Up to what extreme would you go for power? No matter the case, all humans experience anger and the urge for control. These emotions can, in certain situations, change the personality of a person. As humans, we have the capacity of controlling ourselves, but life's difficult circumstances can affect how a person handles reality. In the play, fear and guilt has taken control over Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's mental health and life, because of the actions they have chosen to commit. The path towards the crown of Scotland left them with many physiological traumas that can be explained by metal disorders from today and lack of self-esteem.
Due to Lady Macbeth frustration at seeing her husband intimidated by the assassination they were about to commit, she questioned her husband's manhood asking, "Art though afeard to be the same in thine own act and valor as thou art in desire? ... When you durst do it, then you were a man" (Act I, Scene Vii, lines 39-49 ). By doing this Lady Macbeth used psychological manipulation to force Macbeth to give in to what she wanted. This is because a man's manhood is a very sensitive and a complex topic that has the power to destroy a man's self-esteem. It can be said that, "manhood is a precarious social status that is difficult to earn; easily lost; and defined by
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an aversion to femininity in behavior, linguistics, and emotions" (What a Piece of Work Is a Man). Putting into question a man's masculinity can do a lot of emotional and mental harm; it can drag them to the path of violence and "when it's threatened, men see aggression as a good way to hold onto it... they are powerfully concerned about how they appear in other people's eyes. And the more concerned they are, the more they will suffer psychologically when their manhood feels violated" (Think it's easy to be macho? Psychologists show how 'precarious' manhood is). Lady Macbeth's mental manipulation over Macbeth led him no choice, but to kill King Duncan to prove himself. In a sense, Macbeth became a puppet and Lady Macbeth the master. His low self-esteem allowed Lady Macbeth to control him by using psychological tactics. Furthermore, in two different occasions Macbeth showed symptoms of paranoia schizophrenia. As noted, "the majority of people with paranoia schizophrenia, may also have auditory hallucinations-they hear things that are not real. They may also have delusions of personal grandeur- a false belief that they are much greater and more powerful and influential than they really are" (Paranoid Schizophrenia: causes, Symptoms and Treatments). The first time he showed any signs of this disorder was during his attempt to find fundamental reasons to kill King Duncan. He started to hallucinate seeing a dagger persuading him to kill the king while he said, "is this a dagger which I see before me... art thou not, fatal vision, sensible" ( Act II, Scene I, Lines 32-35). The second time was when he thought he saw the ghost of Banquo sitting in his chair. He even engaged in a conversation with the ghost of Banquo saying, "thou canst not say I did it. Never shake thy gory locks at me" ( Act III, scene V, lines 50-51). His anxiety and remorse caused him to develop this psychological disorder. Nonetheless, "even the smallest dose of power can change a person. You've probably seen it. Someone gets a promotion or a bit of fame and then, suddenly, they're a little less friendly to the people beneath them" (When power Goes To Your Head, It May Shut Out Your Heart). As Macbeth grew in power he became more confident, but also impulsive. He seems to suffer from psychological impulse control disorder; "people with an impulse control disorder can't resist the urge to do something harmful to themselves or others" (Daniel Ploskin, MD ). Macbeth could not handle the anxiety and power that came with being king. This is why he felt the need to kill the people who were closer to him and his enemies. For example, he sent for Macduff to be killed, but when he could not get to him, Macbeth went after his family. He ordered their assassination by saying, "seize upon Fife: give to th' edge o' th' sword his wife, his babies, and all unfortunate souls that trace his line" ( Act IV, scene I, line 151-153). He became insanely violent because the unlimited power of the throne ate away his good judgment. All the murders that he committed psychologically destroyed him, he was no longer able to control himself due to this disorder. As a consequence of all the violence, Lady Macbeth became sick. The haunting memories of the murder of King Duncan had given her post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD is said to be "an anxiety disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of a traumatic event" (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). After killing Duncan she was emotionally shatter. This is why every night she was found walking in her sleep saying "yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him" (Act V, scene I, lines 31-32). It was like she was relieving the gruesome event all over again, which is one of the symptoms of PTSD. She was never able to recuperate from this dramatic act. This explains why every time she gazed at her hands she said, "will these hands ne're be clean?" ( Act V, scene I, line 35). The murder of Duncan marked her forever and left her with severe emotional distress, which in medical terms is defined as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Power, fear, violence and insanity are all connected in this play.
Macbeth's search for power led him to the full control of Scotland, but it came with a high price, a life full of fear and anxiety and psychological disorders. He and his wife Lady Macbeth suffered and endured the weight of Duncan's death to their own demise. What is the point of power if you cannot enjoy it with full health? As they took away the lives of others they killed themselves little by little. Even after being crowned Macbeth and Lady Macbeth fail to find their happiness which led them to developing various disorders that caused their end. "Fair is foul and foul is fair" ( Act I, scene I, line
10). "Think It’s Easy to Be Macho? Psychologists Show How ‘precarious’ Manhood Is." Association for Psychological Science. N.p., 2 May 2011. Web. 9 June 2015 "Paranoid Schizophrenia: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments." Medical News Today. N.p., 27 May 2015. Web. 9 June 2015. "When Power Goes To Your Head, It May Shut Out Your Heart." Npr. N.p., 10 Aug. 2011. Web. 9 June 2015 Ploskin, Daniel. "What Is Intermittent Explosive Disorder?" PsychCentral. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 June 2015. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder." Mental Health America. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals., n.d. Web. 9 June 2015. "What a Piece of Work Is a Man." American Psychological Association. N.p., 23 Oct. 2013. Web. 9 June 2015.
Initially, when her character is introduced, she displays her masculine traits with complete disregard for any form of femininity. She commands the heavens in these lines, ”Come, you spirits/That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,/And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full/Of direst cruelty.”(1.5.30-33). In this, Lady Macbeth sheds any attachment she has to her natural embodiment as a woman, and asks the supernatural to help her in her quest to power. It is clearly shown that Lady Macbeth yearns to achieve ambitions that weren’t considered womanly in the time period that this play is set in. As a consequence, she pushes her husband to fulfill her horrendous dreams, because she knows that she will not be affected if Macbeth fails to execute his plans. If Macbeth gets caught, then she remains blameless, and if he doesn’t, she becomes a queen. Either way she doesn’t get hurt. Nonetheless, Lady Macbeth hides another aspiration, one which is evidenced from her humane actions. As a loyal companion to Macbeth, Lady Macbeth wants to ensure that her husband achieves his dream, to be king, at any cost, even if that means sacrificing her femininity and humanity. Generally speaking, this unique perspective on Lady Macbeth shows that her demeaning of Macbeth’s masculinity is actually a display of her true feminine traits; to always support her husband regardless of the price. Lady
When we first hear about Macbeth from the sergeant’s report, we are led to believe that he is very much a person who does only what he believes is right. Furthermore, when he first appears in the play, his fellow nobleman, Banquo, accompanies him. Given this, we would think that he does what is right, and makes all his own decisions. However this belief is proven wrong. Although Macbeth starts off as a loyal subject of Duncan, he is ambitious and this is a weakness, which allows him to be manipulated by a few factors in the play.
Macbeth tells himself to act like a man in the following lines: “Prithee, peace! / I dare do all that may become a man; / Who dares do more is none” (I, vii, 45-47). This quote by Macbeth shows how he wants to be a man by killing King Duncan, but he does not think this would be an act of righteousness. Macbeth is in a controversy with himself in this situation. If he does not kill the king then his wife, Lady Macbeth, will not think he is a man, but if he does kill the king then he will betray his leader’s trust in him. Betrayal would not be seen as an act of manliness. Jarold Ramsey explains the situation in the following sentence: “And, striking more ruthlessly at him, she scornfully implies that his very sexuality will be called into question in her eyes if he refuses the regicide” (288). This quote by Jarold Ramsey explains how Macbeth’s manliness will be determined in the eyes of Lady Macbeth when he makes his decision on whether or not he will kill the king. Lady Macbeth shows her desire of being queen in the following lines: “What beast was’t then / That made you break this enterprise to me? /When you durst do it, then you were a man” (I, vii, 47-49). This quote shows how she wants Macbeth to kill the king. In this situation Macbeth tells himself to be a man and kill the king to please Lady Macbeth. Maria Howell exp...
The Manipulative Lady Macbeth In certain situations, women are the downfall of men. Macbeth is a prime example of how women influence men. We are going to probe into the hidden lives of Lord and Lady Macbeth, and show how without Lady Macbeth, Macbeth would have lived and prospered. Lady Macbeth was a small but very important part of the play Macbeth. She is always on the side of Macbeth, telling him what she thinks he should do.
Humans are always fascinated by power. Sadly, they do not realize the danger of it until it is too late. In the play Macbeth, William Shakespeare's underscores how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are both consumed by power. In the beginning, Lady Macbeth dominates Macbeth, manipulating him to kill Duncan. After the death of Duncan, Macbeth becomes ambitious, and hires murderers to kill Banquo without notifying Lady Macbeth. Even though he is a decorated soldier, when Macbeth rises to power, he becomes ruthless. On the other hand, Lady Macbeth becomes weak, and insane. Shakespeare illustrates how Macbeth’s obsession with power undermines his moral judgement, leads to his mental deterioration, and ultimately results in his death.
This essay earned a 89/100. it was a lot of work considering the lines from macbeth for textual support.
The drastic measures for the attainment of power are necessary for any upcoming ruler to obtain what they desire. Macbeth had the right ambitions and aspirations when stepping up to rule Scotland, but unfortunately the increase in power increased his greed and paranoia which also painted a larger target upon his back. The people did not appreciate the means of how he obtained his power and especially did not appreciate the ways he kept and defended it. No evidence in the play exists to say Macbeth ruled as a tyrant one could speculate he was an excellent ruler like many that came before him but that would be a large speculation to make. Under the circumstances, Macbeth had great potential, but became corrupted and sank due to his greed, desires, and the opinion of his
In the play ‘’Macbeth’’ by William Shakespeare Macbeth struggles with his conscience and the fear of eternal domination if he assassinates King Duncan. Lady Macbeth’s conflict arises when Macbeth’s courage begins to falter. Lady Macbeth is has a cruel, venomous, evil personality in which no man can escape from her wrath and raging power. Lady Macbeth is like a black widow who utilizes aggressive and ruthless tactics to persuade Macbeth to commit the assassination. This cruel minded woman utilizes the power of manipulation and reverse psychology to get what she desires.
After receiving prophecies from the witches about his future to come, he is forced into an ambition-fuelled madness. As previously mentioned, Macbeth was persuaded to kill King Duncan by his wife due to his debatable manliness. This presented Macbeth’s need to prove to his wife he was manly by being valiant and strong and partaking in violent acts. He responds to his wife’s forceful directives by telling her, “Please stop! I dare do all that may become a man;/ Who dares do more is none” (1.7.46-47). This quote indicates how Macbeth believes a “real” man would not murder, and only due to Lady Macbeth explicitly attempting to manipulate him into action, does he succumb to do so. Macbeth endeavours the heinous crime of murdering the King, all owing to Lady Macbeth’s commands. On more than one occasion Macbeth is seen becoming mad, being overtaken by guilt and concern, highlighting that his manhood does not in fact give him any power, but only draws attention to his lack thereof. The inferiority he has within his relationship, also makes evident that Lady Macbeth’s pressure causes the transpiration of Macbeth’s powerful future. It is clear that Macbeth’s power was affected by his gender, as seen through his desperate need to prove his masculinity. Without the questioning of his manhood, Macbeth would have still been the
...hout the play, he continually worries about his own portrayal of masculinity, something that Lady Macbeth is quick to jump upon to make him do what she wants. When Macbeth says is challenged by lady Macbeth he says that he will do anything to be a man. ’when you durst do it, then you were a man’. Lady Macbeth is tormenting Macbeth by getting inside his head. This symbolises how he is being controlled by evil and corruption. Lady Macbeth and her desires on one side and the witches on the other. This shows how the two control is entangled and entwined. The word ’man’ is used to great effect here, it shows the true desires of the heart. Macbeth wants the recognition of his achievements. Lady Macbeth’s attitude explains how this is not enough. She wants Macbeth to be king, maybe more than he does. She is pushing him forwards.
When anything in life first begins to grow, it begins as a seed. The seed of a plant, or of a thought, or of an idea. Once created, the seed can do one of two things. It can grow, or it can die. Shakespeare’s play Macbeth tells the story of an innocent man who is turned evil from the seeds planted by those around him, allowing readers to explore the repetition of growth and how it is implied through characters. Throughout the play, growth is used to display Macbeth and Banquo as foil characters, show Banquo’s “goodness” through positive imagery, and to show Macbeth’s “evilness” through negative growth imagery. By analyzing Shakespeare’s use of growth imagery, critical readers recognize that growth enforces the idea that growth triumphs evil, embodied in the actions and consequences of Macbeth and Banquo as they make one of two crucial choices? Good, or evil?
Shakespeare wanted to conceive Lady Macbeth in being a strong, more powerful wife than any other. Her behaviour shows that women can be cruel to men. It doesn’t have to be the other way round. Lady Macbeth uses words such as “foolish woman” or “coward” to show that Macbeth is edgy.
What do you think of me? Do you see me as evil, wicked, or a murderous “tyrant”? Well, if you have taken the words of anyone else but me, of course you would have believe I am a monstrous man. However, I advise you to listen to my side of the story; I am not the blame for the deaths of anyone yet, people like my wife Lady macbeth, Banquo, and King Duncan are. If it was not for the wicked influence Lady Macbeth had placed on me, surely I would have not hurt a soul.
Lady Macbeth represents all the stereotypical qualities of manhood, such as unrelenting determination, cruelty, and lack of emotions. Her interpretation of masculinity is made clear from the very first scene she appears in. When Lady Macbeth realizes that she must kill Duncan in her own home, she states, "Come, you spirits/ That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here" (I. iv. 43-44). Her request shows that she believes a woman is not capable of such cruel and evil acts, and that only a man is. Furthermore, she wants to be filled up from the "crown to the toe, top-full/ Of direst cruelty!" with the "access and passage to remorse", completely blocked off, implying that a man is without remorse and feelings, and full of cruelty (I. iv. 45-47). Lady Macbeth then imposes her idea of Manhood on Macbeth. When Macbeth decides not to kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth quickly challenges his manliness by c...
Characters in Macbeth frequently dwell on issues of gender. Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband by questioning his manhood, wishes that she herself could be ?unsexed,? and does not contradict Macbeth when he says that a woman like her should give birth only to boys. In the same manner that Lady Macbeth goads her husband on to murder, Mac...