07 Apr 2009
“Macbeth” is a good example of Shakespeare’s tragedy dealing with immortal human problems of virtue and evil and establishment of justice. In this case “Macbeth” is also a good example of protest against tyranny and despotism.
Starting to read the play we imagine Macbeth as a positive character, a man of good will, courage, nobility and faithful attitude to his duties as a military man and as a personality. The royalty of Scotland admires his heroic struggle and greatly appreciates his participation in the battle that led to the victory. His responsible and selfless service to the King Duncan gives him glory, new title and social acknowledgement.
But as soon as the character himself is introduced we observe other traits. We understand that everything he does he does just for his own glory, for satisfaction of his pride and self-love. His victory in the battle resulted the thirst for further glory, power and admiration.
His met with witches can not be taken as something that happened in reality, but it looks more like his imagination and thoughts. Developed megalomania demanded more and more, and as a result his selfish dreams directed him on the way of crime and treason. During the whole story we still see how he fights with his thoughts and desires, but actually his soul was subordinated to his seek for power and despotism.
First he kills the king Duncan to become a monarch himself, killing also the king’s security, accusing them in the murder. Later he is trying to get read of all “enemies” or people who could somehow question the stability and safety of his reign. Macbeth becomes a slave of his cruelty, tyranny and ruthlessness. He could hardly bear the sufferings of his bloody deeds, he sees the spirits of persons he killed, but still having a choice to change his life, he hadn’t done one.
It seems that at the end of the play when Macbeth’s tyrannical character is brighter then ever before, he changes. His last meeting with witches completely consolidated his belief in unpunishment, because as they promised he could only be killed by one, who wasn’t born by a woman. The fight with Macduf opens his eyes on the reality and short end of his life, as Macduf appeared to be born after Caesarian operation made to his mother, and Macbeth denies his contact with witches and devil, but it’s too late. His cruelty and despotism resulted enough evil, to be stopped and he is killed.
At the beginning of the play Lady Macbeth is also shown as a respectful, noble woman and a beloved wife of Macbeth. She is subject of the king Duncan’s admiration like a good wife and hostess equal to her husband. But she was also an ambitious, sly and cold-minded woman. She was one, who immediately found the way for Macbeth to become a monarch: by killing Duncan. Moreover she was ready to kill the king by herself, if hadn’t looked like her sleeping Dad. She knew husband quite well, his self loved and pride nature, and she manipulated him by questioning his manhood and confidence. Even though that she looks as ruthless as Macbeth, we still see that she loved her husband, helped him to save people’s respect to him, by saying that his hysterical fear of Banquo’s spirit, was an illness. But the realization of their plan to get the state’s power tragically influenced both of them. Lady Macbeth lost her sleep and her health was drastically ruined by nightmares and constant fears. The royal physician couldn’t give any kind of help to her, because by his words he was one who cured physical problems, not mental. These sufferings of guilt resulted Lady Macbeth suicide.
The play shows that there no “get rich quick” schemes as well as there are no “get power quick” schemes. Ambitions and cruelty of both Macbeths cased nothing but misfortunes and mainly unhappiness to both of them, which ended as a tragedy.
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