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Norman Rubkin says “Macbeth does what he does, not as his wife would do it, willingly in a clear cause, but as if he must do what he does not want to do. It is Lady Macbeth, not he, who claims that he wants to have what he esteems the ornament of life” (Rubkin 123). As a result of Macbeth’s fathers death he became Thane of Glamis and Duncan, King of Scotland, proclaimed Malcolm, his son, as Prince of Cumberland and therefore his successor. He saw that if he were to gain the object of his ambition there was no substitute but murder, even though at first the idea to him was horrible and an unpleasant thought (Baker 94). If he acts on his ambitions, it would make him greedy and power hungry. That will make his friends turn on him and, ultimately, lead to his death (Clifford 593). But all Macbeth really brought to the throne was disgrace and the rest of the characters in the play blame Macbeth for the disaster that was brought upon Scotland (Brown 300).
Macbeth’s tragic flaw is his ambition and his weakness with the guilt of if he does not get caught. While Macbeth feels this guilt Lady Macbeth takes advantage and plays upon it (“Shakespeare’s Classroom”). His wife, Lady Macbeth, taunted and teased Macbeth about his weakness and cowardice till that night which he finally gave into performing the murder (Baker 94). Lady Macbeth’s thoughts and feelings throughout the play reflect those of Macbeth but it seems that Lady Macbeth is the stronger partner (Brown 299). With no doubt Lady Macbeth isn't a character of these varieties of traits, but she directly affects his behavior. We see how much she affects him; at least she thinks she does, during the soliloquy of her thoughts after the reading of the letter (“Think Quest”).
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Macbeth struggles extremely and very intensely while Lady Macbeth challenges his manhood. This was by stating that hesitation and failure in this regard of action would be cowardly. Lady Macbeth never thought twice about the murder because she wanted to become queen (“Shakespeare’s Campfire”).
After Macbeth murders Duncan, he drowns himself in guilt. He tells his wife, "I could not say 'Amen!' / When they did say 'God bless us! (Shakespeare II.2.41-42). His terrible deed has cut himself from God because he has sinned (“Personal Works and Writings”). Macbeth's guilt taunts him further as he imagines himself hearing, "Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep"(Shakespeare II.2.49-50). Since sleep is the healing of labors that soothes a day's troubles, and Macbeth has murdered Duncan in his sleep, he would pay with sleep. "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood, clean from my hands?” (Shakespeare II.2.78-79). This contrasts sharply to Lady Macbeth's comment "A little water clears us of this deed” (“Personal Works and Writings”). Macbeth no longer feels any great human emotion after time of the killing of Duncan. Macbeth now after this hideous action is more dominant, and seems to rely more on darkness and evil than his wife, as he no longer tells her about his plans (“Play Synopsis”). As he hears the scream within the castle, he reminds himself, "I have almost forgot the taste of fears. The time has been, my senses would have cooled/ to hear a nigh-shriek...I have supped full with horrors" (Shakespeare V.5.10-14). Even at the death of the wife who had been his strength and strong partner and leader to the death of Duncan and his ambition, Macbeth only thinks bitterly that she should have died at a more convenient time when
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he would be able to mourn for the words of her death, a surprising contrast to the Macbeth seen at the deathbed of Duncan (“Play Synopsis”).
Another character also could be similar to Macbeth in this tragedy. This character is Banquo, he is an important part in Macbeth. They are associated together in this play because they are both approached by the Wyrd Sisters. The only difference is that Banquo did not give in to the temptations that Macbeth did (Scott 299). Lady Macbeth called upon malevolent spirits, which lend on mortal thoughts to aid her plot to overcome her husband’s reliance to face him to kill Duncan (“Macbeth and Witches”). On the other hand I believe Banquo is just as guilty as Macbeth for the reason that he did not raise suspicions when Duncan was murdered.
For Macbeth, the world’s humanity has turned into a second hell towards the end of the play. But it really asks many questions such as, was it really worth it for Lady Macbeth to convince and challenge Macbeth into the murder? He contrasted his life to the short-lived fragile candle, easily turned into ashes of dust and blown away. Appearing real but retaining no substance, life is just a stage full of players who goes through their respectively assigned part. When one actor finishes, one goes off the stage and they are then heard no more. It is just another play told by a fool, a series of nonsense and rubbish full of great passion and fierce, but in the end meaningless (“Play Synopsis”).
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Ambition is something that everyone can recognize within himself or herself, and Macbeth is a compelling study of how ambition can destroy your life and also others and is his second biggest flaw next to Lady Macbeth. Therefore the audience is interested in
Macbeth’s character. Lady Macbeth actually is important to Macbeth's characteristics by bringing out the real him. In conclusion, Macbeth's characteristics make him unique, but also made him very weak.
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Works Cited
Baker, E. Arthur. A Shakespeare’s Commentary. New York: Fredrick Publishing 1971.
Brown, R. John. Shakespeare: The Tragedies. New York: Palgave, 2001.
Clifford, Leech. The Revels History of Drama in English. London: Methium and Co. Ltd,
1975.
Danby, F. John. Shakespeare Docturine of Nature, London: Faber and Faber Limited,
1965.
“Macbeth and Witches.” 1966. 09 April 2002.
McLeish, Kenneth. Shakespeare’s Characters. California: Players Press, 1992.
“Personal Works and Writings.” 1999. 09 April 2002.
“Play Synopsis.” [No date] 09 April 2002.
Rubkin, Norman. The Tragedies. New Jersey: Prentke Hall, 1965.
Scott, W. Mark. Shakespeare for Students. Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1992.
“Shakespeare’s Campfire.” 2000. 09 April 2002.
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Macbeth. New York: Pocket Books, 1992.
“Think Quest.” 1995. 09 April 2002. <www.thinkquest.org/library/lib/site_sum_outside.html?tname=2888&url=2888/wwwboard/msg/6414.html>
