How Does Macbeth Cause Human Cruelty

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What causes one to take part in human cruelty? One can be easily persuaded to commit a tragic deed. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth had encountered this act. He had committed regicide of King Duncan believing it would be done without emotion, yet he was wrong. It caused instant shame and he was filled with dread, due to aspiration for royalty. Because of Lady Macbeth’s persuasion skills, this had caused a savage beast to grow within Macbeth. He proved to be a tragic hero who had caused damage and fear, awakening his negative mindset resulting in devious actions fighting for mastery. Thus, through the use of imagery, repetition, onomatopoeia and hyperbole, Macbeth is shown to be anxious, guilty, terrorized and repentant.
To begin, Macbeth starts off being anxious upon seeing his hands covered in Duncan’s blood, shown through blood imagery. Macbeth’s realization comes to reality immediately after killing Duncan when he says “This is a sorry sight” (2.2.29). This is right after Duncan's murder and the start of his increasing anxiety because …show more content…

This is soon after the knocking appears. He shows remorse saying to himself “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood \ Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather \ The multitudinous seas incarnadine” (2.2.77-80). The wickedness of his unlawful act made him truly understand he will forever be haunted. As a result, he uses exaggeration to evoke his strong feelings about his actions. Duncan’s blood which is smothered all over his hands symbolizes his contrition and sorrow. Macbeth exaggerates that even the sea does not have enough water to cleanse his hands of murder. This enrages him and is now shameful that there’s enough blood on his hands to turn the whole sea incarnadine. For the most part, his overstatement ends the scene off with his repentance for Duncan’s

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