A Freudian Perspective of Shakespeare's Macbeth

2606 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Richard ii exemplar essay

Macbeth: A Freudian Perspective

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth We may take as an example of a person who collapses on reaching success, after striving for it with single-minded energy, the figure of Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth. Beforehand there is no hesitation, no sign of any internal conflict in her, no endeavour but that of overcoming the scruples of her ambitious and yet tender-minded husband. She is ready to sacrifice even her womanliness to her murderous intention, without reflecting on the decisive part which this womanliness must play when the question afterwards arises of preserving the aim of her ambition, which has been attained through a crime.

Analytic work has no difficulty in showing us that it is forces of conscience which forbid the subject to gain the long-hoped-for advantage from the fortunate change in reality. It is a difficult task, however, to discover the essence and origin of these judging and punishing trends, which so often surprise us by their existence where we do not expect to find them. For the usual reasons I shall not discuss what we know or conjecture on the point in relation to cases of clinical observation, but in relation to figures which great writers have created from the wealth of their knowledge of the mind.

We may take as an example of a person who collapses on reaching success, after striving for it with single-minded energy, the figure of Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth. Beforehand there is no hesitation, no sign of any internal conflict in her, no endeavour but that of overcoming the scruples of her ambitious and yet tender-minded husband. She is ready to sacrifice even her womanliness to her murderous intention, without reflecting on the decisive part which this womanl...

... middle of paper ...

... Die Braut von Messina, III v. Strachey and Tyson (eds.).

Endnote 2

Cf. Macbeth, Act III, sc. I:

Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown,

And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,

Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand,

No son of mine succeeding ...

Endnote 3

As is Richard III's wooing of Anne beside the bier of the King whom he has murdered.

Endnote 4

Freud had already suggested this in the first edition of The Interpretation of Dreams (1900), Standard Edition, IV 266. Strachey and Tyson (eds.).

Endnote 5

This does not appear to have been published. In a later paper on Macbeth Jekels (1917) barely refers to this theory, apart from quoting the present paragraph. In a still later paper, on The Psychology of Comedy, Jekels (1926) returns to the subject, but again very briefly. Strachey and Tyson (eds.).

Show More
Related

  • The Ways in Which Lady Macbeth Moves from a Position of Strength to One of Final Despair

    766 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Ways in Which Lady Macbeth Moves from a Position of Strength to One of Final Despair

    Read More

  • Clinical Trials: A Kantian and Utilitarian Point of View

    977 Words  | 2 Pages

    Article two entitled “Clinical trials: are they ethical?” is written by Eugene Passamani discusses the importance of randomized clinical trials. Passamani rejects the argument that the physician-patient relationship demands that physicians recommend ...

    Read More

  • The Emotions of Ambition, Remorse, and Fear in 'Macbeth' by William Shakespeare

    387 Words  | 1 Pages

    The most important emotions that we see in Macbeth are ambition, remorse, and fear. They are significant because they provoke Macbeth to do evil and cruel things. Ambition takes control of him earlier in the play when the witches tell him he is going to be king. After he already has done the deed, killed Duncan, he is remorseful for his actions. Out of fear for himself, Macbeth murdered Macduff’s family and killed Banquo.

    Read More

  • The Insecurity of Shakespeare's Macbeth

    458 Words  | 1 Pages

    Macbeth, the main character in William Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth was not secure in his manhood.  This insecurity led to the downfall of Macbeth because he felt the need to prove himself to Lady Macbeth. After he proved himself by killing Duncan, Macbeth became desensitized to killing.

    Read More

  • The Case for Co-Sleeping with Your Baby

    935 Words  | 2 Pages

    McKenna, James J. Joyce, Edmund P. "Cosleeping and Biological Imperatives: Why Human Babies Do Not and Should Not Sleep Alone." Neuroanthropology.net. n.p. 21 December 2008. Web. 8 March 2014

    Read More

  • Miranda Rights

    1348 Words  | 3 Pages

    Miranda came about in 1966, when a 23-year-old, name Miranda, was arrested and transported from his home to the police station for questioning in connections with a kidnapping and a rape case. Miranda was kind of poor and uneducated. At the station the police questioned him for two hours. After this two hours of questioning the police obtained a written confession that in turn was used in court against him. Miranda was undoubtedly found guilty.

    Read More

  • The Internal Thoughts and External Influences of Macbeth

    1166 Words  | 3 Pages

    Pressure is inevitable – it is something that is felt by all, whether the source is from within or as a result of other people and events. Throughout Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the main character is faced with many pressures, both internal and external. Although his pressures are external at first, they later become internal and affect his character as well as his sanity. Macbeth feels externally pressured by his wife and the three apparitions given to him by the witches. Consequently, he begins to feel mentally pressured by his fear to secure the throne, his paranoia, and his sense of tyranny and blood lust. These pressures cause his character to change, which leads him into greater downfall. When one is faced with pressure, both from within or from an outer source, their character is greatly influenced and subject to many changes.

    Read More

  • Miranda Vs Arizona; Rights and Responsibility

    694 Words  | 2 Pages

    Since it was impossible to tell if he knew his rights, Ernesto Miranda solidified the 5th amendment when his court conviction was over-turned in 1966 (McBride)”, which has effected every aspect of arrest ever since, by establishing rights of the accused and responsibilities of law enforcement officers (McBride). Miranda was arrested early march 3rd 1963. (McBride)” He was found guilty of rape and kidnapping (McBride). The women he had allegedly raped, said she was a virgin, which was disproved in trial (1966). The main piece of evidence was Miranda’s verbal and written confessions (McBride). The confessions were obtained during a 3-hour interrogation in which Miranda had no communication with an attorney (McBride). During this interrogation he was also falsely told he had been positively identified (1966). His conviction was over-turned in 1966 (McBride). The conviction was overturned when the Supreme Court ruled that his confession was obtained unconstitutionally (McBride). Something needed to change.

    Read More

  • Miranda Rights in Our Legal System

    1956 Words  | 4 Pages

    Paul Cassell, a University of Utah law professor will try to argue the case before the Supreme Court. Mr. Cassell thinks that the Miranda Requirements needs to be loosen. Dickerson v. United States, 530 U.S. 428 (2000) was a case where the courts had to litigate over whether his statements were voluntary and if he waived his Miranda Rights. Mr. Cassell argues h...

    Read More

  • Macbeth Argument Essay

    783 Words  | 2 Pages

    Typical of Shakespeare’s works, the play Macbeth has a protagonist who ultimately experiences a downfall that lead to his demise. The protagonist or tragic hero of this play is Macbeth, once brave and honorable, who eventually becomes tyrannical and feared by many due to what Abrams describes as his “hamartia” or “error of judgment or, as it is often…translated, his tragic flaw.” In this case, Macbeth’s tragic flaw proves to be ambition; however, he cannot be held solely responsible for his downfall. As a result of many outside influential factors, including the witches’ prophecies and a rather coaxing and persuasive wife, one should not hold Macbeth entirely culpable for his actions and tragic end.

    Read More

  • Essay On Miranda V Arizona

    1071 Words  | 3 Pages

    Two police officers began interrogating him, and after two hours later the police officers came out with a written confession signed by Mr. Miranda. On the top of the confession was a paragraph that stated, “that the confession was made voluntarily, without threats or promises of immunity and "with full knowledge of my legal rights, understanding any statement I make may be used against me." Once at the trial the officers presented this evidence to the judge. With this explicit evidence the judge found Miranda guilty of kidnapping and raping. He was sentenced to jail from 20 to 30 years on each account. The Supreme Court of Arizona ruled that his constitutional rights were not violated, and also emphasized that Miranda never requested a counsel during his interrogation.

    Read More

  • Macbeth - Downfall Of Lady Macbeth

    1029 Words  | 3 Pages

    There were several aspects of Shakespeare’s novel ‘Macbeth’ that led to the downfall of Lady Macbeth. The mentality of Lady Macbeth in the play changes dramatically from the wife a Noble General, to an evil aggressive murderer (brought upon by the witches predictions), and finally a woman who had de-graded to such an extent that she took her own life.

    Read More

  • Radiation Essay

    1581 Words  | 4 Pages

    Radiation has changed drastically over the past 118 years. Exposures are much quicker, digital imaging is a possibility in most hospitals, and most importantly, radiation protection. Many people have died, some without realizing that they were killing themselves, for the advancement of x-rays. Because of these advancements physicians are able to tell patients what is going on very quickly and without much delay. It is very important to remember the 3 cardinal rules: distance, time and shielding.

    Read More

  • Blind Ambition in Macbeth

    855 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Lady Macbeth by William Shakespeare

    1078 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shakespeare tragic hero; Macbeth is undoubtedly conveyed as one of literatures greatest fallen heroes. Initially presented as an admirable hero, he self destructs from external and internal forces. The witches ignited Macbeth’s ambition and temptations prove too strong for the one admired war hero, whilst Lady Macbeth prays up on his exceptional being of vaulting ambition. Throughout the essay, the factors influence Macbeth’s downfall will be explored.

    Read More

More about A Freudian Perspective of Shakespeare's Macbeth

Open Document