeare had to maintain our sympathy for a character whose actions become increasingly monstrous. Firstly, Macbeth was not portrayed as a cold-hearted villain at the beginning of the play. He started as a loyal hero, but eventually changed into ruthless tyrant. Secondly, Macbeth was cursed and faced against the almighty fate in the first lines of the prologue. Finally, we feel pity for Macbeth because he resembles a psychologically challenged victim; Macbeth is firm on the outside, but fragile on the inside.
Furthermore, as the Witches prophesize Banquo’s descendants becoming Macbeth’s predecessors to the throne, he feels his position being threatened. Macbeth aims to prevent the prophecy from coming true, and would “rather than so come fate into the list/and champion me to th’utterance” (Mac 3.1.74-75). He hopes he did not commit Duncan’s murder in vain–willing to challenge fate and plans to battle and fight until his death. A sign of the developing stages of his overconfidence, believing he has the right to the throne and will not have anything stand in his way. Subsequent prophecies by the Witches, acquired by ambition, result in Macbeth’s overconfidence, as he believes he is invincible.
Macbeth, who at the beginning of his play’s plot is in a position of some honor and power, obtains position as king of Scotland through secretive foul play, spurred on by some external manipulation as well as personal ambition. “Macbeth’s ambition is unchecked by both moral and legal considerations-he will stop at nothing to get what he desires… Macbeth’s unbridled ambition is the root of the play’s evil because he is willing to throw the world into chaos in order to satisfy his personal desires.” (Thrasher, 92). His rebellion is heinous, but so long undiscovered. His ambition, though present in some degree from the beginning, metastasizes within him through the play as more obstacles to his retention of royal status crop up. “He begins well…but this...