In the play, "Macbeth," written by William Shakespeare, Malcolm describes Macbeth as a "butcher" and Lady Macbeth as "his fiend-like queen" and although this description is accurate at some points in the play, it was the persuasive

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David Anthony 11.17

Macbeth – Essay Plan

Malcolm describes Macbeth as a “butcher” and Lady Macbeth as his “fiend-like queen”. Do you agree?

Butcher – someone who kills cruelly or needlessly

Fiend-like – an evil spirit or a cruel person.

Contention

Macbeth was a “butcher”, however he became that way as a result of Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth was a fiend-like queen whose evilness declined after the murders. In the end of the play, however, Macbeth’s transformation was complete and he was a butcher.

Main Body Topic 1

Macbeth’s transition from good to evil by Lady Macbeth:

  • Ambition was his only reason for killing the king – “I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition”
  • Lady Macbeth convinced him to kill the King – Accused Macbeth of being a “coward”, questions his “love” for her and his manliness “be so much more the man”.
  • Macbeth becomes a “butcher” when he no longer needs Lady Macbeth – says that Lady Macbeth should “be innocent of the knowledge”

Main Body Topic 2

Lady Macbeth’s evil nature and role in the killing of Duncan and Macbeth’s transition to evil:

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  • She summons evil spirits to make her evil – Lady Macbeth asks the spirits to “unsex” her and to fill her “from the crown to the toe, top-full Of direst cruelty”.
  •  Contrary to Macbeth, the crimes make Lady Macbeth weaker and she feels sorry for her actions “the thane of Fife had a wife, where is she now?”

Main Body Topic 3

Towards the end of the play Macbeth’s butcher like nature is shown by:

  • the fact that he shows no mercy and kills Macduff’s family with no remorse – Macbeth no ...

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