Both overly ambitious, Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, illuminate the meaning of the entire play at the end of Act I. Upon deciding to murder King Duncan, in hopes of claiming the throne for themselves, Macbeth and his wife reveal the dangerous power of unchecked ambition. Lady Macbeth explains how "[she and her husband] shall make [their] griefs and clamor roar/ Upon his death" (I.vii.77-78), to cover up their crime and prove to everyone their innocence in the matter. Then Macbeth replies, "I am settled, and bend up/ Each corporal agent to this terrible feat./...False face must hide what the false heart doth/ know" (I.vii.79-83). These declarations demonstrate how far both Macbeth and his wife are willing to go to claim the throne and the power granted to a king and a queen, yet Macbeth's statement suggests he recognizes the evil in committing such a crime. When he describes the deed as "terrible" (I.vii.80), Macbeth proves his human ability to empathize with others and to value a life, but his desire for power supersedes his conscience. Shakespeare wrote this conversation between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to convey this message, that excessive ambition to gain power can consume the good in a person, and leave them nothing more than a deceptive, corrupt murderer.
Shakespeare’s bold characterisation of Lady Macbeth as the dominant partner in her and her husband’s relationship outlines Macbeth’s over-excessive pride and Lady Macbeth’s deceitful demeanor. By outlining these characters’ motives, Shakespeare demonstrates the two characters’ incentives, especially Lady Macbeth’s obsession with power and status. By using a single passage at the end of Act I, Lady Macbeth desperately compromises her husband’s courage and pride by suggesting “What best wasn’t, then/ That made you break this enterprise to me?/ When you durst do it, then you were a man” (I.vii.49-51). Lady Macbeth threatens Macbeth’s masculinity by admonishing his doubts to murder the king; if he does not complete the task, Macbeth is not considered a man in the light of Lady Macbeth. In pressuring her husband to complete the task of murder, Shakespeare also outlines Lady Macbeth’s desperate attempt to become queen and acquire power and prestige.
In using a simple passage, Shakespeare illuminates Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s motives as well as their complex relationship. Lady Macbeth acts as the impulsive assertive character whereas Macbeth’s passive demeanor causes him to comply with the manipulative acts of his wife. She highlights a plan saying “What not put upon/His spongy officers who shall bear the guilt/Of our great quell?” (I.vii.70-72). Lady Macbeth acts as the devil on her husband’s shoulder, guiding him in the directions she wishes like the reigns on a horse. In outlining this relationship, Shakespeare creates a complex relationship between the two characters.
The opening soliloquy of scene seven presented by Macbeth foreshadows the theme of power and sanity discussed prior to delving into the play. In his own house, with Duncan as a guest, Macbeth questions whether or not he should kill the King, pondering both the benefits and drawbacks of committing such an act. “First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,/Strong both against the deed; then, as his host” (I.vii.13-14) persuades Macbeth not to kill the King, citing he hosts the King in his own home, and the act would open up doors to a world of darkness and tragedy. As he continues to weigh the situation in hand, the dark imagery contained within the monologue showcases the disastrous flaws that come with killing Duncan. Shakespeare’s diction utilizes “Bloody” (I.vii. 9), “deep damnation” (I.vii.20) and “pity” (I.vii.21) to lead to Macbeth’s decision to refrain from killing the King. Although resisting the temptation to gain precious power, this monologue potentially previews the inner struggle of Macbeth and the quest for authority and privilege.
Macbeth's quest to become king became an obsession once the three witches told him about his future. Though Macbeth becomes hesitant when plotting to kill King Duncan, Lady Macbeth urges him to not change his mind. Shakespeare characterizes Lady Macbeth as the more dominant figure in the relationship between herself and Macbeth. Lady Macbeth has the attitude where she will continue to strive for victory, though she will be putting herself and Macbeth in danger of being charged with murder if they do not succeed. While Lady Macbeth is the epitome of a selfish character, Macbeth considers his actions by explaining to Lady Macbeth, "He hath honored me of late, and I have bought/golden opinions from all sorts of people/which would be worn now in their newest gloss/not cast aside so soon" (I, III, 32-35). Macbeth wants to become king, although he would wait his turn, however, Lady Macbeth will not reason with him. Essentially, Lady Macbeth does not want Macbeth to become king for his benefit, but rather for her own. She was appreciate the social status that comes with the title. Rather than standing behind Macbeth, as most women would do, Lady Macbeth shares her opinion openly as many male characters do. She skillfully devises the evil plan to kill King Duncan and persuades Macbeth to comply with her. Shakespeare illuminates the meaning of the play with the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. His play glorifies the amount of emphasis put on social class and the corruption of a character once power becomes everything.
In just one passage at the beginning of scene seven of act one Shakespeare is able to illuminate both the plot of the play and the dominate discourses that will be magnified as the play progresses. In Macbeth’s soliloquy he addresses his hunger for power and the sins he is willing to commit in order to obtain this power. At first he is hesitant when the repercussions for his actions are considered but ultimately his desire for power is too great. Macbeth mentions, “Upon the slightest couriers of the air, shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, that tears shall drown the wind” (I.vii.38) displaying the remorse and guilt he will feel if Duncan is murdered. With the help of his Lady, Macbeth succumbs to the pressure of his wife and his thirst for power and decides to pursue the plan of murdering Duncan. In this small section the viewer discovers numerous character traits of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and learns about the deterioration of morals when an opportunity to gain power is involved.
In literature, a single solitary passage has the ability to illuminate the meaning of the entire work. Sometimes, the passage is a literal message to the audience regarding a social criticism to beware of, but there are also other ways in which single passages can envelop the meaning of the work. In the case of Macbeth, by Shakespeare, a seemingly unimportant line uttered by Banquo foreshadows the tragedy in a way which Macbeth, blinded by the seduction of power, cannot realize. Following a visit from the three Witches, in which they tell Macbeth, accompanied by Banquo, of Macbeth’s future as thane of Cawdor and eventually King, Macbeth becomes feverish at the idea of prestige. Realizing the Witches may not actually be able to see into the future and are simply attempting to allure Macbeth into a trap, Banquo asserts, “But ‘tis strange: And oftentimes, to win us our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s In deepest consequence” (I.iii.122). Banquo explains how the Witches, aware of their influence over Macbeth once he found out they were telling the truth about him becoming the thane of Cawdor, knew he would be aroused by the possibility of becoming King and do anything to ensure their prediction would become reality. Banquo, in the first act, warns Macbeth of the possibility of his downfall if he becomes obsessed with the idea of power and dominance. This single passage illuminates the meaning of the entire play because Macbeth’s encounter with the Witches in the beginning of the play is arguably the most pivotal conversation in the whole play, as it sets into motion Macbeth, and eventually Lady Macbeth’s, intention to murder Duncan in order for Macbeth to become King, presumably Macbeth’s catastrophe and the reason why this play is a tragedy.
At the very beginning of the play during the conference between the witches, the famous line “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (1,1,10) was chanted by all three witches, which sums up the play in its entirety. Evidently, a major component of Shakespeare's craft is the use of contrast in setting, characters, and diction. The contrast between "foul" and "fair" in the passage alludes to Shakespeare's craft, but also the moral traits of his characters. The first words of Macbeth in the play is "So foul and fair a day I have not seen" (1,2,39). Thus far in the play, the two major characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, do not conform to gender expectations as Macbeth is the more passive character while Lady Macbeth is very aggressive and ambitious. While Macbeth is currently seen as a conflicted, "fair" character, the deterioration of his morals can be expected since what is "fair" can become "foul". Also, while now Lady Macbeth holds the power in the relationship, as the play progresses, her power could be transferred to her husband. In this famous quote of Macbeth, Shakespeare manages to sum up the ambiguity and turmoil of his play along with the unreliability of his characters.
One passage in Act II exemplifies the guilt that Macbeth feels for murdering Duncan in his own home in a quest for power. A previous hallucination involving a bloody dagger while the protagonist mumbles to himself eventually leads Macbeth to carry out the murder. Upon completing the murder of the King, blood again revisits the stage, stained upon the hands of the murderer, symbolizing the guilt and reality of what had just happened. Macbeth worries “will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/ Clean from my hand?” (II.ii.75-76). Previous temptation in the first Act ended with Macbeth deciding not to murder the King. However, the second time Macbeth could not resist. His thirst for power and the crown, along with his wife’s, led to the murder, framing it on the servants. A constant knocking at the door sends Macbeth into a state of extreme paranoia, stating “What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine eyes” (II.ii.73-74). Reality floods back into the body of Macbeth, who has little time to gain his composure back before the news spread of the king’s death.
There are many examples of Shakespeare using a single passage to illuminate the deeper meanings and theme which prevail throughout the entire work. The treachery, betrayal and personal desire prevails throughout every passage, scene and act as the tragedy that is Macbeth unfolds. During the opening monologue spoken by Macbeth at the start of scene seven which focuses on his inner struggle with the planned assassination of the king Duncan at his hand. "First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself." (I,vii,12-15) Duncan thinking of his relationship with the king struggles with the decision his wife and has in essence made for him on the council of three witches. "Upon the sightless couriers of the air. Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye. That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur. To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself." (I, vii, 23-28) In one monologue Shakespeare is able to highlight the inner struggle faced by Duncan which will become pivotal in the tragedy to be felt.
Once a reader learns how to read Shakespeare, he or she realizes how telling individual passages of dialogue can be in terms of plot and character development. In Act II, Shakespeare first places heavy importance on dagger imager, synonymous with the play Macbeth. Macbeth's monologue in scene I of the second act addresses this imagery and discusses the psychological implications of Macbeth's soon to be murderous actions. Once Macbeth ousts the servant from the room, he begins speaking to his dagger; Macbeth hallucinates and confronts the deed he needs to perform. Towards the end of his monologue he exclaims "While I threat, he lives: words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives" (II,I,60-61) which loosely translates to "The more I sit here trying to talk myself out of it, nothing is getting done. I need to pluck up some courage here." This passage illuminates the emotional toll this act will have upon Macbeth, introduces pertinent symbolism as well as characterizes the main character further.
Macbeth’s soliloquy in scene one of the second act was carefully crafted by Shakespeare and displays the internal conflict within Macbeth and his transition from an innocent Thane into a blood and power thirsty king. Initially Macbeth feels guilty and insecure about murdering Duncan stating “hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear thy very stones prate of my whereabout, and take the present horror from the time” (II.i.43). This solitary passage allows the viewers and readers to learn more about the character traits of Macbeth. Shakespeare does not want the viewer to believe that Macbeth is completely insane and that is why Macbeth is hesitant to murder Duncan and contemplates going through with the plan instead of instantly stabbing Duncan with no feeling of remorse. These small glimpses of the good within the bad are the reason why many of Shakespeare’s characters are classified as tragic heroes instead of evil villains. The transition is complete for Macbeth when he says “hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell” (II.i.44). These two lines at the conclusion of the soliloquy mark the point where Macbeth overcomes his conscience and gives in to his selfish desires and wife’s commands.
Macbeth's soliloquy in act II conveying his internal struggle emphasizes Shakespeare's message of the brutal consequences of coveting power. Initially, Macbeth refused Lady Macbeth's request for him to kill Duncan. However, as she began to insult his manhood, he decided to oblige. Once the servant exits the room, Macbeth begins muttering to himself, and hallucinates a vision of a dagger, "The handle toward my hand?/ Come, let me clutch thee" (II. i. 34 ). Moments later, he recants what he's seen and equates it to "A dagger of the mind, a false creation/Proceeding from the heat oppressed brain" (II. i. 38-39). Shakespeare depicts Macbeth as switching back and forth to communicate to the reader he is not wholly wrought with selfish desire, in juxtaposition to his wife, who craves power like a serpent yet to devour their monthly meal. Providing minute glimpses into his characters, Shakespeare relays the notion of human nature and its vulnerability to moral corruption. Macbeth ultimately succumbs to his and his wife's desires and wanders up to Duncan's chamber saying "Hear it not Duncan; for it is knell/That summons thee to heaven or to hell" (II. i. 63-64 ). This utterance is Macbeth forswearing his moral conscience and Shakespeare foreshadowing the course which the story will pursue.
“Better be with the dead, whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, than on the torture of the mind to lie in restless ecstasy” (III.ii.22-25).
This particular passage spoken by Macbeth captures the magnitude of guilt and fear he experiences as the play progresses. Macbeth confesses he would prefer death over living in fear of people discovering his murder, and through Macbeth’s relentless anxiety and hallucinations, the audience can glean Shakespeare’s message concerning guilt – committing a severe crime prevents an escape from appearing to the criminal. This theme grows increasingly apparent throughout Act III as Macbeth frantically constructs darker, more violent plots to combat his existing guilt. One such plot is to hire a team of murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance, and once Fleance escapes, Macbeth only falls deeper into a world of haunting hallucinations. The darkness of his deeds fully encompasses Macbeth when he states: “Thou marvel’st at my words: but hold thee still. Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill” (III.ii.56-57), articulating that one foul deed leads to another, and this closes off any opportunity to escape a life of guilt and crime.
Similar to the way Macbeth's monologue in Act II reveals a great deal about his intentions to kill Duncan, his monologue in Act III illuminates his belief the death of Banquo will soon follow- out of necessity. Stemming from our "Methbeth" discussion in class the other day, Macbeth's mentality is quite similar to that of Walter White, in that one act of murder solves nothing- it merely causes the necessity for more the manifest. By killing Duncan, the witches' prophecy about Macbeth came true, thus causing Banquo to believe the vision about his son will also be correct. This system of belief causes competition and tension between the two men- facilitating the need for Banquo's death. In Breaking Bad, Walter frequently murders or orders the murder of his competition and those who have wronged him. Walter often does this out of fear for his and his family's safety. Similarly, Macbeth feels threatened by Banquo, claiming "To be thus is nothing; But to be safely thus.- Our fears in Banquo stick deep; and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be feared" (III,I,48-51), or that even if Macbeth reigns as king, he will continue feeling uneasy about Banquo's living. Walter White may be a drug kingpin, but while his competition lives, he cannot rest easily. Macbeth reveals in his monologue Banquo's death is immanent to preserve his seat as ruler.
Although Macbeth has already killed his prime competition, Duncan and has become king of the Scots, he still believes his crown is in jeopardy by Banquo. The one act of murder has not solidified his confidence in becoming King, but rather compelled the act to progress even further as there are still threats to the throne that must be eliminated. Even though he has obtained the title, he still doesn’t feel safe as he fears Banquo’s power; “To be thus is nothing,/ But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo/ Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature/ Reigns that which would be feared” (III, I, 50-53). Macbeth dwells on the witches’ prediction that Banquo’s children will reign since he has no offspring of his own. He feels he has tortured his conscious and ruined his peace only for the benefit of Banquo’s promised succesors. Because of this, Macbeth’s discomfort develops into fierce hostility as he vows to destroy fate’s royal plans for Banquo’s children. This soliloquy completely contrasts Macbeth’s character from the previous acts; In Act I, Scene 2, the wounded captain stated that Macbeth was prepared to disdain fate. Now, with greedy fire burning in his eyes, Macbeth challenges fate to a competition; “Rather than so, come, fate, into the list / And champion me to the utterance” (71-72). Similar to his previous characterization, Macbeth still contemplates murder, but what urges his deliberation this time is not guilt and disgrace but more of panic and indignation. However, the use of the hired murderers presents Macbeth as constitutionally powerful but morally weak. Irony is present as Macbeth uses the same deceptive rhetoric as Lady Macbeth used on him to persuade him to kill Duncan. Their desire to murder Banquo stemmed from their longing to prove their masculinity. The irony presents itself even further when the murderers are imperfect in carrying out his instructions for the “perfect” crime. As the escape of Fleance suggests, there can be no escape from fate. As he begins to act on his own accord, Macbeth’s manipulating powers become prevalent as he no longer needs Lady Macbeth’s greed and desire. As a foreshadowing for the rest of the play, Macbeth acts more violent and without morals as there exists no more contemplation between motivation and virtue. He only thinks of his treacherous plans as necessary, making him increasingly dangerous. Rather than the superficial monster he is, Macbeth is portrayed as a tragic character as he is perpetually conscious of his evil choices and distressingly aware of the hasty corrosion of his humanity.
Although the play is not over yet, one of the underlying themes of the play thus far is indecisiveness and conflicting emotions. Macbeth has proven to be a character unsure of most of his actions. Starting off the play Macbeth came off as a noble man; little did viewers know, his evil-genius of a wife controls his wavering personality. When in the presence of his wife, it was quite ironic that the one who wants to rule was being ruled by his wife. Easily convinced to commit murder, Macbeth performed a soliloquy which perfectly portrayed his uncertainty between being the confident man everyone knows him as and the meek husband controlled by his wife. The wavering continues when Macbeth equates power with confidence and becomes a whole new person as king. When willing to have his friend murdered Macbeth goes into another emotionally unstable soliloquy. This time however the topic is not killing Duncan, his first and foremost competition, but killing Banquo. Macbeth hovers between fulfilling the witches prophecy and letting fate work alone as well as killing Banquo or realizing Banquo isn't that big of a threat. Macbeth's speech on page 58 is the perfect example of a single passage representing the entire play. In addition to showing the emotional instability throughout the play it also shows the corruption power holds over people and the lack of importance this society places on people and more importantly friends. Shakespeare's social critique of this society is apparent in passages of the such.
Methought I heard a voice cry "Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep," the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care, The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, Chief nourisher in life's feast— (II, ii, 46-51) Shakespeare creates powerfully thematic work through his containment of overarching themes within individual phrases. The quote above contains an intriguing microcosm of the tortured and twisted world which Macbeth inhabits, presenting the themes that dominate the entire work. Of constant importance in Macbeth is the continuing contrast between deception and truth. Macbeth's inability to discern whther the voices he heard were real or imagined shows how his ambition-driven loss of sanity has blurred the line between what is truth and what is not. He eventually forsakes the cries he describes here, on the basis of continuing to pursue the prophecy no matter what. Through this dynamic, Shakespeare is indicating that the only reality Macbeth has total faith in is that of the prophecy, which is taking an increasing amount of control of his life. One concern posed to the reader as they experience Macbeth is whether the reconciliation between morality and ambition is possible, and the nature of guilt in an individual's life. The role of these themes are represented within this excerpt. Macbeth's insanity arises from an inability to fully reconcile his guilt and his ambition. He acknowledges the evil of his acts on multiple occasions (I, iv), yet proceeds with them anyway. These cries he hears, likely imaginary since the vocal individuals in question went back to sleep afterwards. The idea of sleep is critical here. Sleep is a metaphor for the blissful ignorance of the prophecy and freedom from guilt. The night of the murder, Banquo and Macbeth cannot sleep (II, i), and both were mentioned in and heard the prophecy. Meanwhile, the vast majority of the others in the castle remain asleep. The cry that Macbeth will never sleep again is a clear connection to guilt, as this is in conjunction with the murder of Duncan. Such complexity in the relationship between a simple passage and the entirety of the work contributes to the impressive and powerful unity of Shakespeare's work. As many lines contain this kind of profound microcosm that represent the thematic elements of the play, Shakespeare uses these pieces to significantly strengthen the whole work.
"The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements. 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. Make thick my blood, Stop up th’access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between Th’ effect and it. Come to my woman’s breasts, And take my milk for gall, you murd’ring ministers, Wherever in your sightless substances You wait on nature’s mischief. Come, thick night, And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, To cry ‘Hold, hold!’" (Act 1, Scene 5, lines 36-52)
Shakespeare uses these lines in Act 1, scene 5, to highlight the meaning behind his play. Deviously anticipating the arrival of King Duncan, Lady Macbeth shows no hesitation in her plan to execute the King's murder and steal the throne. On the contrary, previously, Macbeth shows hesitance on seizing the thrown through the King's murder. Lady Macbeth serves as the ironical "man" in this situation as Macbeth is indecisive about the plan. Through this passage, Shakespeare establishes the fact that Lady Macbeth holds the strength to persuade her hesitant man. She has a unique representation of a tempestuous or siren, in that she has the ability to suede someone in a particular way. Through this diabolical quality Shakespeare attributes to Lady Macbeth, he foreshadows the fall of Macbeth through Lady Macbeth. In consequence to Macbeth's lack of morality he will come short of an archetypal hero due to his humanity.
In the words of Hecate, goddess of witchcraft, Shakespeare illuminates the repercussions of lust for power and ambition without the restraints of morality. She says of Macbeth, He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear/ His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear./ And you all know, security/ Is mortals' chiefest enemy” (III.v.30-33). In this ominous prophecy, Shakespeare confirms hubris as the ultimate source of Macbeth’s impending downfall. The increasing presence of supernatural powers in the play indicates the turmoil of the state and in Macbeth’s mind. In his increasing hallucinations and inability to control his anxiety, as seen in the dinner scene in the presence of Banquo’s ghost, Macbeth already suffers from his overconfidence. He attempts to control fate in the murders of Duncan and Banquo and the failed murder of Fleance, and he heeds neither the wisdom of Banquo nor the grace of Duncan. As these transgressions already cause him to wallow in guilt, he has reached the point of utter corruption.
“Then comes my fit again. I had else been perfect, Whole as the marble, founded as the rock, As broad and general as the casing air. But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in To saucy doubts and fears.” -Macbeth (III.IV.13-17)
In this passage, Shakespeare begins to toy with the sanity of Macbeth. Macbeth’s thirst for power is so strong that he had the assassins (murderers 1-3) kill Banquo. The reason behind the murder of his companion Banquo is due to the witches’ prophecy. The witches prophesy about Banquo in Act One, Scene Three: "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none." (I.III.18) In other words, Banquo will never be king, but his descendants will (possibly his son). A few lines later, when Macbeth and Banquo are discussing what they've heard from the witches, Macbeth says "Your children shall be kings” (I.III.11). The thought of competition of the thrown creates more tension inside the mind of Macbeth and begins the plots of continuous murders after Duncan’s. Satisfied with Banquo’s death, Macbeth finally feels secure in his new position as king...until he learns of Banquo’s son, Fleance, escaped. This left Macbeth filled with “doubts” and “fears” when he was once so “perfect”. Macbeth must destroy Banquo’s family in order to keep Banquo’s side of the prosephy just a thought instead of reality. The play of Macbeth straddles on the border of sanity and insanity. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth had to verify with Banquo that the witches were even real. The witches and their prophecy began Macbeth’s obsession with power and soon consumed the whole play with his lust of power. His paranoia certainly plays an important part in this play seeing as he leads a chain of murders to conquer a throne which he already had due to killing Duncan. The passage above shows how royalty and riches destroy the close knit relationships of Macbeth and drive Macbeth insane. The play Macbeth revolves around royalty over loyalty.
In order to portray the progression of Macbeth from a victim of fate to a murderous and obsessive royal figure, the soliloquy of Macbeth just prior to the death of Duncan, illuminates the building ambitious and evil nature of the Protagonist. Beginning with a hallucination of a floating dagger, Shakespeare depicts the mental decay of Macbeth's moral responsibility, as he begins his transformation into a reckless character. Macbeth's comment, "I see thee yet, in form as palpable As this which now I draw " (II.I.41-42), he comments towards the transition from murderous intent to murderous actions. While the view does signify a grim hope for the life of Duncan, the realization of Macbeth also implies the beginning of his own downfall, as self absorption and the corruptible nature of his thirst for power begin to summon him to his own fate starting after Macbeth states, "I go, and it is done. The bell invites me" (II.I.65). As if to personify the insanity outbreak of imagining a floating knife, Macbeth's progression from notions of insanity to cruel and harsh intentions in reality unveil the hopeless and destructive transformation of Macbeth's character into a murderer of both flesh and moral code.
Act 2: Directly after committing the murder, Macbeth becomes paranoid of what he has done. Though Lady Macbeth insists that no one has seen the events that previously took place, Macbeth worries to himself as he convinces himself that quiet voices are speaking to him. With Macbeth thinking to himself "Methought I heard a voice cry, "Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep"-the innocent sleep" (II.ii.35-36) Shakespeare explains the uneasiness Macbeth feels once he commits the murder. The voices which Macbeth hears will continue to haunt his life throughout the entirety of the play, essentially causing Macbeth to become more insane. Sleep is meant to rest the mind, however, Shakespeare is saying that because of the sin that Macbeth committed, he will not have peace of mind any longer. The section of the passage which connects to the entirety of the play is when Macbeth thinks to himself, "The death of each day's life, sore labor's bath, balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, chief nourisher in ilfe's feast" (II.ii.38-40) because Macbeth is admitting he will no longer have peace when going to sleep at night. Without resting the mind a person will go crazy and with this knowledge, the reader infers that Shakespeare is foreshadowing the extent of Macbeth's insanity. As the voices haunt Macbeth he becomes more paranoid and the lack of sleep adds to his deteriorating condition. Though Macbeth feels that he is quickly becoming more powerful, the power lies in the guilt of his actions. With this passage, Shakespeare foreshadows the condition of Macbeth and the tole it will continue to take on his being.
That will never be. Who can impress the forest, bid the tree Unfix his earthbound root? Sweet bodements! Good! Rebellious dead, rise never till the wood Of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth 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: shall Banquo’s issue ever Reign in this kingdom? (IV.i.92-103)
Shakespeare utilizes Macbeth’s monologue during Act IV to reveal his constant debacle with himself and Banquo. During the first scene of Act IV, Macbeth seeks out the witches performing craft to configure three apparitions that display hints to Macbeth’s fate. Like a deceptive genie, these apparitions provide open-ended potential to Macbeth’s fate including “beware Macduff” (IV.i.71), “none of woman born/Shall harm Macbeth” (IV.i.80-81), and “Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill/Shall come against him” (IV.92-93). From the ridiculous nature of these prophecies, Macbeth dismisses them almost immediately, a tragic flaw on his behalf. These strange prophecies amuse the witches and perplex Macbeth, yet his single desire is to understand his premiere prophecy of Banquo and his reign in Macbeth’s kingdom rather than consulting the admonishments of the three apparitions. Macbeth reveals this desire in his monologue by stating that his heart is aching solely for the news whether “Banquo’s issue ever/Reign in this kingdom?” (IV.i.102-103). Macbeth’s obsession with Banquo and the future of his kingdom as being run by Banquo blood displays this as a tragic flaw within this monologue. His ego is eased by the unlikely prophecies presented before him, but he cannot shake the idea of failure by Banquo from his conscious. Through the manipulative witches, the reader can view Macbeth as envious of Banquo’s prophecy and his drive to do anything in order to fabricate a new fate for his kingdom and himself.
“A light, a light/ Who did strike out the light?” (III, III)
In this passage/quote from Act 3 of Macbeth, Shakespeare foreshadows the meaning of his play. Given that Macbeth has hired his men to fulfill his dirty deeds; to his men ignorance is bliss as they believe they are fulfilling an act of good morale. In this "light", Macbeth's men justify murder with regards to honoring their king, but in darkness, it becomes apparent to these men that there actions are as evil as the criminalized murderer. Shakespeare uses this scene as a representation of the message behind his play, that ones life is ultimately a struggle of good vs. evil. This exaggeration of the internal battle man faces is also represented through Macbeth as he tries justifying his evil actions, ultimately leading him into insanity. His insanity leads to an alter ego that we see develop through evil whispers of his own thoughts and deep remorse of his immoral actions.
In Act 2 Scene 2 of Macbeth, the enormity of Macbeth's murder of Duncan is emphasized through this quote,
Whence is that knocking? How is ’t with me when every noise appals me? What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red. (II.ii.55-61)
Macbeth's overwhelming sense of guilt is revealed in this passage through his inability to wash the blood from hands. Although physically it is obviously possible, Duncan's blood symbolizes his guilt which will haunt him throughout the rest of the play and eventually drive him to insanity. Like his hands, Macbeth is stained, or marked by his heinous deed as a traitor. He cannot be cleansed by "Neptune's ocean", instead, he would stain the whole ocean red. Similarly, Macbeth will never be cleansed of his crime. Instead, he will stain everyone he comes into contact with. His murder of Duncan will snowball into a string of murders and corrupt deeds until he succumbs to his guilt and insanity. Through this singular passage, Macbeth is defined by his treason and cannot move forward from his crime.
Both overly ambitious, Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, illuminate the meaning of the entire play at the end of Act I. Upon deciding to murder King Duncan, in hopes of claiming the throne for themselves, Macbeth and his wife reveal the dangerous power of unchecked ambition. Lady Macbeth explains how "[she and her husband] shall make [their] griefs and clamor roar/ Upon his death" (I.vii.77-78), to cover up their crime and prove to everyone their innocence in the matter. Then Macbeth replies, "I am settled, and bend up/ Each corporal agent to this terrible feat./...False face must hide what the false heart doth/ know" (I.vii.79-83). These declarations demonstrate how far both Macbeth and his wife are willing to go to claim the throne and the power granted to a king and a queen, yet Macbeth's statement suggests he recognizes the evil in committing such a crime. When he describes the deed as "terrible" (I.vii.80), Macbeth proves his human ability to empathize with others and to value a life, but his desire for power supersedes his conscience. Shakespeare wrote this conversation between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to convey this message, that excessive ambition to gain power can consume the good in a person, and leave them nothing more than a deceptive, corrupt murderer.
ReplyDeleteLady Macbeth's Motives:
ReplyDeleteShakespeare’s bold characterisation of Lady Macbeth as the dominant partner in her and her husband’s relationship outlines Macbeth’s over-excessive pride and Lady Macbeth’s deceitful demeanor. By outlining these characters’ motives, Shakespeare demonstrates the two characters’ incentives, especially Lady Macbeth’s obsession with power and status. By using a single passage at the end of Act I, Lady Macbeth desperately compromises her husband’s courage and pride by suggesting “What best wasn’t, then/ That made you break this enterprise to me?/ When you durst do it, then you were a man” (I.vii.49-51). Lady Macbeth threatens Macbeth’s masculinity by admonishing his doubts to murder the king; if he does not complete the task, Macbeth is not considered a man in the light of Lady Macbeth. In pressuring her husband to complete the task of murder, Shakespeare also outlines Lady Macbeth’s desperate attempt to become queen and acquire power and prestige.
In using a simple passage, Shakespeare illuminates Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s motives as well as their complex relationship. Lady Macbeth acts as the impulsive assertive character whereas Macbeth’s passive demeanor causes him to comply with the manipulative acts of his wife. She highlights a plan saying “What not put upon/His spongy officers who shall bear the guilt/Of our great quell?” (I.vii.70-72). Lady Macbeth acts as the devil on her husband’s shoulder, guiding him in the directions she wishes like the reigns on a horse. In outlining this relationship, Shakespeare creates a complex relationship between the two characters.
The opening soliloquy of scene seven presented by Macbeth foreshadows the theme of power and sanity discussed prior to delving into the play. In his own house, with Duncan as a guest, Macbeth questions whether or not he should kill the King, pondering both the benefits and drawbacks of committing such an act. “First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,/Strong both against the deed; then, as his host” (I.vii.13-14) persuades Macbeth not to kill the King, citing he hosts the King in his own home, and the act would open up doors to a world of darkness and tragedy. As he continues to weigh the situation in hand, the dark imagery contained within the monologue showcases the disastrous flaws that come with killing Duncan. Shakespeare’s diction utilizes “Bloody” (I.vii. 9), “deep damnation” (I.vii.20) and “pity” (I.vii.21) to lead to Macbeth’s decision to refrain from killing the King. Although resisting the temptation to gain precious power, this monologue potentially previews the inner struggle of Macbeth and the quest for authority and privilege.
ReplyDeleteMacbeth's quest to become king became an obsession once the three witches told him about his future. Though Macbeth becomes hesitant when plotting to kill King Duncan, Lady Macbeth urges him to not change his mind. Shakespeare characterizes Lady Macbeth as the more dominant figure in the relationship between herself and Macbeth. Lady Macbeth has the attitude where she will continue to strive for victory, though she will be putting herself and Macbeth in danger of being charged with murder if they do not succeed. While Lady Macbeth is the epitome of a selfish character, Macbeth considers his actions by explaining to Lady Macbeth, "He hath honored me of late, and I have bought/golden opinions from all sorts of people/which would be worn now in their newest gloss/not cast aside so soon" (I, III, 32-35). Macbeth wants to become king, although he would wait his turn, however, Lady Macbeth will not reason with him. Essentially, Lady Macbeth does not want Macbeth to become king for his benefit, but rather for her own. She was appreciate the social status that comes with the title. Rather than standing behind Macbeth, as most women would do, Lady Macbeth shares her opinion openly as many male characters do. She skillfully devises the evil plan to kill King Duncan and persuades Macbeth to comply with her. Shakespeare illuminates the meaning of the play with the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. His play glorifies the amount of emphasis put on social class and the corruption of a character once power becomes everything.
ReplyDeleteIn just one passage at the beginning of scene seven of act one Shakespeare is able to illuminate both the plot of the play and the dominate discourses that will be magnified as the play progresses. In Macbeth’s soliloquy he addresses his hunger for power and the sins he is willing to commit in order to obtain this power. At first he is hesitant when the repercussions for his actions are considered but ultimately his desire for power is too great. Macbeth mentions, “Upon the slightest couriers of the air, shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, that tears shall drown the wind” (I.vii.38) displaying the remorse and guilt he will feel if Duncan is murdered. With the help of his Lady, Macbeth succumbs to the pressure of his wife and his thirst for power and decides to pursue the plan of murdering Duncan. In this small section the viewer discovers numerous character traits of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and learns about the deterioration of morals when an opportunity to gain power is involved.
ReplyDeleteIn literature, a single solitary passage has the ability to illuminate the meaning of the entire work. Sometimes, the passage is a literal message to the audience regarding a social criticism to beware of, but there are also other ways in which single passages can envelop the meaning of the work. In the case of Macbeth, by Shakespeare, a seemingly unimportant line uttered by Banquo foreshadows the tragedy in a way which Macbeth, blinded by the seduction of power, cannot realize. Following a visit from the three Witches, in which they tell Macbeth, accompanied by Banquo, of Macbeth’s future as thane of Cawdor and eventually King, Macbeth becomes feverish at the idea of prestige. Realizing the Witches may not actually be able to see into the future and are simply attempting to allure Macbeth into a trap, Banquo asserts, “But ‘tis strange: And oftentimes, to win us our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s In deepest consequence” (I.iii.122). Banquo explains how the Witches, aware of their influence over Macbeth once he found out they were telling the truth about him becoming the thane of Cawdor, knew he would be aroused by the possibility of becoming King and do anything to ensure their prediction would become reality. Banquo, in the first act, warns Macbeth of the possibility of his downfall if he becomes obsessed with the idea of power and dominance. This single passage illuminates the meaning of the entire play because Macbeth’s encounter with the Witches in the beginning of the play is arguably the most pivotal conversation in the whole play, as it sets into motion Macbeth, and eventually Lady Macbeth’s, intention to murder Duncan in order for Macbeth to become King, presumably Macbeth’s catastrophe and the reason why this play is a tragedy.
ReplyDeleteAt the very beginning of the play during the conference between the witches, the famous line “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (1,1,10) was chanted by all three witches, which sums up the play in its entirety. Evidently, a major component of Shakespeare's craft is the use of contrast in setting, characters, and diction. The contrast between "foul" and "fair" in the passage alludes to Shakespeare's craft, but also the moral traits of his characters. The first words of Macbeth in the play is "So foul and fair a day I have not seen" (1,2,39). Thus far in the play, the two major characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, do not conform to gender expectations as Macbeth is the more passive character while Lady Macbeth is very aggressive and ambitious. While Macbeth is currently seen as a conflicted, "fair" character, the deterioration of his morals can be expected since what is "fair" can become "foul". Also, while now Lady Macbeth holds the power in the relationship, as the play progresses, her power could be transferred to her husband. In this famous quote of Macbeth, Shakespeare manages to sum up the ambiguity and turmoil of his play along with the unreliability of his characters.
ReplyDeleteOne passage in Act II exemplifies the guilt that Macbeth feels for murdering Duncan in his own home in a quest for power. A previous hallucination involving a bloody dagger while the protagonist mumbles to himself eventually leads Macbeth to carry out the murder. Upon completing the murder of the King, blood again revisits the stage, stained upon the hands of the murderer, symbolizing the guilt and reality of what had just happened. Macbeth worries “will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/ Clean from my hand?” (II.ii.75-76). Previous temptation in the first Act ended with Macbeth deciding not to murder the King. However, the second time Macbeth could not resist. His thirst for power and the crown, along with his wife’s, led to the murder, framing it on the servants. A constant knocking at the door sends Macbeth into a state of extreme paranoia, stating “What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine eyes” (II.ii.73-74). Reality floods back into the body of Macbeth, who has little time to gain his composure back before the news spread of the king’s death.
ReplyDeleteThere are many examples of Shakespeare using a single passage to illuminate the deeper meanings and theme which prevail throughout the entire work. The treachery, betrayal and personal desire prevails throughout every passage, scene and act as the tragedy that is Macbeth unfolds. During the opening monologue spoken by Macbeth at the start of scene seven which focuses on his inner struggle with the planned assassination of the king Duncan at his hand. "First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself." (I,vii,12-15) Duncan thinking of his relationship with the king struggles with the decision his wife and has in essence made for him on the council of three witches. "Upon the sightless couriers of the air. Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye. That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur. To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself." (I, vii, 23-28) In one monologue Shakespeare is able to highlight the inner struggle faced by Duncan which will become pivotal in the tragedy to be felt.
ReplyDeleteOnce a reader learns how to read Shakespeare, he or she realizes how telling individual passages of dialogue can be in terms of plot and character development. In Act II, Shakespeare first places heavy importance on dagger imager, synonymous with the play Macbeth. Macbeth's monologue in scene I of the second act addresses this imagery and discusses the psychological implications of Macbeth's soon to be murderous actions. Once Macbeth ousts the servant from the room, he begins speaking to his dagger; Macbeth hallucinates and confronts the deed he needs to perform. Towards the end of his monologue he exclaims "While I threat, he lives: words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives" (II,I,60-61) which loosely translates to "The more I sit here trying to talk myself out of it, nothing is getting done. I need to pluck up some courage here." This passage illuminates the emotional toll this act will have upon Macbeth, introduces pertinent symbolism as well as characterizes the main character further.
ReplyDeleteMacbeth’s soliloquy in scene one of the second act was carefully crafted by Shakespeare and displays the internal conflict within Macbeth and his transition from an innocent Thane into a blood and power thirsty king. Initially Macbeth feels guilty and insecure about murdering Duncan stating “hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear thy very stones prate of my whereabout, and take the present horror from the time” (II.i.43). This solitary passage allows the viewers and readers to learn more about the character traits of Macbeth. Shakespeare does not want the viewer to believe that Macbeth is completely insane and that is why Macbeth is hesitant to murder Duncan and contemplates going through with the plan instead of instantly stabbing Duncan with no feeling of remorse. These small glimpses of the good within the bad are the reason why many of Shakespeare’s characters are classified as tragic heroes instead of evil villains. The transition is complete for Macbeth when he says “hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell” (II.i.44). These two lines at the conclusion of the soliloquy mark the point where Macbeth overcomes his conscience and gives in to his selfish desires and wife’s commands.
ReplyDeleteMacbeth's soliloquy in act II conveying his internal struggle emphasizes Shakespeare's message of the brutal consequences of coveting power. Initially, Macbeth refused Lady Macbeth's request for him to kill Duncan. However, as she began to insult his manhood, he decided to oblige. Once the servant exits the room, Macbeth begins muttering to himself, and hallucinates a vision of a dagger, "The handle toward my hand?/ Come, let me clutch thee" (II. i. 34 ). Moments later, he recants what he's seen and equates it to "A dagger of the mind, a false creation/Proceeding from the heat oppressed brain" (II. i. 38-39). Shakespeare depicts Macbeth as switching back and forth to communicate to the reader he is not wholly wrought with selfish desire, in juxtaposition to his wife, who craves power like a serpent yet to devour their monthly meal. Providing minute glimpses into his characters, Shakespeare relays the notion of human nature and its vulnerability to moral corruption. Macbeth ultimately succumbs to his and his wife's desires and wanders up to Duncan's chamber saying "Hear it not Duncan; for it is knell/That summons thee to heaven or to hell" (II. i. 63-64 ). This utterance is Macbeth forswearing his moral conscience and Shakespeare foreshadowing the course which the story will pursue.
ReplyDeleteAct III
ReplyDelete“Better be with the dead, whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, than on the torture of the mind to lie in restless ecstasy” (III.ii.22-25).
This particular passage spoken by Macbeth captures the magnitude of guilt and fear he experiences as the play progresses. Macbeth confesses he would prefer death over living in fear of people discovering his murder, and through Macbeth’s relentless anxiety and hallucinations, the audience can glean Shakespeare’s message concerning guilt – committing a severe crime prevents an escape from appearing to the criminal. This theme grows increasingly apparent throughout Act III as Macbeth frantically constructs darker, more violent plots to combat his existing guilt. One such plot is to hire a team of murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance, and once Fleance escapes, Macbeth only falls deeper into a world of haunting hallucinations. The darkness of his deeds fully encompasses Macbeth when he states: “Thou marvel’st at my words: but hold thee still. Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill” (III.ii.56-57), articulating that one foul deed leads to another, and this closes off any opportunity to escape a life of guilt and crime.
Similar to the way Macbeth's monologue in Act II reveals a great deal about his intentions to kill Duncan, his monologue in Act III illuminates his belief the death of Banquo will soon follow- out of necessity. Stemming from our "Methbeth" discussion in class the other day, Macbeth's mentality is quite similar to that of Walter White, in that one act of murder solves nothing- it merely causes the necessity for more the manifest. By killing Duncan, the witches' prophecy about Macbeth came true, thus causing Banquo to believe the vision about his son will also be correct. This system of belief causes competition and tension between the two men- facilitating the need for Banquo's death. In Breaking Bad, Walter frequently murders or orders the murder of his competition and those who have wronged him. Walter often does this out of fear for his and his family's safety. Similarly, Macbeth feels threatened by Banquo, claiming "To be thus is nothing; But to be safely thus.- Our fears in Banquo stick deep; and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be feared" (III,I,48-51), or that even if Macbeth reigns as king, he will continue feeling uneasy about Banquo's living. Walter White may be a drug kingpin, but while his competition lives, he cannot rest easily. Macbeth reveals in his monologue Banquo's death is immanent to preserve his seat as ruler.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Macbeth has already killed his prime competition, Duncan and has become king of the Scots, he still believes his crown is in jeopardy by Banquo. The one act of murder has not solidified his confidence in becoming King, but rather compelled the act to progress even further as there are still threats to the throne that must be eliminated. Even though he has obtained the title, he still doesn’t feel safe as he fears Banquo’s power; “To be thus is nothing,/ But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo/ Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature/ Reigns that which would be feared” (III, I, 50-53). Macbeth dwells on the witches’ prediction that Banquo’s children will reign since he has no offspring of his own. He feels he has tortured his conscious and ruined his peace only for the benefit of Banquo’s promised succesors. Because of this, Macbeth’s discomfort develops into fierce hostility as he vows to destroy fate’s royal plans for Banquo’s children.
ReplyDeleteThis soliloquy completely contrasts Macbeth’s character from the previous acts; In Act I, Scene 2, the wounded captain stated that Macbeth was prepared to disdain fate. Now, with greedy fire burning in his eyes, Macbeth challenges fate to a competition; “Rather than so, come, fate, into the list / And champion me to the utterance” (71-72). Similar to his previous characterization, Macbeth still contemplates murder, but what urges his deliberation this time is not guilt and disgrace but more of panic and indignation. However, the use of the hired murderers presents Macbeth as constitutionally powerful but morally weak. Irony is present as Macbeth uses the same deceptive rhetoric as Lady Macbeth used on him to persuade him to kill Duncan. Their desire to murder Banquo stemmed from their longing to prove their masculinity. The irony presents itself even further when the murderers are imperfect in carrying out his instructions for the “perfect” crime. As the escape of Fleance suggests, there can be no escape from fate. As he begins to act on his own accord, Macbeth’s manipulating powers become prevalent as he no longer needs Lady Macbeth’s greed and desire. As a foreshadowing for the rest of the play, Macbeth acts more violent and without morals as there exists no more contemplation between motivation and virtue. He only thinks of his treacherous plans as necessary, making him increasingly dangerous. Rather than the superficial monster he is, Macbeth is portrayed as a tragic character as he is perpetually conscious of his evil choices and distressingly aware of the hasty corrosion of his humanity.
Although the play is not over yet, one of the underlying themes of the play thus far is indecisiveness and conflicting emotions. Macbeth has proven to be a character unsure of most of his actions. Starting off the play Macbeth came off as a noble man; little did viewers know, his evil-genius of a wife controls his wavering personality. When in the presence of his wife, it was quite ironic that the one who wants to rule was being ruled by his wife. Easily convinced to commit murder, Macbeth performed a soliloquy which perfectly portrayed his uncertainty between being the confident man everyone knows him as and the meek husband controlled by his wife. The wavering continues when Macbeth equates power with confidence and becomes a whole new person as king. When willing to have his friend murdered Macbeth goes into another emotionally unstable soliloquy. This time however the topic is not killing Duncan, his first and foremost competition, but killing Banquo. Macbeth hovers between fulfilling the witches prophecy and letting fate work alone as well as killing Banquo or realizing Banquo isn't that big of a threat. Macbeth's speech on page 58 is the perfect example of a single passage representing the entire play. In addition to showing the emotional instability throughout the play it also shows the corruption power holds over people and the lack of importance this society places on people and more importantly friends. Shakespeare's social critique of this society is apparent in passages of the such.
ReplyDeleteMethought I heard a voice cry "Sleep no more!
ReplyDeleteMacbeth does murder sleep," the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast—
(II, ii, 46-51)
Shakespeare creates powerfully thematic work through his containment of overarching themes within individual phrases. The quote above contains an intriguing microcosm of the tortured and twisted world which Macbeth inhabits, presenting the themes that dominate the entire work.
Of constant importance in Macbeth is the continuing contrast between deception and truth. Macbeth's inability to discern whther the voices he heard were real or imagined shows how his ambition-driven loss of sanity has blurred the line between what is truth and what is not. He eventually forsakes the cries he describes here, on the basis of continuing to pursue the prophecy no matter what. Through this dynamic, Shakespeare is indicating that the only reality Macbeth has total faith in is that of the prophecy, which is taking an increasing amount of control of his life.
One concern posed to the reader as they experience Macbeth is whether the reconciliation between morality and ambition is possible, and the nature of guilt in an individual's life. The role of these themes are represented within this excerpt. Macbeth's insanity arises from an inability to fully reconcile his guilt and his ambition. He acknowledges the evil of his acts on multiple occasions (I, iv), yet proceeds with them anyway. These cries he hears, likely imaginary since the vocal individuals in question went back to sleep afterwards. The idea of sleep is critical here. Sleep is a metaphor for the blissful ignorance of the prophecy and freedom from guilt. The night of the murder, Banquo and Macbeth cannot sleep (II, i), and both were mentioned in and heard the prophecy. Meanwhile, the vast majority of the others in the castle remain asleep. The cry that Macbeth will never sleep again is a clear connection to guilt, as this is in conjunction with the murder of Duncan.
Such complexity in the relationship between a simple passage and the entirety of the work contributes to the impressive and powerful unity of Shakespeare's work. As many lines contain this kind of profound microcosm that represent the thematic elements of the play, Shakespeare uses these pieces to significantly strengthen the whole work.
"The raven himself is hoarse
ReplyDeleteThat croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements. 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. Make thick my blood,
Stop up th’access and passage to remorse,
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
Th’ effect and it. Come to my woman’s breasts,
And take my milk for gall, you murd’ring ministers,
Wherever in your sightless substances
You wait on nature’s mischief. Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,
To cry ‘Hold, hold!’" (Act 1, Scene 5, lines 36-52)
Shakespeare uses these lines in Act 1, scene 5, to highlight the meaning behind his play. Deviously anticipating the arrival of King Duncan, Lady Macbeth shows no hesitation in her plan to execute the King's murder and steal the throne. On the contrary, previously, Macbeth shows hesitance on seizing the thrown through the King's murder. Lady Macbeth serves as the ironical "man" in this situation as Macbeth is indecisive about the plan. Through this passage, Shakespeare establishes the fact that Lady Macbeth holds the strength to persuade her hesitant man. She has a unique representation of a tempestuous or siren, in that she has the ability to suede someone in a particular way. Through this diabolical quality Shakespeare attributes to Lady Macbeth, he foreshadows the fall of Macbeth through Lady Macbeth. In consequence to Macbeth's lack of morality he will come short of an archetypal hero due to his humanity.
*scratch "due to his humanity" its repetitive.
ReplyDeleteIn the words of Hecate, goddess of witchcraft, Shakespeare illuminates the repercussions of lust for power and ambition without the restraints of morality. She says of Macbeth, He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear/ His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear./ And you all know, security/ Is mortals' chiefest enemy” (III.v.30-33). In this ominous prophecy, Shakespeare confirms hubris as the ultimate source of Macbeth’s impending downfall. The increasing presence of supernatural powers in the play indicates the turmoil of the state and in Macbeth’s mind. In his increasing hallucinations and inability to control his anxiety, as seen in the dinner scene in the presence of Banquo’s ghost, Macbeth already suffers from his overconfidence. He attempts to control fate in the murders of Duncan and Banquo and the failed murder of Fleance, and he heeds neither the wisdom of Banquo nor the grace of Duncan. As these transgressions already cause him to wallow in guilt, he has reached the point of utter corruption.
ReplyDeleteACT 3
ReplyDelete“Then comes my fit again. I had else been perfect,
Whole as the marble, founded as the rock,
As broad and general as the casing air.
But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears.”
-Macbeth (III.IV.13-17)
In this passage, Shakespeare begins to toy with the sanity of Macbeth. Macbeth’s thirst for power is so strong that he had the assassins (murderers 1-3) kill Banquo. The reason behind the murder of his companion Banquo is due to the witches’ prophecy. The witches prophesy about Banquo in Act One, Scene Three: "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none." (I.III.18) In other words, Banquo will never be king, but his descendants will (possibly his son). A few lines later, when Macbeth and Banquo are discussing what they've heard from the witches, Macbeth says "Your children shall be kings” (I.III.11). The thought of competition of the thrown creates more tension inside the mind of Macbeth and begins the plots of continuous murders after Duncan’s. Satisfied with Banquo’s death, Macbeth finally feels secure in his new position as king...until he learns of Banquo’s son, Fleance, escaped. This left Macbeth filled with “doubts” and “fears” when he was once so “perfect”. Macbeth must destroy Banquo’s family in order to keep Banquo’s side of the prosephy just a thought instead of reality.
The play of Macbeth straddles on the border of sanity and insanity. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth had to verify with Banquo that the witches were even real. The witches and their prophecy began Macbeth’s obsession with power and soon consumed the whole play with his lust of power. His paranoia certainly plays an important part in this play seeing as he leads a chain of murders to conquer a throne which he already had due to killing Duncan. The passage above shows how royalty and riches destroy the close knit relationships of Macbeth and drive Macbeth insane. The play Macbeth revolves around royalty over loyalty.
In order to portray the progression of Macbeth from a victim of fate to a murderous and obsessive royal figure, the soliloquy of Macbeth just prior to the death of Duncan, illuminates the building ambitious and evil nature of the Protagonist. Beginning with a hallucination of a floating dagger, Shakespeare depicts the mental decay of Macbeth's moral responsibility, as he begins his transformation into a reckless character. Macbeth's comment, "I see thee yet, in form as palpable
ReplyDeleteAs this which now I draw " (II.I.41-42), he comments towards the transition from murderous intent to murderous actions. While the view does signify a grim hope for the life of Duncan, the realization of Macbeth also implies the beginning of his own downfall, as self absorption and the corruptible nature of his thirst for power begin to summon him to his own fate starting after Macbeth states, "I go, and it is done. The bell invites me" (II.I.65). As if to personify the insanity outbreak of imagining a floating knife, Macbeth's progression from notions of insanity to cruel and harsh intentions in reality unveil the hopeless and destructive transformation of Macbeth's character into a murderer of both flesh and moral code.
Act 2:
ReplyDeleteDirectly after committing the murder, Macbeth becomes paranoid of what he has done. Though Lady Macbeth insists that no one has seen the events that previously took place, Macbeth worries to himself as he convinces himself that quiet voices are speaking to him. With Macbeth thinking to himself "Methought I heard a voice cry, "Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep"-the innocent sleep" (II.ii.35-36) Shakespeare explains the uneasiness Macbeth feels once he commits the murder. The voices which Macbeth hears will continue to haunt his life throughout the entirety of the play, essentially causing Macbeth to become more insane. Sleep is meant to rest the mind, however, Shakespeare is saying that because of the sin that Macbeth committed, he will not have peace of mind any longer. The section of the passage which connects to the entirety of the play is when Macbeth thinks to himself, "The death of each day's life, sore labor's bath, balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, chief nourisher in ilfe's feast" (II.ii.38-40) because Macbeth is admitting he will no longer have peace when going to sleep at night. Without resting the mind a person will go crazy and with this knowledge, the reader infers that Shakespeare is foreshadowing the extent of Macbeth's insanity. As the voices haunt Macbeth he becomes more paranoid and the lack of sleep adds to his deteriorating condition. Though Macbeth feels that he is quickly becoming more powerful, the power lies in the guilt of his actions. With this passage, Shakespeare foreshadows the condition of Macbeth and the tole it will continue to take on his being.
The Prophecy on Macbeth's Mind:
ReplyDeleteThat will never be.
Who can impress the forest, bid the tree
Unfix his earthbound root? Sweet bodements! Good!
Rebellious dead, rise never till the wood
Of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth
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: shall Banquo’s issue ever
Reign in this kingdom?
(IV.i.92-103)
Shakespeare utilizes Macbeth’s monologue during Act IV to reveal his constant debacle with himself and Banquo. During the first scene of Act IV, Macbeth seeks out the witches performing craft to configure three apparitions that display hints to Macbeth’s fate. Like a deceptive genie, these apparitions provide open-ended potential to Macbeth’s fate including “beware Macduff” (IV.i.71), “none of woman born/Shall harm Macbeth” (IV.i.80-81), and “Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill/Shall come against him” (IV.92-93). From the ridiculous nature of these prophecies, Macbeth dismisses them almost immediately, a tragic flaw on his behalf. These strange prophecies amuse the witches and perplex Macbeth, yet his single desire is to understand his premiere prophecy of Banquo and his reign in Macbeth’s kingdom rather than consulting the admonishments of the three apparitions. Macbeth reveals this desire in his monologue by stating that his heart is aching solely for the news whether “Banquo’s issue ever/Reign in this kingdom?” (IV.i.102-103). Macbeth’s obsession with Banquo and the future of his kingdom as being run by Banquo blood displays this as a tragic flaw within this monologue. His ego is eased by the unlikely prophecies presented before him, but he cannot shake the idea of failure by Banquo from his conscious. Through the manipulative witches, the reader can view Macbeth as envious of Banquo’s prophecy and his drive to do anything in order to fabricate a new fate for his kingdom and himself.
“A light, a light/ Who did strike out the light?” (III, III)
ReplyDeleteIn this passage/quote from Act 3 of Macbeth, Shakespeare foreshadows the meaning of his play. Given that Macbeth has hired his men to fulfill his dirty deeds; to his men ignorance is bliss as they believe they are fulfilling an act of good morale. In this "light", Macbeth's men justify murder with regards to honoring their king, but in darkness, it becomes apparent to these men that there actions are as evil as the criminalized murderer. Shakespeare uses this scene as a representation of the message behind his play, that ones life is ultimately a struggle of good vs. evil. This exaggeration of the internal battle man faces is also represented through Macbeth as he tries justifying his evil actions, ultimately leading him into insanity. His insanity leads to an alter ego that we see develop through evil whispers of his own thoughts and deep remorse of his immoral actions.
In Act 2 Scene 2 of Macbeth, the enormity of Macbeth's murder of Duncan is emphasized through this quote,
ReplyDeleteWhence is that knocking?
How is ’t with me when every noise appals me?
What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine eyes.
Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red.
(II.ii.55-61)
Macbeth's overwhelming sense of guilt is revealed in this passage through his inability to wash the blood from hands. Although physically it is obviously possible, Duncan's blood symbolizes his guilt which will haunt him throughout the rest of the play and eventually drive him to insanity. Like his hands, Macbeth is stained, or marked by his heinous deed as a traitor. He cannot be cleansed by "Neptune's ocean", instead, he would stain the whole ocean red. Similarly, Macbeth will never be cleansed of his crime. Instead, he will stain everyone he comes into contact with. His murder of Duncan will snowball into a string of murders and corrupt deeds until he succumbs to his guilt and insanity. Through this singular passage, Macbeth is defined by his treason and cannot move forward from his crime.