Macbeth has felt the influences of the witches but his temperament and intent are not driven to murder. For Macbeth to be the epitome of a ruthless and ambitious murderer the killing of Duncan would have to be Macbeth’s premeditation. Unfortunately he is trapped between two powerful influences, the witches that spark the curiosity in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth acts as a catalyst for Macbeth’s restrained but “black and deep desires”(1,5,51). The ruthless aspect of the play is introduced in the shape of Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth demands “unsex me here and fill me…of direst cruelty”(1,5,40-42). Macbeth had told his wife of the prophecy which awakens the ruthless and ambitious person in her not Macbeth. If she is unsexed as a women she will concede all the typically feminine qualities of compassion which will allow her to plan for the murder of the king. One theme that recurs throughout the play is appearance verses reality. The introduction of Lady Macbeth highlights this theme, “look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’t”(1,6,64-65). Lady Macbeth takes the practical lead and instructs her husband how to conceal his murderous intent that she is able to eventually provoke from him. Macbeth is fully aware of the possibility of redemption. In his soliloquy in act 1 scene 7 he expresses the extent of his moral awareness. Macbeth considers the deed of murdering Duncan and concludes that “against his murderer shut the door not bear the knife myself”(1,5,15-16). Macbeth within his soliloquy also displays his appreciation of Duncan’s virtues “his facilities so meek, hath been so clear in his great office”(1,7,17-18). He defies the ruthless and ambitious stereotype further by considering the consequences of murdering god’s representative on earth resulting in angels “ trumpet-tongu’d against the deep damnation”(1,7,19-20). Macbeth reaches his moral high ground momentarily only to be beaten into submission by Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth exploits her husband’s weakness. By putting into question his masculinity she can taunt him into committing these atrocities “when you durst do it then you were a man”(1,7,49). As a proud warrior Macbeth feels he must maintain his image and her respect for him.
Immediately after the king is killed Macbeth is inconsolable with guilt and regret “I am afraid to think what I have done”(2,2,54). These feelings completely consume him. Macbeth had previously been hailed as a great warrior so why does he experience this moral conflict. In his soliloquy in act 1 scene 7 he depicts the king as being totally benevolent. Almost in the same breath he reminds Lady Macbeth of Duncan’s great generosity “he hath honoured me of late”(1,7,33). It is in deed true that Duncan’s character is almost saintly. On one level the play can be of tale of good verses evil, but alternatively it can be classed as an early example of propaganda. Shakespeare's plays were to be enjoyed by a wide cross-section of society but it was important that they received praise and patronage from the king James I. Shakespeare used Duncan’s gracious attributes to flatter the king. James I had believed that he had inherited the divine gift of a healing touch. Shakespeare paid testament to James’s belief with the inclusion of Duncan having a healing touch “he cures…with this strange virtue, that hath a heavenly gift”(4,3,154-159).
At this period in history it was accepted that monarchs were the representatives of god on earth. Therefore to violate a monarch would equal a violation of god. The play demonstrated Duncan’s clarity of character and, at the beginning the positively prosperous Macbeth. By committing regicide he had damned himself to escalating mental anguish and eventually death, a message that Shakespeare wanted the masses to acknowledge. This chain of events would have been particularly poignant in 1606 when the play is believed to have been conceived. Current affairs at this time would have been dominated by the recent Gunpowder Plot that attempted to kill the king and destroy the houses if parliament. Shakespeare sculpted act 2 scene 3 to include particular details of the Gunpowder Plot. In this scene a porter drunkenly rambles about an equivocator “that could swear in both scales…who committed treason”(2,3,8-9). The porter’s speech would have been particularly relevant to an audience in 1606. The equivocator he refers to be a Jesuit priest called Father Garnet. Father Garnet was executed for supporting the Gunpowder Plot through prayer, which he denied. The porter’s speech would promote the justification of Father Garnet’s execution to the audience.
More flattery is evident in other key characters in the play, the witches and Banquo. Witch hunts were prevalent in England during this period. James I had even wrote a book about witches. The dark and ghastly portrayal of the witches would have been acutely significant to the audience and chiefly for the king.
Shakespeare based ‘Macbeth’ around a true story. He used details from the ‘Chronicles’ written by a historian called Holinshed. Holinshed’s notes told how Banquo had aided Macbeth in Duncan’s murder. This is a vastly different account to that of Banquo in the play. In the play Banquo shares the witches prophecy with Macbeth. Banquo is told “Thou shalt get kings”(1,3,65) meaning that his children will become kings. Banquo doesn’t act upon this information. Banquo’s loyalty does not falter and with wise perception states “The instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betrays in deepest consequence”(1,3,122-125). Banquo maintains this incorruptible stance throughout. It is felt that Shakespeare changed Banquo’s character as he was an ancestor of James I. It would be considered unprofessional at the time to portray a royal predecessor as guilty of treason.
Political messages aside ‘Macbeth’ is a universal message that’s as relevant today as it was in 1606. ‘Macbeth’ is an example of good verses evil and human nature. The story begins with a good man steeped in respect from his peers and from the highest of the hierarchy. However man is rarely grateful with what he’s achieved especially when a fluke opportunity or good fortune offers a greater prize enticing him to wade out of his depth, driven by greed. Once he is out of his depth, too far from the shore his actions become erratic through desperation to survive. The overwhelming demands of self preservation cloud his judgement and he makes a situation worse by making poor snap decisions. Futility eventually causes him to accept his fate or self destruct. ‘Macbeth’ illustrates how greed and evil can corrupt a person. Initially it begins inside Lady Macbeth but soon the infection is passed on. From when Macbeth kills Duncan he is accepting evil into his life. From this moment it is inevitable that evil will lose. Macbeth begins to lose his mind almost instantly. Macbeth has his prize for the evil deed but he cannot appreciate it as he’s consumed by remorse and trying to keep his head above water. The more people he kills to cover his tracks the more the evil is multiplied and he can increasingly feel that good is patiently waiting to punish him.
It is abundantly evident that Shakespeare created a story that was infinitely more than the tale of a ruthless and ambitious murderer. Macbeth the man is a complicated individual capable of highly articulate outbursts born of a conscience that won’t allow self forgiveness. Macbeth is a multidimensional man, courageous and brave on the battlefield but then unpredictable and fragile when confronted with emotional complication. The themes that Shakespeare included throughout the play have meant too much to anyone who has witnessed it for it to be packaged as just a story. In 1606 ‘Macbeth’ would have been wielded as a political weapon defending the monarchy with regard to the Gunpowder Plot. At the same time ‘Macbeth’ would glorify all that is gracious and virtuous of monarchs as a result of Banquo’s role model type example and Duncan’s elevation to martyrdom. On a more personal level what one could say is that Shakespeare’s greatest achievement is that his style and subject of writing is as relevant today as it is at any other point in history. ‘Macbeth’ the plot is about treason; but Macbeth the story is about human endeavour to do the right thing with conviction and the complete unravelling of our moral and mental fibre if we breach the breaking point of our own consciences.
