Macbeth's Literary Criticism

Macbeth Literary Criticism

Macbeth has risen to grace due to his ways of living his life of a conspirator and a brave and valiant soldier, ready to die for his king, Duncan. However, the prophecies of the witches have a powerful effect on him, especially when he learns the first has come true, and he becomes the Thane of Cawdor to take the crown of the fallen king. After following the witches’ dastardly prophecies, Macbeth’s monumental fall from grace was meant to evoke pity from the audience. Comparing to Shakespeare’s tragic figures, the audience knows that Macbeth is defeated due to his monologs as compared to Shakespeare’s great tragic figures; No pity or reverent awe is to attend his death, as dying off stage, he is, as it were, shuffled off, in keeping with his dreadful state and desire of all in his world to be rid of him.

After committing the disgrace, Macbeth knows he cannot undo his evil, returning to his old self.

After realizing that he has no way of undoing what was done he knows" for mine own good, all causes shall give way. I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more.”(Act 3, Scene 4, P.394), Macbeth would do anything to protect himself, he will act upon his unnatural thoughts from falling from grace of his own to rise as a king to his people. But in the end of Macbeth we have something different. We know Macbeth’s spirit, as well as his world is all but destroyed,” committed to the witches’ words, Macbeth is a walking corpse bound to be finished from his suffering” Macbeth believes that rather than having a tragic death Macbeth will die by natural causes and live out his expected life span to an elder age”…Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath to time and mortal custom. Yet my heart throbs to know one thing. Tell me, if your art can tell so much…” (Act 4, Scene 1,

pg.404).
The audience could foreshadow Macbeth’s actions from after what lady Macbeth has sought upon her husband; Macbeth would soon forget his remorse feelings and act like a king by accepting the past and moving on. After worrying about Banquo becoming suspicious of Duncan’s murder, Macbeth decides it would be necessary to decide to kill Banquo and his son in order to ensure that none of Banquo’s “issues” would hold the throne. Macbeth afterwards fears that Banquo’s murder would be revenged by his own death,” It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood. Stones have been known to move…By maggot pies and choughs and rooks brought forth the secret’st man of blood” (Pg. 394, Act 3, and Scene 4). Retribution would soon take action on those whose lives he has taken,” retribution and at the same time pity for him on whom they fall”.
Evidence throughout Macbeth’s rule apply on which that he would soon be killed. He was sane to be driven insane by the evils he has committed by taking lives on those he was close to. Macbeth haws multiple monologs about his fate due to his actions. Knowing that Macbeth has performed sins that he could not get over having anxiety attacks over, his death will be treated with no remorse, “No pity or and reverent awe attend his death”. Macbeth has killed the king for the word of the witches he has received, his co-conspirator, and Macduff’s family. Guilt has taken over their lives. Lady Macbeth has committed suicide due to guilt. Macbeth was finished off by Macduff in a duel, in which Macbeth’s death had no pity or reverent attend his fall from grace.