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Fate in macbeth analysis
Fate in macbeth analysis
Macbeths power in the play
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Fate cannot predict a person’s character. Every human must choose to embody benevolence or malevolence. It is an important decision, which external factors greatly influence. This point is addressed by Shakespeare in his drama, Macbeth. The character, Lady Macbeth develops sincerity as a result of her husband’s corruption. Deciding between what is foul and what is fair is an overarching theme in the play, and the main characters continually shape their identities through these decisions. Shakespeare tells the story of a married couple, the Macbeths, who are the newly appointed monarchy of Scotland. The Macbeths have very distinct personalities, at first Lady Macbeth is ruthless and Macbeth is rational. As the play progresses, Macbeth turns …show more content…
vile and executes the innocent. Due to the atrocities performed by her husband, Lady Macbeth develops feelings of grief and regret. Lady Macbeth’s identity evolves significantly in the playwright Macbeth, she embraces sincerity in response to her husband’s newfound tyranny. Originally Shakespeare shows Lady Macbeth’s lack of emotion towards the murder of King Duncan, a stoicism which labels her as a brute. Lady Macbeth learns that her husband is prophesied to become the king of Scotland. Upon hearing his fate, she urges Macbeth to kill the current king, Duncan. Lady Macbeth yearns for power and believes that her husband’s kingship will fulfill her craving. After murdering the Duncan, Macbeth reveals his guilt to his wife, stating that he is “afraid to think what (he) have done” (2.2.55). Lady Macbeth responds with, “A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then” (2.2.70-71). The quick dismissal of Duncan’s murder proves that Lady Macbeth is cruel. She is satisfied because the king’s murder provides her with an abundance of power. Lady Macbeth shows no regret and minimizes the horrific act. She immorally calls the execution a “deed” and fails to acknowledge the impact of the manslaughter. Lady Macbeth believes that it will only take “a little water”, a transparent, odorless and purifying substance, to clear the vicious Macbeths from their act. Her one track mind blinds her from the consequences of the situation. Lady Macbeth’s lack of sympathy towards the death of her king proves that she is malicious. Macbeth’s initial timidness allows Lady Macbeth to seize the power in their relationship, and instigates her role as the oppressor. After murdering Duncan, Macbeth proceeds to kill two innocent guards and his former colleague Banquo, these tyrannical actions stop Lady Macbeth’s affinity for murder.
After the slaughter of his former comrade, Macbeth explains to his wife, “Strange things I have in head that will to hand/Which must be acted ere they may be scanned” (3.4.137-140). This assertion from Macbeth paves the path for his future misdeeds. Lady Macbeth is concerned by her husband’s announcement and responds with, “You lack the season of all natures, sleep” (3.4.141). Lady Macbeth believes that her husband has lost his sanity. She no longer supports Macbeth’s murderous plans, and resents his new impulsivity. Following this conversation, Macbeth continues to kill harmless people, such as Macduff’s wife and children. He implies that he will no longer think about his actions before completing them, which is a deranged approach to life. The change in Macbeth’s behavior reshapes Lady Macbeth’s personality. She realizes that “what’s done cannot be undone” (5.1.57). Lady Macbeth now recognizes the lasting impact of the murders on herself and her husband. Initially Lady Macbeth approves Duncan’s murder, as it leads to her queenship. Her sadism and zeal for power declines after Macbeth’s killing spree. Lady Macbeth’s newfound heart is the outcome of her husband’s wicked
actions. As a result of Macbeth murdering indiscriminately, Lady Macbeth develops integrity. Macbeth’s collection of murders begin to take a toll on Lady Macbeth’s sanity. The assassinations start to consume Lady Macbeth’s subconscious. While sleepwalking, Lady Macbeth asks, “What, will these hands ne’er be clean?” (5.1.37). Lady Macbeth’s plea reveals that she is burdened by the recent murders conducted by her husband. She fears that they will never successfully clean themselves from their misdeeds. Now, Lady Macbeth believes her hand will always hold the act of murder. This is a drastic change from the beginning of the play. Lady Macbeth previously had no remorse towards king Duncan’s death, but now she is troubled by the course of events taken by her husband. Lady Macbeth’s guilt, aroused by the murders, indicates a change in character. After Macbeth becomes ruthless Lady Macbeth develops an awareness of her moral compass. Macbeth’s increase in brutality initiates Lady Macbeth’s newfound mindset. Lady Macbeth begins the story full of confidence, power and malice, while Macbeth is meek and vulnerable in his wife’s presence.When Macbeth becomes psychotic, Lady Macbeth turns compassionate.Through the development of Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare shows that your loved ones influence who you become. Your identity will change over time based on the close connections that you have during your life. Therefore, you must be wise in your choice of company because the persona of your peers can make you or break you.
“Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been / So clear in his great office, that his virtues /Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against / The deep damnation of his taking-off; (1.7.16-20)” The powerful values of being a good king in Macbeth, all the king's learn to manage throughout the book. William Shakespeare's ideas towards kingship can be seen throughout the play Macbeth, and shows that a king should be chosen by a divine right. Throughout the play Macbeth the most important topic is kingship. Followed by knowing the difference of kingship and tyranny. Shakespeare closed it out with cruelty and masculinity along with staying true to principles.
Macbeth's wife, Lady Macbeth, is one of the most frightening and powerful female character in the play. Both of them are trying to seek the throne and become king and queen.
In the story Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare every character in the story seems to have their own pre-determined destiny. Macbeth being the focus, could be seen as a “tragedy of fate or character” in many different ways. But, Shakespeare has a way or writing and portraying the emotions in a character by his style. For Macbeth, He is a bigger tragedy/Vitim of Character rather than fate.
We start to see Lady Macbeth’s actions have a huge impact on Macbeth’s character as he transforms from a decent being to an overly bitter creature. The cause of his alteration is due to the fact that Lady Macbeth is constantly excreting heartless information into his mind. "Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and valour as thou art in desire?" (I;vii;39-41) "And, to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man." (I;vii;50-51) Lady Macbeth uses these quotes to push her husband beyond limits and is therefore responsible for his dramatic change in attitude. She is constantly feeding his thoughts with negative comments and later on Macbeth realizes that he has another side to him. As he moves along to discover the concealed side of him, Macbeth falls in love with himself and begins to be drawn towards his evil desires. Because Lady Macbeth was the main cause of his new hidden discovery, she is fully responsible for opening up the door and letting the darkness in. This results in Macbeth committing both murders.
After Macbeth's deed was done, he would of succumb to his guilt if it weren't for lady Macbeth. His paranoia started to get the best of him. Macbeth thinks that someone has heard him commit the crime, " I have done the deed, didst thou not hear a noise? " (Macbeth, II, II, 15) The good Lady tells Macbeth she heard nothing, she is comforting him by reassuring him that no one heard a thing, " I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Did not you speak? " (Macbeth, II, II, 16 - 17) Macbeth feels guilt and pity for what he has done to Duncan, he looks down on himself. [looking at his hands] " This is a sorry sight. " (Macbeth, II, II, 22). Lady Macbeth comes through and shows Macbeth comfort and strength before he loses it and does something irrational. When Macbeth returns to his chamber after killing Duncan and Lady Macbeth learns that he didn't carry out the end of the plan, the reader sees a moment of panic in Lady Macbeth. She quickly regains her composure, though, and decides that she must complete the plan herself. She says to Macbeth, "Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead are but ...
After the death of King Duncan, Macbeth becomes the more controlling one, and Lady Macbeth’s guilt eventually becomes too much for her to handle which leads to her death. Lady Macbeth is in fact the one that performs the preparations for the murder of King Duncan, but still shows some signs of humanity by not committing the murder herself because he resembles "My father as he slept". After the murder has been committed, she also shows signs of being a strong person because she calms Macbeth down in order to keep him from going insane.
Lady Macbeth begins with an unrecognizable conscience. She explains to Macbeth that if she said she would kill her own child, she would rather do the deed than break her word to do so. As the play continues, however, Lady Macbeth begins to develop a conscience. After placing the daggers for Duncan's murder, she makes an excuse for not killing Duncan herself: "Had he not resembled / My father as he slept, I had done't" (2.2.12-13). These words introduce her conscience. Towards the end of the play, Lady Macbeth falls into a sleepless state, and this sleeplessness represents her guilt for her role in Duncan's death,...
...ueled by the debate of Fate vs. Free Will. It is unclear at first whether the events that take place, occur because they are supposed to, or because Macbeth makes them. Through further investigation it becomes clear that Macbeth is corrupting his own idea of fate, by using his free will. He thinks that his fate is something he is able to control, and continually takes steps to ensure that. While he may think what happens to him is fate, it is not. He completely takes his life into his own hands, and makes it his own. He hears what the sisters have to say, and makes his own judgments accordingly. Macbeth is a character that hears a profound destiny for himself, but shapes it in his own way.
“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.
Shakespeare’s tragedy of Macbeth is all about power, manipulation, violence and greed. The main character is Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth is his wife. Lady Macbeth has a major role in the manipulation and violence part of it. Even though Macbeth is the person who does the killings, Lady Macbeth plays the role of a malefactor along with him. She underestimates Macbeth’s manhood (III. IV.60-62, I. VII.48-49), and if he refuses or overthinks a command that she says to him, Lady Macbeth’s trick to manipulate is to deride and tease Macbeth (I. VII.36-45). She says: “Letting ‘I dare not’ wait upon ‘I would,’ like the poor cat i' the adage?” (I. VII.45). Lady Macbeth knows that in order for her to become queen and for Macbeth to become king,
From the first act to the last act, Macbeth repeatedly tries to prove his masculinity. In Act I, when she is introduced, she makes a startling speech, calling spirits to make her a man, fill her with evil, and take away any remorse she might have. In addition to making these surprising statements, she says that her husband is too kind to commit the callous murder of Duncan, his own cousin. Macbeth fully voices his feelings about the murder not only in several soliloquies and asides, but to his wife before and after he murders Duncan. Lady Macbeth, the master of manipulation, knows precisely what to tell her husband to get him to do what she wants. She compares his mentioning of the witches’ prophecies and saying he does not want to commit murder to become king to having a baby and then making a promise to nurture and raise it, then “dashing its brains out” (1. 7. 59) (Shakespeare). She sees this absolutely absurd comparison fitting for her own selfish purposes. Macbeth, feeling guilty about disappointing his wife, then voices his concerns about failing in their scheme. To no surprise, she convinces him that if he has the confidence and masculinity to kill Duncan, then he will not fail. After Macbeth meets his wife after murdering Duncan, he is in a traumatic state, saying he heard voices. Lady Macbeth feels the best course of action is to, again, question his masculinity, saying “My hands are of your color, but I shame/ To wear a heart so white” (2. 2. 64-65) (Shakespeare). When Duncan is found dead and he is declared king, Macbeth feels he has earned his manhood, the symbol of it being his kingship. He does everything in his power to maintain his grip on the throne, which brings about his own demise. By analyzing The Tragedy of Macbeth, the audience is able to determine that Macbeth’s downfall is the
Her choices triggered the rise of her status, but also began the recession of her mental health. For a majority of the play, Lady Macbeth constantly reminds for Macbeth to ‘be a man’ and to overcome his emotions. Soon after the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth comes to her, full of guilt and trauma. She mocks him, stating that “tis the eye of childhood /that fears a painted devil,” (II, II, 70-71) in an attempt to belittle him, reducing him from a man to a child. Lady Macbeth tries to minimize the guilt of herself and Macbeth’s murderous deed by belittling his emotions, forcing him to repress his guilt in the name of manhood. A common trait of hypermasculinity is the suppression of emotions, and both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth soon express this. As Lady Macbeth settles into the role of queenship, she soon expresses discontent, lamenting that “nought’s had, all’s spent. / Where our desire is got without content” (III, II, 6-7). But when Macbeth enters, she quickly hides her unhappiness and reclaims the role of the sensible advisor, immediately ridiculing his “sorriest fancies” born of guilt (III, II, 11). But, unable to quiet her emotions no matter how deeply she hid them, Lady Macbeth was overwhelmed with guilt, and soon loses control over her behaviour in her sleep. Unable to talk about her guilt and feelings while awake, she laments over her, and Macbeth’s, choices while unconscious. Lady Macbeth, unable to personalize a trait of manhood she so strongly pressed on Macbeth, she soon becomes unable to live with her emotions, and ultimately prompts the ultimate consequence, suicide. As an after-effect of renouncing her femininity earlier in the play, and learning to internalize her emotions, Lady Macbeth personalizes a harmful effect of exaggerated hypermasculinity that deeply affects her mental health and does nothing but cause her
Lady Macbeth is a very loving wife to Macbeth and she wants to do anything she can for him to achieve his goals. She just takes it a little too far, and she puts too much pressure on Macbeth to commit crimes that he is not sure he wants to do. After Macbeth sends her a letter about the witches’ premonitions, Lady Macbeth is no longer the sweet innocent lady we expect her to be. She turns into a person who is just as ambitious as her husband and she wants to do whatever it takes to help him get Duncan out of the way. She even goes to the point of calling Macbeth a coward, and mocking his bravery when he fails to complete the job. She is even willing to do it herself (plant the bloody knife with the guard). Lady Macbeth is constantly putting the pressure on Macbeth to do things that he is not sure about. She almost turns into a bully who dares Macbeth to go out and do evil things. She even says in a soliloquy that she wants to be released of all her morals and values so that she can help him commit these crimes.
After struggling with the thought of killing Duncan, Macbeth is reprimanded by Lady Macbeth for his lack of courage. She informs him that killing the king will make him a man, insinuating that he isn’t a man if he doesn’t go through with the murder. This develops Lady Macbeth as a merciless, nasty, and selfish woman. She will say, or do anything to get what she desires, even if it means harming others. It is this selfishness that makes it hard for the reader to be empathetic towards her later in the play, as it is evident in this scene that her hardships were brought on by herself. If she hadn’t insisted on the murder, she would not be driven in...
Lady Macbeth is the first to strategize a way to kill Duncan. As a character foil to Macbeth she juxtaposes their possession of guilt and ruthlessness, which creates irony and excitement to the play. Originally, she is very power hungry and wants to utilize her husband’s position in status to become queen. Macbeth objects to the plan to kill Duncan because he believes Duncan is Macbeth’s kinsman, host, and an overall virtuous ruler (Act. 1 Scene. 7) and thus feels very guilty for taking advantage of Duncan’s trusting quality towards the Macbeth family. She refers to Macbeth as weak and rebukes his manhood (Act 1. Scene 7.) . As the play progresses, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have a character role reversal of their possession of guilt and ruthlessness. The character foil is extant, however Macbeth’s ruthlessness overcomes his guilt, and Lady Macbeth’s guilt vanquishes her drive for power. In addition to an alteration in character foils, Shakespeare introduces situational irony because now Lady Macbeth succumbs to the weakness Macbeth once possessed and Macbeth is the one who is formidable and ambitious. Macbeth’s ability to transcend his guilt exemplifies his struggle for power and reinforces the theme of evil ambition because Macbeth is able to secure the throne and power only by mass