Whose horrid images doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs
Against the use of nature?”
This picture shows the true degree of Macbeth’s ambition.
Macbeth seems ready to be converted into the future King,.
Even though the witches have not mentioned him becoming
king, and still Macbeth is considering murder. Macbeth at this point is flowing with ambition.
Macbeth is edgy, as he is not willing to wait until he becomes King without
intervention.
At this stage, Macbeth is not acting upon his
Ambition, however in the future his thoughts and the people around him influence him in many ways.
Macbeth, however, is obviously considering how he can become king without
waiting,
“The Prince of Cumberland; that is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires,
Let not light see my black and deep desires.”
This is evidence that Macbeth is after all thinking twice and considering
to act upon his true ambition. He privately consults himself on how he can remove any
objects which are preventing him from becoming greater. This is recapping Macbeth’s ambition and the way in which he longs to become King.
I am correct to say that Macbeth’s main character flaw leads
him to murder Duncan which, which then leads Macbeth’s to be inspired of becoming King can be used to compare
him to a ‘tragic hero’
Shakespearean Tragic Hero has a meaning, ‘A Shakespearean Tragedy’, falls from greatness due to a character
flaw’.
Despite Macbeth’s intentions to murder Duncan in order to become King himself,
Macbeth does realise that what he intends to do is a serious sin, hoever he feels that his ambition should be fulfilled.
Macbeth in part of the play battles with his conscience before murdering Duncan, as there are many factors why he should not muder King Duncan, “First, as I am his
kinsman and his subject.” Macbeth admits that he is close to Duncan and that,
therefore, he should not be plotting the murder of a friend. Duncan has also
called Macbeth his ‘kinsman’, which makes the forthcoming events seem even more
shocking and harsh. Macbeth also believes in loyalty; that a subject should not
kill his own King, and a host must not kill his guest, “strong both against the
deed then, as his host,/Who should against his murder shut the door/Nor bear the
knife myself.” Macbeth believes that he has a duty to protect his King and kill
him for his own benefits. This clearly shows that Macbeth is feeling guilty and
is battling with his conscience.
Another reason that Macbeth gives for leaving Duncan to live a normal life is
religion,
“Duncan/Hath borne his faculties so meek, have been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued against
The deep damnation of his taking-off!”
Macbeth acknowledges that Duncan has been a wise and virtuous King and not at
all corrupt. This indicates that Macbeth realises that what he intends to do is
morally wrong and is considered the deepest of sins. In Shakespearean times, it
was strongly believed that a king was selected by God and would be a living
representation of God’s beliefs for the way in which the county should be
controlled. Therefore, to murder an innocent king would be unjustified and
unforgivable. Macbeth, uses the simile, ‘his virtues will plead like angels’,
which indicates that Duncan’s mild and peace-loving nature will be transformed
into angels in heaven. This proves that Macbeth is worried that heaven will
range down to get revenge on him for killing Duncan – the symbol of God on
earth. Macbeth is frightened of receiving punishment for committing such an
outrageous crime and believes that he will be damned for eternity.
Macbeth’s final reason not to kill the king is that it is simply unnatural, and
he feels sympathy towards his honourable victim, “And pity, like a naked
new-born babe/….or heaven’s cherubin….Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye.”
Macbeth focuses on the horror of the deed that he will commit which shows that,
despite his background in the army, Macbeth feels that this assassination is
much more difficult as it is the murder of innocence. . Before the brutal murder of King Duncan Macbeth is struggling with his conscience –
worrying that there will be no forgiveness by God.
“The night has been unruly….
Our chimneys were blown down, and, as they say,
Lamentings heard i’th’air….The obscure bird
Clamoured the livelong night some say, the earth
Was feverous and did shake.”
Lennox, a character in the play had noticed some alarming events throughout the night, there were many strange happenings, which made it seem, as if a message was being sent from God, about the murder that was going to occur. ‘Strange noises such as wails of pain cries’.
“A falcon tow’ring in her pride of place
Was by mousing owl hawked at and killed
And Duncan’s horses….broke their stalls, flung out….
‘Tis said, they eat each other.”
The writer is expressing to the reader that the death of the King had even affected animals as well as weather.
The most obvious way in which Macbeth’s actions affect others is the effect on
the victims themselves and their families. For example, Macbeth only intends to
kill Fleance is
to ensure that the witches’ predictions do not come true. Macbeth is willing to
kill his best friend just to ensure his security.
Macbeth’s actions also affect the Macduff family,
“The castle of Macduff I will surprise,
Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’th’sword
His wife, his babes and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line.”
The witches have worried macbeth about
being defeated and losing his throne, so he is determined to do what he feels
necessary to ensure his security, even if it means murdering the innocent youth. When Macduff hears of the murder of his family, he is deeply affected,
“They were most precious to me.
They were struck for thee. Naught that I am,
Not for their own demerits but for mine,
Fell slaughter on their souls. Heaven rest them now.”
macduff has lost his whole family as a result of Macbeth’s ambition, and he takes it out on him self.
During Macbeth reign, Scotland is highly effected as a co‘I think our country sinks beneath
the yoke’
Macbeth’s actions affect his own beloved wife, who finds the strain of murder to difficult to bear and,
as a result, leading to death, but not before going insane,
“It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus washing her hands,
I have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour.”
Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking represents the poor state of her mind, and her deep
feelings of remorse. She repeats comments relating to murders that both she and
her husband have committed. The fact that Lady Macbeth continuously washes her clean hands is
symbolic of the blood that she cannot remove from her mind. She is trying to
remove the image of Duncan’s blood from her thoughts by washing her hands. Lady
Macbeth is vividly dreaming about the past, which shows that she is no longer as
strong as she previously appeared.
.
Even before he has committed murder, Macbeth is consumed with guilt and suffering, “Is this a
dagger which I see before me.”
This figment of the imagination shows his poor state of mind and his suffering.
After Duncan has been murdered, Macbeth’s suffering greatens due to his guilty
conscience and poor state of mind.
Macbeth believes that because he cannot pray, he will never find forgiveness from God.
Macbeth also believes that he will never sleep again, as there is no rest from
the torment in his mind, ‘Macbeth shall sleep no more.’ Macbeth’s
is scared out of his mind, causing more suffering.
‘I am afraid to think what I have done.’
Macbeth is terrified and humiliated of what he has done so he cannot bear to see
any evidence of the murder,
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No….
To know my deed, ‘twere best not know myself.
Wake Duncan with thy knocking; I would thou couldst.”
Macbeth truly believes that he has committed such a sinful act so
not even all the oceans in the world would wash away the blood.
After Macbeth has sent murderers to kill Banquo, he is again inspired by guilt,
and even envies Duncan who he believes has now found peace,
“We have scorched the shake, not killed it….
terrible dreams/That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead….
Duncan is in his grave….he sleeps well”.
Macbeth still feels frightened, even after the many murders. It is also
obvious that Macbeth’s mind is still not at rest because he continues to have
terrible dreams and longs for freedom from his guilt.
Macbeth’s suffering is also emphasised before his banquet, ‘O, full of scorpions
is my mind, dear wife!’ This vivid metaphor shows the scale of Macbeth’s
paranoia, guilt and suffering. It is dramatic, as scorpions will sting
repeatedly, which shows the constant pain that Macbeth is feeling.
Macbeth’s hallucination of Banquo’s ghost again represents his remorse and
suffering,
“Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,
The armed rhinoceros, or th’ Hyrcan tiger,
Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves
Shall never tremble”.
This powerful speech from Macbeth shows just how terrifying this apparition is
to him. The sight of Banquo’s ghost petrifys him more that a savage tiger or a
Russian bear, which clearly shows the extent of his suffering. Banquo’s image
is a physical projection of Macbeth’s guilty conscience and it is a measure of
how disturbed Macbeth truly is.
Macbeth’s suffering is all a result of the murders that he has previously
committed, as they are coming back to haunt him. This shows us that if Macbeth
had not been selfish or ambitious enough to kill Duncan, then he could have been
satisfied with what he already had, as he was a honourable and successful man.
Macbeth’s greed has caused all of his misery, which leads to a lack of sympathy
towards him. However, Macbeth’s suffering and paranoia, amongst other things,
lead me to feel a sense of pity towards him.
Firstly, it is obvious that Macbeth has tried to suppress his images of
murdering Duncan before the crime is committed, which shows that he does not
initially intend to assassinate his King,
“If good, why do I yield to that suggestion,
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs…
Murder yet is but fantastical.”
Macbeth is clearly shocked and frightened that he would even think about the
murder of his King. Despite his image of murder, Macbeth does not mention it to
his wife. This proves that he is not considering murder until Lady Macbeth
persuades him that it is necessary,
‘You shall put/This night’s great business into my dispatch,/….Leave all the
rest to me.’
Lady Macbeth interrupts Macbeth’s plea to talk later and takes control of the
situation. This shows that the plan murder Duncan actually had nothing to do
with Macbeth, so you feel pity towards him as his wife is controlling him.
Macbeth even tries to tell Lady Macbeth that he does not want the murder to be
committed,
“We will proceed no further in this business.
He hath honoured 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.”
Macbeth tries to take control of the situation and refuses to obey his wife. He
has received so much praise that he does not wish to ruin it. Instead he is
happy with his new position and wants to enjoy it as much as he can. However,
as a result of Lady Macbeth’s insults and mimicking about his manhood, Macbeth
agrees again to the murder. At this point, I feel sympathy towards Macbeth as
Lady Macbeth is forcing him to proceed with the murder, which he does not want
to commit.
After the murder, Macbeth’s regret and suffering provokes pity towards him and
indicates that he still knows what is morally correct. Macbeth was clearly in
no state to commit a murder as he was constantly battling against doubts and
admitted that his mind was feverish. Macbeth’s overwhelming paranoia throughout
Act Three also persuades me to feel sympathy towards him, ‘There’s not a one of
them but in this house/I keep a servant feed.’ Macbeth is so completely
consumed by paranoia that he pays spies to stay in his house. Once again, he is
simply trying to secure his title and prevent any plots to overthrow him.
Macbeth’s ambition is the only negative characteristic that he possesses, and it
is what persuades him to commit all the murders. Initially, he murders Duncan
to ensure he will become king and, then he murders Banquo so that his own sons
will be kings rather than Banquos. This emphasises Macbeth’s paranoia and
suffering.
It is not until after Banquo’s murder that Macbeth’s attitude begins to change,
“I am in blood
Stepped in so far that should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o’er’.
This poignant metaphorical river of blood expresses Macbeth’s resignation to
murder. He believes that despite his lack of enthusiasm towards murder, he
cannot go back to how it was before, so he may as well continue. Macbeth feels
that he has already been damned, he must continue to commit murder to ensure the
security of his title. Macbeth’s resignation makes any reader feel sympathy
towards him. He is so confused and depressed that he feels he has to finish
what he has started, as he can never return to the point at which no murders had
occurred.
Despite my obvious feelings of sympathy towards Macbeth, it is impossible not
to blame him at some points in the play. After King Duncan’s murder, Macbeth
manages to make himself appear innocent, simply to protect himself, which
indicates a lack of remorse.
Also, Macbeth brutally kills the innocent ‘babes’ of Macduff, which enables the
reader to see a vicious and evil side to this man. Macbeth’s murder of Banquo
is arguably justified, as Macbeth’s paranoia was not without reason. However,
to punish innocent women and children out of revenge against a character such as
Macduff – who has not even been proved guilty of treason – is unforgivable.
Therefore, I find it impossible to feel sympathy towards Macbeth in this scene.
Macbeth has become hardened to murder and is obsessed with reaching his own
ambitions of having children who should become his successors to the throne.
I believe that the audience should feel pity and sympathy towards Macbeth at
points in the play, as he realises that what he is doing is immoral, but he
cannot change the past. Therefore, Macbeth does provoke sympathy, as A.C.
Bradley suggests a ‘tragic hero’ must.
The final point in A.C. Bradley’s criteria of a tragic hero is that the
character must die at the end of the play. This is obviously the case with
Macbeth, ‘Then he is dead?/Ay, and brought off the field.’ If Macbeth had
lived, then he would not have been considered a tragic hero.
Shakespeare wrote his play, ‘Macbeth’ for King James I – who was the first king
to unite England and Scotland. The aim of the play was to seek to stop plots to
overthrow leaders and prevent a repeat of incidents such as the ‘Gunpowder
Plot’. Therefore, Macbeth had to die at the end of the play in order to provide
a moral message to others, that treason was not acceptable, and King James I
could not be overthrown without punishment from God, and constant torture for
the murderer. If Macbeth had lived, then the play would not have provided a
moral message to traitors and may even have proved that it is possible to
overthrow a leader without being caught and punished.
In conclusion, it is clear that Macbeth matches A.C. Bradley’s criteria of a
‘Shakespearean Tragic Hero’ throughout the play. Initially, Macbeth is a person
of high status within the army, who experiences success on the battlefield.
However, due to his excessive ambition Macbeth kills King Duncan, after battling
with his own conscience and, therefore, causes a great deal of suffering for
himself and his country. In the end, Macbeth is murdered as a result of his attempts to become more powerful, so his death is, in fact, self-inflicted.
However, Macbeth deeply regretted what he had done and, therefore, the audience feel a certain degree of sympathy towards him at several points throughout the play.
