Self-Preservation In Macbeth

In William Shakespeare’s epic “Macbeth”, there is a portrayal of how Macbeth utilizes different forms of self-preservation in response to meeting both internal and external demands. A visibly significant importance is placed on how Macbeth utilizes self-preservation, and understanding the impact that it has on Macbeth. Macbeth’s actions and decisions hold a striking resemblance to a/an _______, in the sense that all actions he takes, beginning the murder of King Duncan, have led to negative consequences. Like a __________, his actions have continually led him deeper into _________, and there is no hope for return; consequently, he commits more sinful actions as he cannot return to his previous state of innocence. As a result of believing the

three witches’ prophecies, and giving in to his wife’s ill advice, Macbeth gains all the power he desired, and eventually develops a paranoid personality; thus, the paranoid personality facilitates the murders of Banquo, Macduff, and others which he comes to fear. This paranoid personality sparked the use of self-preservation in Macbeth’s life, as can be observed by Macbeth’s continuation of sinful actions after he has assumed his position as King. As the development of Macbeth’s character progresses in the story, Shakespeare repeatedly displays the significance of self-preservation in Macbeth’s life. Shakespeare’s work suggests that Macbeth’s paranoid personality is a very important factor in leading to his use of self-preservation, which has consequences leading to his inevitable physical, psychological, and philosophical downfall. In conclusion, Shakespeare’s intent in “Macbeth” was to convey to the audience how self-preservation affected Macbeth’s actions and decisions, and therefore changed him as a character throughout the duration story.

“Macbeth” takes place in the 11th century medieval Scotland, during this era, the Catholicism was the predominant religion. Catholicism remained the dominant religion until the 17th century, when Christianity was bought about by Irish missionaries. These Irish missionaries, along with other factors such as reformation in the Roman Catholic Church allowed for the dominant religion to slowly convert to Christianity. Even though Roman Catholic Churches existed in large numbers and had a strong presence in society, some people strayed away from religion, and formed their own groups and beliefs. Correspondingly, the development of one such group had occurred, it consisted of those who believed in witchcraft, and there was a fairly significant population of these people during this era in Scotland. Witchcraft can be directly observed in Shakespeare’s work of Macbeth as it is represented by the three witches and the prophecies they use to manipulate Macbeth’s psyche. Although some characters in “Macbeth” believed in witchcraft, Banquo was one of the first to verbalize his skepticism in witchcraft as he questions “What, can the devil speak true?” (Shakespeare 19). Prior to Macbeth and Banquo’s encounter with the three witches, there is no visible evidence that either believes in witchcraft, although Macbeth’s views on witchcraft changes dramatically as the story progresses. After the first prophecy of the witches comes true, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth develop a greater belief in witchcraft. No significant aspects of religion in terms of Catholicism is visible during the story, but the recurrence of the three witches portrays the importance of witchcraft in Macbeth’s actions and decisions. Conclusively, the vivid presence of witchcraft in Macbeth’s life is necessary in understanding the motives behind his actions, and the lack of portrayal of religion as Catholicism helps to solidify faith in witchcraft.

Macbeth’s inability to meet internal and external demands leads him to utilizing alternate forms of defense, such as self-preservation, in an attempt to free himself of his mental insecurities.

The initiation of Macbeth’s use of self-preservation is quite clear, the murder of King Duncan, but the factors which synthesize demands must be observed with insight to understand the true motives behind his use of self-preservation. Macbeth’s conscious is plagued with a certain uneasiness as he faces internal demands such as his own conscious repeatedly questioning the validity of the witches’ prophecies, and his urges to make them come true, or even alter them in his benefit. Additionally, Macbeth is forced to deal with his own inflating ego, as the witches’ prophecies foretell stories that seemingly always benefit him, leading to a drastic increase in his confidence. Similarly, Macbeth is challenged by his wife to expedite the prophecies by committing sin, and beginning with that action, he faces more pressure to change the witches’ prophecies to benefit himself. Also, after Macbeth assumes position as King, he is given great responsibility and the immense power he desired, but as he begins to abuse it, it leads to his path down the ______. Macbeth’s own conscious holds a skeptical view on the witches’ prophecies, as even though the first may have been fulfilled, others seemed very far-fetched. Although after he succumbs to believing in the prophecies, he develops the thought

that all that is foretold by the witches’ will only work towards helping him. He even develops the notion that he is immortal, and will never be vanquished until “Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him” (Shakespeare 78). These are the factors which create the internal demands, with Macbeth himself being the most important factor, which Macbeth must meet via the usage of self-preservation. Another form of demands which Macbeth must meet are external demands, with responsibilities as King being the most prominent factor in their existence. Inclusive to external demands is Macbeth’s wife, specifically pertaining to the pressure she placed on Macbeth to commit the sin of Killing King Duncan. Conclusively, it is these factors in Macbeth’s life which form his internal and external demands, thus are the indirect forces leading to his utilization of self-reservation.

Utilization of self-preservation in Macbeth’s life occurs in many different forms, with the murders of Banquo and Macduff’s family being the most clearly visible, amongst others. Macbeth’s reasoning for committing actions as a result of self-preservation must also be insightfully investigated as the rationale may be the development of his paranoid personality. The intentions behind Macbeth ordering the murders of Banquo, Fleance, and Macduff’s family ultimately relate back to the idea that Macbeth had developed a paranoid personality after the killing of King Duncan. Macbeth’s use of self-preservation is his basic instinct to protect himself from danger, as would any human; however, in this his case, he exhibits multiple forms of self-preservation ranging from defending his life in battle, to defending his throne as King. After the first two of the witches’ prophecies were fulfilled, Macbeth feared the third, which detailed that Banquo’s “children shall be kings” (Shakespeare 18), would also come true and Macbeth’s family name would never live on to be royalty thereafter. This newfound fear led to Macbeth’s development of a paranoid personality, this was part of a chain reaction leading to the initiation of Macbeth’s use of self-preservation. Another factor that lead to Macbeth’s development of a paranoid personality was his ill-gotten position of King, and the actions he was pressured into taking to receive it. Subsequently, under the influence of a paranoid personality, he makes very irrational decisions, all of which bring about negative consequences leading him deeper into this ______. Negative consequences Macbeth faces include having Macduff amass a large army force with intentions of ending his rule, Lady Macbeth committing suicide, and eventually even his own death. Therefore, Macbeth’s use of self-preservation is viewed as a last resort, or a final attempt in prolonging his life and position as King, but only leads him deeper into _______, which eventually comes to an end with his death.

During the latter half of the story, Macbeth reassures his mind with the notion that all of the witches’ prophecies will be fulfilled to his benefit, therefore Macbeth inflates himself with confidence.

As the audience is already aware, Macbeth developed a paranoid personality, which resulted in his use of self-preservation; furthermore, those two factors lead to an existential crisis, his inevitable downfall. Macbeth is observed expressing emotions of cockiness, and believing he is immortal while having little to no guarantees that such claims will hold true in his future. This behavior is in great part, a result of the witches’ second apparition, stating that “no man born of woman shall harm Macbeth” (Shakespeare 77). After Macbeth murders King Duncan, and later receives his position as King of Scotland, he begins to fear he may not be able to carry on a royal status in his bloodline. This fear leads to the development of a paranoid personality seen in Macbeth, and elucidates upon why he ordered the only partially successful murders of Banquo and Fleance. Macbeth’s fear is vividly illustrated in his soliloquy where he states, “There is none but [Banquo] whose being [Macbeth] fears” (Shakespeare 55). The prophecy in the second apparition entails Macbeth will not be killed by any man born of a woman, and leads to Macbeth developing the notion that he is immortal in this world. Subsequently, Macbeth’s immortal belief leads to irrational decisions and actions, as he then begins

to live as though he will live forever. Additionally, the development of a paranoid personality in Macbeth also results in Macbeth acting irrationally, which also has its consequences. All the factors mentioned are causes for the change in Macbeth’s behavior, such as his philosophical, psychological, and physical death. Conclusively, it is understood that Macbeth’s use of self-preservation and the consequences of it lead him deep into this ___________, and eventually result in his death on all three levels of existence which he once thrived in.