Is Lady Macbeth a Monster Lacking in All Humanity?

Is Lady Macbeth a Monster Lacking in All Humanity? It would be thought by many that Lady Macbeth is an inhumane monster, but in fact she is not. In many events throughout the play, her behaviour would suggest that she is immoral. I have studied the play 'Macbeth' by Shakespeare and will share with you some of the arguments showing that she is a monster and also those showing that she does with-hold a conscience and some goodness within her soul. After reading the letter, received from her husband informing her of his meeting with the witches, Lady Macbeth recognises how the witches words are beneficial to her. The idea of becoming queen excites her, driving her towards greed. She knows that the only way to gain something you really want is to commit an evil sin, 'Thus thou must do', if thou have it;'. Lady Macbeth becomes monstrous in her speech, 'unsex me here', 'make thick my blood'. This language would suggest that Macbeth's wife is a truly evil woman, giving no sign of human sensitivity. However, if this was correct, why does Lady Macbeth have to ask for all goodness to be extracted from her? A real monster is already thoroughly evil. They do not have to seek the help of 'spirits that tend on mortal thoughts'. Lady Macbeth and her husband share a great deal of affection. This is not the characteristic of a cold-blooded, heart-less creature. As the play

  • Word count: 910
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Arthur Millers play The Crucible and William Shakespeares play Macbeth portray witchcraft to showcase the descent of humanity through manipulation of innocent individuals.

The Portrayal of Witches Witchcraft is a veritable and ill-natured force and the creator has given power to every individual to break free from its deceiving clutch. Thus, Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible and William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth portray witchcraft to showcase the descent of humanity through manipulation of innocent individuals. For instance, witchcraft is depicted as a powerful dark art, with the potential to commit incredible feats. Furthermore the witches use the element of deception to achieve their ill-fated goals, often leading vulnerable individuals astray. Moreover, the witches’ victims eventually find their state beyond redemption leading the witches’ influential and efficient plans. Therefore, characters fall victim to the witches’ power deceptive and influential schemes that lead to the eventual humiliation of human society. To begin with, individuals perceive that witches’ posses the power to commit incredible feats, portraying witchcraft as a powerful art. Witchcraft is perceived by many individuals as extremely powerful and potent, capable of great evil. In Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is overjoyed with Macbeth’s news concerning the three prophecies. She expresses her thoughts in a swirling tempest. Come, you spirits that tend on moral thoughts, unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe topfull of direst cruelty’ make thick

  • Word count: 1239
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Christology in relation to the humanity

Christology 'In relation to the humanity, he is one and the same Christ, the son, the Lord, the Only Begotten, who is to be acknowledged in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division and without separation.' - Creed of Chalcedon (A.D. 451) For thousands of years the true nature of Jesus Christ has been widely debated. Christology is the theology devoted to studying the human and divine natures and roles of Jesus Christ. Many interpretations and viewpoints have been formed and disputed since the death of Christ up to present times. Three major councils were organized to discuss the teachings and understandings of Jesus early in the first millennium. The discussions at Nicaea (A.D. 325), Constantinople (A.D. 381), and Chalcedon (A.D. 451) were developed into creeds that explained their belief in terms of the nature of Christ. These three creeds insisted that Christ was fully a man and fully God, not one or the other or part of both. There were many other early perspectives of Christology in the Christian church. Each viewpoint had its individual varying forms and degrees. These are the basic convictions of the most prominent ones: Docetism: This doctrine preached that Christ was of a divine nature and only seemed to have a human form. He appeared to suffer on the cross but was in fact incapable of feeling human misery. The viewpoint stems from one that

  • Word count: 1139
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Women in Macbeth

Literature is a mirrored image of different ideas and conditions of humanity. Similarly, Shakespeare's plays have frequently been argued to portray a more than biased gender viewpoint towards women. The story and relationships in Shakespeare's Macbeth promote his female characters, while portraying his male characters as the weaker sex. Men, being the more gullible characters, rely heavily on the women for advice, while women are the one in control of most situations. It can be stated that Shakespeare is a feminist writer. Women dictate the future for society in Macbeth. Despite Macbeths role as the main male character, he does not believe in himself; instead, he trust prophecies by female witches with who he has just met. First Witch: "All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis." Second Witch: "All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor." Third Witch: "All hail Macbeth, That shalt be king hereafter." [Act 1, scene 3, lines 46-48] Macbeth's visits to the witches makes him think that he truly will succeed in becoming King, resulting in his committing murder upon murder to fulfill the supposed prophecy. Shortly after meeting the witches, Macbeth soon discovers that he has been awarded the titles "Thane of Glamis" and "Thane of Cawdor". It is proof enough for him that the witches prophecies are truths. So why doesn't he merely wait to become King as they

  • Word count: 911
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What is Humanity?

Matthew Sarto RS 150 What is Humanity? My first meeting with death left me confused and uncertain. I can remember every detail of that sunny afternoon where I first saw him. I can recall an event that takes me back to my old neighborhood. Like most average neighborhoods, there were your typical kids playing in the streets, getting into trouble, and living life without a care. On one specific occasion, a few friends and I were climbing a rather large tree across the street from my house. We had never climbed this tree before, although it had tormented us forever. Being the largest one on the block, it called out for us to climb it. Swinging from limb to limb, climbing higher and higher, never wondering if the branches below our feet would hold, and one suddenly snapped. I can remember falling for an eternity, staring up at the sky, watching myself fall into oblivion. It was at that moment I felt death's presence, as the fear of death pulsated through my body. Suddenly, my world turned black, and all I could feel was my beating heart, resonating in the eerie silence of darkness. Then there was a sharp tug, a pull at my chest, and my eyes burst open. Before they had a chance to adjust I slowly sat up, hearing the crackling of dead leaves as they fell off my back. A pile of leaves saved my life! I was relieved, but before I could regain my composure, my father had already

  • Word count: 1554
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Changes in Macbeth

Detailed analysis of the changes in Macbeth. Macbeth by William Shakespeare is truly one of his greatest tragedies, Written between 1603 - 1606. A play deals with ambition, Treachery, and disillusionment and deals with the rise to power of Macbeth and his Wife Lady Macbeth. The play was set in the eleventh century In Scotland and tells us the true story of the death of a Scottish King by the name if Duncan. Shakespeare based his story from a book called The History of Scotland by Raphael Hollinshed. The murder of Duncan in the eleventh century was actually perpetrated by Macbeth and Banquo, however in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' Banquo is not a participant in the murder of Duncan. He is portrayed as an innocent party. The reason for this is that James 1 was King of England and a direct descent of Banquo. Shakespeare would not want to embarrass or insult the new King. ". King James 1st a strong superstitious person and believed in witches of being bad people so the play would be scary. In those days and even today was considered a terrible act because they believed that the King was appointed by god and could only be taken away by god. This means that the audience could not believe their eyes when they saw the killing of the king by Macbeth. Shakespeare uses language that is hard to understand in today's world, but was the language that was spoken all those years ago. The story

  • Word count: 1351
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Character Flaws in Macbeth

Character Flaws in Macbeth Everyone has at least one flaw. Some are more serious than others. For example some people are addicted to gambling, while others can't remember to put their sweet wrappers in the bin. After a while some people's flaws come back to haunt them. The tragedy Macbeth is no exception to this. A tragedy is a person whose suffering reveals essential truths about humanity. It is a person whose greatness of character and talent are wasted through circumstance; the person's personality has to have a tragic flaw. The person has to find some degree of release and resignation when facing death. In the act many of the characters die. The reason for this is that they all have a flaw, which eventually leads to her death. Not all the characters deserved to die. Some characters only had only got minor flaws, which should have not lead to their deaths. At the beginning the thane of Cawdor is killed by Macbeth for bringing a revolution against England. According to Ross his fatal flaw is that he is "a disloyal traitor". The thane of Cawdor was greedy and wanted the throne of England all for himself. The result of him being greedy was his death. I think that the Thane of Cawdor deserved his fate. Lots of men died because of the consequences of his battles, and his greed. Greed was his fatal flaw and he disserved to die because of it. Duncan, (the king

  • Word count: 879
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Compare the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 2.

Compare the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 2. In act 2 scene 1, Macbeth seems to be having doubts to his actions on the murder of King Duncan. When he is left alone, he imagines a dagger in front of him, which is guiding him towards the goal he seeks of killing Duncan to gain his ambition to ascend to the throne. This proves that he wants to do it, that he's greedy and desperate to do it but having doubts about whether he has the courage. Initially he experiences horror at he reality of which he is contemplating but this gives away to resolution. He determines, however, to proceed forward and kill Duncan. In scene 2" Lady Macbeth's Mood is exultant and bold and she boasts of her success at drugging the guards which proves she is boastful. It seems as if Lady Macbeth is Macbeth's key human agent, the one he trusts and loves and who ensures his temptation is thorough and complete. Lady Macbeth has an initial overpowering presence as does her husband, however, she is not the actual heroine or hero herself. She seems very dominant in this act too. Her actions seem to be influenced by her uncompromising desire for her husband to ascend to the throne. This links the characters in their desire for Macbeth's power once he has been made king. We understand that Macbeth has " deep desires" but this seems tame compared with Lady Macbeth's unquenchable aspirations.

  • Word count: 690
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What is culture, nature, humanity?

What is Culture, Nature, Humanity? Throughout history humanity has strived to create a better world, a better environment for living, by controlling nature or replacing nature with its own improved construction. Somewhere along the line humanity decided that it was more efficient to grow their own crops of food than to rely on nature and the technique of gathering. Eventually humanity became more comfortable with the notion that "humanity knows best" and cleared forests and converted grasslands to farming fields that provided foodstuffs much more efficiently and better than nature. An excellent example of humanity taking control of nature to better it. The emphasis on nature has meant the degradation of human beings. It has meant the exploitation of nature often at the expense of humanity, even if it meant subjecting others to the same exploitation and control applied to physical nature. Emphasis on dominating nature has led, in part, to the crises in our society, the problems of pollution and growth and the social disorganizaation of our cities. Unfortunately, we as humanity have lacked the good sense to see ahead, or are forced by hard times to liquidate Earth's "resources" for the gratification of the moment. Humans fixated on their own welfare cannot help but be injurious to the rest of Creation. History shows that, rather than gratefully accepting the golden

  • Word count: 686
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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What important developments and changes can be seen in the character of Lady Macbeth in the course of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'?

What important developments and changes can be seen in the character of Lady Macbeth in the course of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'? In the course of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', Lady Macbeth is a loving, caring wife. She is confident, determined and positive. Lady Macbeth is a great partner to Macbeth; Lady Macbeth does for her husband what he cannot do for himself. She encourages him to take chances, to further his ambitions at any cost, to do things no other man would dare. And he follows, spurred on by her sheer enthusiasm and daring. In the early scenes we see her in action. She is always in charge. She takes control. She acts in a practical manner when Macbeth expresses doubts about murdering the king, organizing and planning the deed with precision. She appears to be absolutely secure in her belief in her husband's claim to the throne and her own position as his side as queen. So she supports him and, when he can do no more, she herself gilds the faces of the grooms with blood. When he is doubtful she comes to the rescue. In a sense, Lady Macbeth shares the same characteristics as her husband, but in her we see an excess that Macbeth would like to control - until convinced by her that success is within their grasp. So, like Macbeth, we see her as ambitious, proud, ruthless, and manipulative. Her belief in their great venture overrides all else. It becomes an obsession with

  • Word count: 1104
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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