Macbeth Destruction Essay

In the thrilling tragedy of Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses key devices in order to effectively establish and sustain a suspenseful atmosphere. Shakespeare tells the story of a brave Scottish general, Macbeth, who receives several prophecies from a trio of witches. His positive mind set is quickly overrun with ambitious thoughts, leading to a series of selfish murders. Due to his actions, the overall mood arising throughout the entire play is predominately dark and ominous in which most tragic plays incorporate. The major theme running through the play is the destruction wrought when one fails to control their ambition and moral constraints. One who carries out actions without thought has the potential to present one with undesirable consequences

and self-guilt. This argument is particularly concerning for Macbeth as his lust for power seizes control over his sanity, ultimately leading to his tragic flaw. Shakespeare clearly implements three vital devices to further shape and contribute to the overall mood of the play including, the witches presence, unnatural occurrences, and hallucinations.
The first device Shakespeare uses effectively to construct and maintain suspense is the presence of the three witches along with their periodic appearances. In the opening scene, the three witches appear on a heath amidst thunder and lightning, establishing the tone for the duration of the play. The witches use prophesies to awaken Macbeth’s ambition, a force in which presents him with unescapable circumstances. Despite revealing crucial information about Macbeth’s future, his inner security causes him to neglect their knowledge they propose to him. As a result, his actions promote his unstable state of mind which slowly deteriorates to his fate. Furthermore, the witches ultimately challenge Macbeth and the control over his humanity. To consume the witches advice, is like eating "the insane root, That takes the reason prisoner" (Act 1, Scene 3 Lines 84-85); for Macbeth, in the moment of temptation. If not for the witches manipulative knowledge, Macbeth would be left to make his own decisions and possibly the ability to avoid his disastrous ambition. As a whole, the witches add to the chaotic and dark nature of the play, making them the driving force towards evil and a vital component in creating suspenseful atmosphere.
Another device that contributes to the uneasy mood throughout the play is the addition of unnatural occurrences, greatly emphasizing the overall tension surrounding the tragic events that ensue.

From the very beginning, unnatural forces have inspires, and even encourages Macbeth’s actions, pushing him closer to the brink of destruction. They interfere with natural events and completely alter Macbeths and Lady Macbeth’s attitudes as they fall deeper into extensive guilt. Consequently, when Macbeth carries out actions that are considerably evil, unnatural phenomenon’s tend to quickly follow and even influence his decisions. The use of these unnatural forces such as nature and wildlife both conspire to develop a chilling and mysterious atmosphere, mirroring the unnatural killing of Duncan. For instance, an eclipse occurs mid-day, completely unknown to most people at the time, an owl kills a hawk and Duncan's horses break out of their stalls, killing and eating each other. It is apparent that Macbeth is at the point of no return apparent through “Hours dreadful and things strange; this sore night Hath trifl[es] former knowings" (Act 2, Scene 4, Lines 2-4). These unnatural happenings seem to coincide with what Macbeth does, driving him to darker and more evil actions to cover up his past misdeeds. Overall, these strange happenings effectively contribute to the mystifying mood of the play, dragging attention away from once present

normality.
The last and final device Shakespeare uses to establish the grim mood is the implementation of hallucinations. Hallucinations not only reveal Macbeth’s overall mental state, but also contribute the uncertainty and suspense prominent throughout. Hallucinations are first seen as Macbeth awaits the signal to make his way to Duncan’s chamber. Soon before, he encounters a floating dagger, proclaiming to “Let me clutch thee... Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible to feeling as to sight? Or art thou but a dagger of the mind, a false creation?” (Act 2 Scene 1 Lines 34-38). The Blood that drapes down the blade represents the destructive course Macbeth and Lady Macbeth head down. In addition, the appearance of Banquo’s ghost urges Macbeth to ironically return to the three witches, desiring more information regarding his fortune. He misjudges the witches as trustworthy beings, a direct result of his inability to account for his rapidly increasing ambition. Similar to Macbeth’s hallucinations, Lady Macbeth’s overriding sense of guilt and remorse manifests itself in her sleepwalking where she obsessively tries to scrub out bloodstains. These visions and hallucinations all testify to the fact that he and his wife are slowly becoming unhinged.
These devices as a whole associate and complement each other, creating a chaotic and suspenseful atmosphere for Macbeth, and any soul standing in his way. The forces powerful working against Macbeth alters his ability to cope with them, thus sealing his ultimate fate. Over the course of the play, Macbeth repeatedly misinterprets his guilt that he suffers as being simply a matter of fear. His characteristic way of addressing his guilt is to face it directly by committing more misdeeds, only generating further destruction. Macbeth chooses to ignore rationality, choosing to address his desire for power and position which is clearly more important to him than anything else. Macbeth’s ambition is the motivational thrust in which gives him momentum in his attempts to strive to achieve success. The inability to think things through unfortunately demonstrates how ones ambition can quickly spiral out of control. Overall, these devices and the disorder they cause act against Macbeth as enemies, but more importantly, contributes to the intense tone of the play: Macbeth.