Macbeth's Decline In Humanity

255 Words1 Page

Throughout this passage, Macbeth perceives himself as much stronger than he is and reacts coldly to the news of his wife’s death. Through Macbeth’s perception of his life, and of his wife’s death, Shakespeare characterizes him as a man who has lost his humanity. “I have almost forgot the taste of fears;” By having Macbeth state that he no longer feels fear or fears his own mortality, Shakespeare uses Macbeth’s own words to characterize Macbeth as a man who does not feel fear, a vital human emotion. “As life were in't: I have supp'd full with horrors; Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts Cannot once start me.” Shakespeare adds context to Macbeth’s decline in humanity by explaining that Macbeth has become too desensitized to horror,

Show More
Related

  • Macbeth's Downfall

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...n is a great man and he did not want to kill him. He even mentions this to Lady Macbeth later. Once Macbeth kills Duncan the greed from his ambition overwhelms him. He is only worried about his well being and does not love his wife anymore. “She should have died hereafter” (Shakespeare, Macbeth 5.5 line 17). In this line he shows no emotion to his wife having died. He even said that he forgot his sense of fear. “I have almost forgot the taste of fears…my senses would have cooled to hear a night-shriek, and fell my hair would at dismal treatise rouse and stir as life were in ‘t”(Shakespeare Macbeth 5.5 9-13). Macbeth explains how he would react when he used to be scarred in certain situations. Overall at the start of the drama readers see Macbeth as a hero and someone they could look up to. Towards the end of the drama Macbeth is a tyrant and has antihero qualities.

    Read More

  • The Absence of Humanity in The Crucible and Macbeth

    1662 Words  | 4 Pages

    The urge to be seen as perfect is a desire commonly found among humans. However, even some animals are not immune to such desires. A bird trying to attract the best mate in the forest by creating a perfect nest will fight to the death for a twig that it believes will make its nest excel beyond the rest. The bird will even go so far as to break the incubating eggs in a nest if it contains an item that the bird wants as its own. Similarly in humans, there are characters that strive for perfection so much so that they begin to weigh ideology above humanity. In the plays The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, and Macbeth, by Shakespeare, there are characters that fall prey to their own desire to create a perfect life or a perfect society; thus, it leads them to abandon their morals—something that makes a person human—and commit horrible acts. When individuals begin to weigh ideology above humanity, they become bitter and accusing, they begin to lose their grip on reality and they create chaos and war.

    Read More

  • Essay On Human Nature In Macbeth

    857 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the early 1600’s, William Shakespeare penned an Aristotelian tragedy ‘Macbeth’ which provides his audiences both then and now with many valuable insights and perceptions into human nature. Shakespeare achieves this by cleverly employing many dramatic devices and themes within the character of ‘Macbeth’. Macbeth is depicted as an anti-hero; a noble protagonist with a tragic flaw that leads to his downfall. This tragic flaw of Macbeth’s, heavily laden with the themes of ‘fate or free will’, and ‘ambition’, is brought out by Shakespeare in his writing to present us with a character whose actions and final demise are, if not laudable, very recognisable as human failings.

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Presentation of the Decline of Lady Macbeth

    580 Words  | 2 Pages

    and “ come to her women breasts and take her milk for gall”. She also

    Read More

  • Macbeth: The True Nature of Man

    827 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the author tries to show the true nature of man by using the play’s main character, Macbeth, as an example. He is overly ambitious, courageous, and self-doubting. Throughout the play, Shakespeare displays these characteristics to the audience through Macbeth to show the true nature of man. At the end of the play, these characteristics ultimately lead to Macbeth’s downfall.

    Read More

  • Macbeth: The Cursed Scottish Play

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the play Macbeth, or more commonly referred to as the Cursed Scottish Play, the multitude of death and betrayal covers up or destroys the potential heroism of many characters, except for that of Macduff. His purity, courage, and sacrifice throughout the course of the play enable this hero to eventually orchestrate the fall of Macbeth.

    Read More

  • Macbeth's Corruption

    1293 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout The Tragedy of Macbeth, we see Macbeth change from a noble and brave soldier into a mere shadow of his former self. We meet Macbeth after a battle, the result of which has him named Thane of Cawdor. From this position, he falls to a paranoid man willing to do anything to remain in power. We can see his deterioration from the murders of Duncan and Banquo, Macbeth's second meeting with the witches, his treatment of Macduff's castle and his mental condition just before he is murdered.

    Read More

  • A Modern Macbeth

    418 Words  | 1 Pages

    When looking back on the recent decades or even last week, it is not difficult to find a Macbeth-like figure in mainstream American culture. In this it is meant that these individuals experience a downfall in an attempt to gain power. One such figure was former President Richard Nixon.

    Read More

  • Macbeth- The Decline Of Macbeth And His Wife

    1359 Words  | 3 Pages

    Explore the ways the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth develop throughout the play. Making reference to Shakespeare's use of language and stagecraft, examine the ways the events of the play impact on them and their relationship.

    Read More

  • Macbeth's Moral Deterioration

    1120 Words  | 3 Pages

    From the start of the play it seems already as if Macbeth is under the

    Read More

  • The Dramatic Fall Of Macbeth Essay

    765 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the American history of many heroic leaders an excessive want for the power, leadership, and territory is what led to defeat, downfall, and even death. In the beginning of the play Macbeth was a good man ,but influenced by Lady Macbeth and her question of his manhood and the witches manipulative accusations of becoming King of Scotland forced Macbeth to murder his way to leadership and his death. Macbeth was valiant and brave ,but was influenced by the witches, Lady Macbeth, and ultimately himself.

    Read More

  • The Downfall of Lady Macbeth

    1360 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth’s desire and ambition leads to her eventual downfall. When Lady Macbeth hears of Macbeth’s prophecy she dreams of the glory and high-standing that awaits being queen. She cannot withhold her ambitions and she is willing to manipulate fate to bring about Macbeth’s prophecy. She invokes evil spirits to be filled from head to toe with cruelty to do the evil actions necessary to make Macbeth king and to remove all remorse and pity for her action from her heart. She is initially able to be involved in the treacherous deeds that are needed to bring about the prophecy quickly, but as the play progresses the weight of the merciless deeds fill her with remorse. The remorse and pain she feels for her wicked ways cause Lady Macbeth to lose control of her life and wither away until the weight of her deeds causes her to die. Lady Macbeth’s wish is partially granted, her mind becomes evil and enables her to do horrific things, but her soul remains pure and unsure of her actions and her remorse for her wicked ways leads to her destruction.

    Read More

  • Macbeth: A Tragic Hero

    1162 Words  | 3 Pages

    Tragic heroes, who destined for a serious downfall, are the protagonist of a dramatic tragedy. A tragic hero is usually a great hero, who gets the most respect from other people; on the other hand, a tragic hero can also lose everything he gained because of his mistakes. His downfall is the result of a wrong judgment, a flaw which might combined with fated and external forces. The downfall can cause the tragic hero to suffer for the rest of his life. In many literary works, the downfall of the tragic heroes usually happen in their highest point. In the same way, Macbeth is a tragic hero in the play called “The Tragedy of Macbeth” which is written by a legendary writer, William Shakespeares. Macbeth is a great general who gained many respect from the people and even the king. In the highest point of his life, because of seeking for greater power, it created Macbeth’s downfall. Macbeth, a tragic hero, causes suffering for himself and others by committing murders and creating distress, which are the negative effects of seeking for a greater power.

    Read More

  • Macbeth: A Tale Of Two Theories

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    text of the play seems to imply that Macbeth is indeed responsible for his own

    Read More

  • How Macbeth Changes from a National Hero to a Brutal Murderer

    1638 Words  | 4 Pages

    with it. As when the king decides who is going to be the next king he

    Read More

More about Macbeth's Decline In Humanity

Open Document