Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Themes of contradiction in macbeth
Nurture over nature essay
Macbeth's inner conflict
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Themes of contradiction in macbeth
The play Macbeth by William Shakespeare explores human nature as a loyal soldier named Macbeth discovers his fate to become king, but not have any heirs. He responds to this information by killing the reining king, Duncan. However, before committing murder, he contemplates very hard whether he should murder Duncan, against whom he bears no ill will, and great indecision and doubt marks this process. Macbeth’s reaction to killing Duncan, in which he follows a much darker path, reveals and expresses the multi-faceted quality of human nature. Shakespeare expresses the duality of human nature through pairs of opposites, changes within a character’s mind and personality and through the facades and deception many characters practice. Throughout the play, Shakespeare uses opposites to convey the duality of human nature. In the beginning of the play, the three witches, who later reveal Macbeth’s fate to him, plan where and when they will convene to disclose this information to Macbeth. Before leaving, they all say in unison: “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (1.1.12). Foul and fair have opposite meanings, but in this passage, Shakespeare uses these words interchangeably. In addition, the identical structure of both phrases only emphasizes the duality of these words, since nothing else has duality in the sentence. Since sentence is separated into two parts and has only two descriptive words, it shows the duality of this statement, and by extension, human nature. With this equivocation filled with duality, Shakespeare portrays the duality of human nature. Along with opposites, Shakespeare portrays human nature’s duality through changes in the character’s personality. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth comes across as a loyal soldier, ... ... middle of paper ... ...of human nature. Through opposites, changes in character and appearances, Shakespeare expresses the duality of human nature. Along with showing the duality of human nature, these things also have an ambiguous and inconsistent quality to them. The ambiguity and inconsistency of them show that human nature also possesses those qualities, since they all play a very large role in human nature, and thus attributes such qualities to the play. Also, this wavering character of human nature directly contrasts the certainty and stability of nature, which almost never changes and always works against Macbeth after he kills Duncan. This shows that duality does not exist only within human nature, but that it also can be one side of a duality. This duality would be the contrast between human nature and nature, which are almost opposite in their qualities and in terms of change.
Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare, portrays Macbeth as a kinsman, subject and trusted friend to King Duncan I of Scotland. A trusted friend, that is, until Macbeth has a chance encounter with the “three witches” (Shakespeare) or the “Weird Sisters”. The witches predict that Macbeth will become the next King and that his fellow companion, Banquo, will be the father of a line of kings. A change comes over Macbeth after his meeting; he is no longer content to be a follower of the King, he will “be” King at any cost. After killing the King and his friend Banquo, losing his wife to madness and ordering the execution of many, Macbeth is killed in much the same fashion as he has killed. But does this really reflect the real King MacBeth of Scotland? While examining the characteristics and actions of the two Macbeths and decide if Shakespeare’s writing was historically sound or was it just “double, double, toil and trouble” (4.1.22-26) playing with MacBeth’s character.
Throughout the story of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Macbeth acts in a much despised manner: he becomes a murderer and later, when king of Scotland, a tyrant. Many who have read or seen the play are left wondering how a man’s whole approach to life can change; how Macbeth turned from the hero whom all adored, to the tyrant who was hated and ended up a lone man, fighting for his life.
While in Hamlet and others of Shakespeare's plays we feel that Shakespeare refined upon and brooded over his thoughts, Macbeth seems as if struck out at a heat and imagined from first to last with rapidity and power, and a subtlety of workmanship which has become instructive. The theme of the drama is the gradual ruin through yielding to evil within and evil without, of a man, who, though from the first tainted by base and ambitious thoughts, yet possessed elements in his nature of possible honor and loyalty. (792)
“When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man.” Through his archaic language, Shakespeare conveys the concepts of masculinity and guilty conscience as Macbeth conflicts with himself. These key ideas within Macbeth are both provocative and intriguing as the tragedy connects with the audience, making it even more captivating and engaging. Despite being composed in the 1600’s, Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, is still relevant today due to its durable and relatable themes as there is a peculiar intimacy between the play and its audience. As stated in the audio, the well-crafted piece connects to its readers as Shakespeare dramatizes Macbeths horror in prospect of killing Duncan.
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.
At the beginning of the play “The Tragedy of Macbeth”, Macbeth illuminates a heroic character. Conversely, when the reader is introduced to Lady Macbeth one learns Macbeth may not be the heroic person he may seem. The way Lady Macbeth describes Macbeth it appears as if he is a coward and not as heroic as previously learned in the house. As the play proceeds, Macbeth is no longer a heroic character and Lady Macbeth is not as ruthlessness as she was at the start of the play. In the play, “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” written by William Shakespeare two of the main characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, experience a role reversal.
In Macbeth, William Shakespeare portrays many themes, themes that revolve around idealistic views of power, desire, and climbing the social ladder. In “The Tragedy of Macbeth”, Shakespeare tells a story, not of Macbeth or his reign, but a story universal to all. In a world of political schemes and scandals, Macbeth’s thoughts and reactions illustrate desires of the regular human psyche. The result of his greed, ambition, and craving symbolizes the ideals that seem admirable today. However, “The Tragedy of Macbeth” also includes the guilt and pain that follows consequently.
Macbeth is an epic tragedy inspiring pity and remorse because the hero, though flawed, is also shown to be human. The play portrays a journey of self-discovery and awareness as both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth pass from happiness to misery. Their punishment is well deserved, but the retributive price is enormous. Evil, both internal and external, corrupts their minds, distorting their positive traits and exaggerating their worst. Both fall victim to ‘vaulting ambition’, pride and greed, tempting them to acts of treason and betrayal of friends, kinsmen and the nation itself.
Shakespeare carefully examines the principles of conventional morality through figures such as Banquo and Macbeth, drawing powerful parallels between Macbeths descent into madness and the distortion of his beliefs. More so than in any other Shakespearean tragedy, Macbeth acts as an analysis of the evolution of self. This can be seen in the lines “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the' other.” In this soliloquy, Macbeth proves himself capable of both compassion and sensibility, freely admitting that it is ambition alone, that drives him to kill Duncan. This suggests that even at this early stage, Macbeths irrational thoughts and desires compromised his noble ideals.
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, examines the dominance of female figure and emotion which can lead to committing motives less than an honourable. The woman in the play leads Macbeth into committing all the immoral acts leading to many deaths. The witches plant the seed of deception and manipulate Macbeth undertaking all the malicious deeds. Macbeth ambition to become king is driven by Lady Macbeth who persuades him to murder King Duncan by attacking his manhood. His fear of losing his position as king, impulses him to destroy any obstacles in his way including his best friend.
“Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.” Once said by Marc Twain, this is an excellent example of the human nature that is represented in the play: Macbeth. Shakespeare demonstrates that all humans have the ability to do good or evil. This is strongly affected by the choices that we make and by our actions. These decisions will have a huge impact on our lives and the lives of others. Throughout the play, Macbeth experienced a huge decent into evil and violent action that lead him to his death. With his thirst for power and constant paranoia, he killed his way to seize the crown. By killing Duncan at the beginning of the play, Macbeth soon realizes that nothing can be undone and his blood stained hands can never be cleaned. “A little water clears us of this deed” (2.3 70) said by Lady Macbeth after Duncan’s murder. But what they don’t know is that this is the start of the bloody massacre that will change who they are and how they think forever. Macbeth has multiple hallucinations and his paranoia leads him to hire murderers to kill Macduff’s family out of anger and spite. Lady Macbeth sleepwalks and gets to the point of madness when she kills herself at the end of the play. This demonstrates that our actions can be affected by human nature and our thoughts can be easily corrupted by temptation.
The story of Macbeth written by the infamous William Shakespeare is an excellent storyline known and taught as a great piece of literature. Even after the creation of this tale almost 400 years ago, this wonderful written work is still admired and known all over the world. It is an adventure of a noble and truthful hero who is overcome by the lust for power and by greed. His aroused hunger for authority and supremacy leads to him losing his path and turning to the way of malice. The play progresses, as this character plays deeper and deeper into Satan’s evil hand. Through the growth of this malevolent character, the story grows and develops as well. Each and every move this character makes affects someone directly or indirectly, making him the centrepiece of the play. Shakespeare uses many literary devices in the play including dramatic ones to contribute to the advancement of the story and its characters. One of the most used dramatic devices in this play is dramatic irony. This mechanism predicts the events that are to occur by giving the audience a foresight of something that has not yet taken place but will eventually be fulfilled. Through the audience’s knowledge of trials and tribulations for different characters, the story becomes even more mysterious and interesting. Dramatic irony is used so often in the play that almost every major event like war and death is foretold, the theme is further developed and the audience is kept in suspense and anxiety. Such events occurred when Macbeth was crowned Thane of Cawdor, when regicide was committed against King Duncan by Macbeth, when the porter of Macbeth’s home pretended to be the gatekeeper of hell and also when Macbeth ordered his servants to kill Macduff. These parts not only grow the characters’ roles but also make the story even more exciting and leave the audience hungry for more action. They also introduce us to the themes of the play such as the deadly strength of unbridled ambition and even differences between brutal tyranny and fair monarchy. Every one of these scenes is significant because they develop Macbeth’s character and expand the storyline and theme of the play.
Shakespeare introduces Macbeth as a brave, honorable, and loyal man, instead of portraying him as a character with inherent vices. He presents a descent of an honorable man to a ‘butcher’ to the audience, which pleads for great sympathy. Macbeth is hailed as ‘noble,’ ‘valiant’ and ‘brave’ for his display of valor in the war against Norway. Fearless Macbeth ‘unseam[s]’ the traitorous Macdonwald ‘from the nave to th' chops.’ This bloody visualization of Macbeth splitting Macdonwald from the belly to the jawbone reinforces his bravery and loyalty to the king and Scotland. Macbeth’s great military feat grants him honorable titles and displays him as a loyal subject. Thus, the initial impression of Macbeth is highly admirable to the audience. If Shakespeare had depicted Macbeth as a character with innate evil characteristics, the audience would feel no pity for him, through course of the play, as it would be expected for such man to commit such deeds. However, it is the transition of an honorable man to a wicked one that begs for sympathy.
Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” explores a fundamental struggle of the human conscience. The reader is transported into the journey of a man who recognizes and acknowledges evil but still succumbs to its destructive powers. The character of Macbeth is shrouded in ambiguity that scholars have claimed as both being a tyrant and tragic hero. Macbeth’s inner turmoil and anxieties that burden him throughout the entire play evoke sympathy and pity in the reader. Though he has the characteristics of an irredeemable tyrant, Macbeth realizes his mistakes and knows there is no redemption for his sins. And that is indeed tragic.
Long regarded as a profound vision of evil, Macbeth differs from the other Shakespearean tragedies in that the evil is transferred from the villain to the hero; not that Shakespeare's tragic figures are ever conceived in the simplistic tones of black and white. Although the Elizabethans took liberties with Aristotle's dictum that tragedy does not deal with the overthrow of a bad character, it would be accepted by them that concentration on the evil deed itself does not constitute tragedy. The overtly political theme is clear, and the play has been called the greatest of the moralities. It is Shakespeare's ability to identify, or to portray with an understanding which engages our sympathy, a villainous hero who is not merely a villain which perhaps constitutes the major critical question. (132-33)