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Symbolism in the play of macbeth.pdf
Symbolism in the play of macbeth.pdf
Symbolism in the play of macbeth.pdf
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From the beginning of time, mankind has discovered a way to successfully or unsuccessfully reach his goals. In the play, Macbeth, Shakespeare demonstrates the struggles of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth as they try to achieve their goals through creating ambition and committing sin that neither of them were ready for. In the end, the true argument is whether or not they both thought out the plan to achieve their desires or if Lady Macbeth and Macbeth had just followed their instincts as unable rulers did. Throughout the play, the central theme shown is guilt because guilt is the result from both vaulting ambition and a continuing thirst for power. As Lady Macbeth’s confidence begins to falter, the result from her vaulting ambition, guilt, is demonstrated through the figurative use of blood. In the beginning of Act 5, the Gentlewomen and Doctor are seen discussing the strange behavior of Lady Macbeth. When suddenly, Lady Macbeth proceeds on to the stage, while sleeping, and complains about the endless blood on her hands, “Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Ar...
The play Macbeth and the movie The Social Network each explore ideas around guilt and remorse. Both these works are from two different timelines and explore two completely different themes and ideas, but are both relatively similar in scope. Macbeth and The Social Network explore ideas around guilt and remorse, but at opposing angles. Both works depict the main character as someone who is easily influenced and who is driven by ambition, both capable and not capable of feeling guilt and remorse. Their ambitions cause those close to them to break ties, and their relationships deteriorate as they betray those closest to them while trying to attain what others have by any means possible.
William Shakespeare’s play entitled Macbeth is a bloody tragedy about ambition, evil, guilt and moral corruption. The story emphasizes a lot on the consequences or aftermath of the bad deeds that Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth do and the growing impact it has on them in turn. Lady Macbeth a woman driven by her assertiveness, boldness, strength and ambition for her husband could not escape the guilt that eventually caught up to her and destroyed her. In Act 5 scene 1, Lady Macbeth is sleep walking and goes insane due to the guilt and remorse that finally catches up to her. This scene is the most important because it changes the reader’s view on Lady Macbeth and Macbeth as characters and it also has a very large impact on the plot.
... him and says that a little water will do the job (II.ii.58?59). Later, though, she comes to share his horrified sense of being stained: ?Out, damned spot, out, I say . . . who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?? she asks as she wanders through the halls of their castle near the close of the play (V.i.30?34). Blood symbolizes the guilt that sits like a permanent stain on the consciences of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, one that hounds them to their graves.
Although the tragic hero Macbeth physically committed the crime, it was Lady Macbeth that pushed him to his limits of rational thought and essentially made fun of him to lower his esteem. With Macbeth's defenses down, it was an easy task for Lady Macbeth to influence Duncan's murder and make up an excuse as to why she could not do it herself. The Quotes and explanations used throughout this essay, built up proof that guilt plays a large role in motivating Macbeth. Guilty feelings were brought out through the character’s actions and responses, until the very fatal end were they wishes none of all this ever happened.
There is a large burden of guilt carried by Lady Macbeth and Macbeth in Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth. Let's look at this situation closely in the following essay.
Among the greatest gifts that the renaissance produced was the eloquent and incredible Shakespearean plays. Written mostly in the 1590s these plays have been performed and admired countless times; entertaining mass audiences by providing interesting tales that explore the depth of human insights and the different universal themes. Among the many Shakespearean plays Macbeth, written in 1606, stands out with its short composition but multiple themes. This tragedy narrates the tale of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s quest to grasp ultimate power by ignoring their morals and succumbing to their dark desires, which ultimately leads to their downfall. This tragic play portrays the desires, needs, and temptations that accompany ambition in men and women. However the ambition in Macbeth is blind, it does not abide to the morals, but it allows space for dark actions as means necessary for accomplishment. Blind ambition serves as the main driving force that drives Macbeth to subdue to his dark desires, defy his noble behavior, and ultimately his downfall.
Guilt plays a strong role in motivating Macbeth, and causes Lady Macbeth to be driven over the edge of sanity - to her death. Throughout the story, there are many different types of guilty feelings that play a role in Macbeth’s fatal decisions and bring Lady Macbeth to commit suicide. Although there are many instances that show the power guilt has played on the main characters, there are three examples that show this the best. One is, just after the murder of the great King, Duncan. Guilt overcomes Macbeth where he can no longer think straight. A second example is soon after that, where all the guilt Macbeth feels at first, changes into hate after he decides that Banquo must be killed as well. The last example is just about at the end of the play, when we see Lady Macbeth sleepwalking, and then later committing suicide; this all because of the burden of her guilt. All of these examples build the proof that in this play, guilt plays a very large role in the characters’ lives.
Lady Macbeth cannot forget and move on from killing King Duncan, and others. The filth of her actions begin to control her mind. Lady Macbeth sleepwalks, trying to wash away these actions. She washes her hands, even though they are no longer covered in blood, she fears that “these hands [will] ne’er be clean” (5.1.40). Lady Macbeth’s guilt takes over her mind. She wants to undo what she has done, or at the very least, move past it. It is not as easy as it was to wash her hands of
In Macbeth, the theme of "great power comes great guilt" becomes substantially evident. In this play ambition collaborates with unnatural forces to commit wicked deeds which creates profound guilt, fear, and more treacherous deeds. What is really interesting is that the main characters in Macbeth, Macbeth himself and lady Macbeth, handle their criminal offenses correspondingly, but respond together to their mental burden.
The psychological effects of guilt, ambition, and tyranny are present very well in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. Macbeth, the main character, chooses to rule by fate. This decision appears to be the source of his problems. In this play it’s evident Shakespeare focuses on Macbeth’s life. A major focus is on his character change, mainly his mental deterioration throughout the course of the play.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “You can not escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today”. This is true in the civil sense. Even though an individual may seek to avoid being prosecution in criminal law, they must take responsibility of their actions.
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the theme of guilt and conscience is one of many explored throughout the play. Macbeth, is a well respected Scottish noble who in the beginning of the play is a man everyone looks up to; however as the play progresses he makes a number of bad decisions. Eventually, as a result of his actions he suffers guilt and this plays heavily upon his character until his personality is completely destroyed. Shakespeare uses a range of techniques in order to develop this theme such as, characters, imagery.
...)." Macbeth, realizing the significance of the treacherous act, deeply feels the burden of another's blood. He, looking at his bloody hands moments after the murder of Duncan, says, " This is a sorry sight (2.2.18)." Once again, Macbeth's remorse rises to the surface through the image of blood. Lady Macbeth also feels the sadness of regret as she too gazes at her hands. "Here's the smell of the blood still: all the/ perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand (5.1.48-49)." The remorse within Lady Macbeth leads her into a fatal downfall. This burden causes her to have vivid hallucinations of the thick blood that covers her hands. "out, damned spot! Out, I say (5.1.33-34)!" She remembers the blood that engulfs her limbs after the murder of Duncan. The denial and regret that associates with blood controls the hearts of the characters within Macbeth.
The most prominent theme throughout Macbeth is ambition. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth risk their innocence and will in order to pursue the throne. Lady Macbeth sees her husband as a coward, and therefore this relates to the theme of Violence and tyranny, as she is ruthless in getting what she desires. Lady Macbeth speaks about Macbeth’s ambition: “Though wouldst be great Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it:” This important quote enables us to understand Macbeth’s nature, which is “too full of the milk of human kindness”. Lady Macbeth’s provocation enlivens the evil residing in Macbeth and his ambition receives a new dimension: “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself and falls on the other.” Throughout the play, Macbeth’s rising sense of ambition and realization, leads to him enhancing the themes of guilt and violence, as ambition acts as ‘the four legs’ that hold the two upright.
Lady Macbeth and the witches have both planted the seed of ambition inside of Macbeth Because of Lady Macbeth’s wicked behavior, which resulted in Macbeth’s evil transition; he was led to become a murderer. Macbeth should not be held accountable for his actions completely since she is the one who lead him towards committing both crimes. The major theme ambition and greed for power have played a key part in Macbeth’s fall from a great Scottish general to a murderer. People should be content on what they have and not strive for things which destroy a person even if we are influenced. In this case Shakespeare’s thought proving play of Macbeth.