Also in Act 4 Scene 1, just after Macbeth has visited the Weird Sisters, Macbeth intends to slaughter the whole of Macduff’s family for vengeance. Macbeth yells;
“…give to the edge o’ th’ sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line.”
This obviously shows that Macbeth is now a butcher as, out of spite and jealousy, Macbeth is going to slaughter the entire family of Macduff although he knows they are innocent.
Another example of Macbeth turning to a “butcher” is in Act 5 Scene 5. Macbeth is speaking to Seyton, after just hearing the news that Lady Macbeth has killed herself. He is talking about how he sees death and his view towards death. He says in the conversation “Signifying nothing”. Here Macbeth is elaborating that, in his opinion, death doesn’t mean anything and that;
“It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,”
Whilst Macbeth is saying this, you can tell that Macbeth is becoming deluded and he is depressed and does not care about anything now that Lady Macbeth has died.
In Act 5 Scene 6, Siward illustrates his view of Macbeth. He describes Macbeth as a “tyrant” whilst speaking to Malcolm and Macduff. He states,
“Do we but find the tyrant’s power tonight”
Siward means that on this night they shall find Macbeth, the “tyrant”, and strike him dead because he is so evil, like a “tyrant” or a “butcher”.
Another instance of Macbeth being portrayed as a “butcher” is when Young Siward, Siward’s sons, meets Macbeth in order to kill him, Act 5 Scene 7. He asks Macbeth what his name is because Young Siward does not know Macbeth to see. Macbeth tells him his name, and Young Siward replies by saying,
“The devil himself could not pronounce a title
More hateful to mine ear.”
Young Siward suggest that Macbeth’s name is so feared that the Devil’s name is not as chilling.
In the same scene as above, Act 5 Scene 7, another case of Macbeth being a “butcher” is illustrated. This is when Macbeth slays Young Siward; this is spiteful as Macbeth slaughters Young Siward although he knows he cannot kill him.
These cases show Macbeth as being a “butcher” as Malcolm describes him, but there are some instances in the play where Macbeth is not considered as a “butcher” and is praised upon.
In Act 1 Scene 2, the Captain describes Macbeth as “brave”, by saying,
“For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name”
The Captain is illustrating to the reader or viewer that Macbeth is a very strong and brave man, and he deserves having that name.
Another example of Macbeth being honourable is in the same Scene, where Duncan calls Macbeth a “valiant cousin” and a “worthy gentleman”. This shows us that Duncan trust Macbeth and thinks highly of him.
Once again in Act 1 Scene 2 Macbeth is described as worthy when the Captain describes the event during the battle between them, the Scottish, and the Norwegians. The Captain tells Duncan that out of nowhere new soldiers arrive. Duncan asks him if Macbeth and Banquo were dismayed, and the Captain replies by saying,
“Yes,
As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.”
Here the Captain is being sarcastic, as he states that as hares eat lions, and sparrows eat eagles. This can be compared to the battle as Macbeth and Banquo were not shocked by the arrival of new soldiers. The Captain shows to Duncan that Macbeth is extremely brave as he and Banquo fought against a new enemy without fear.
In the same Scene Macbeth is described as “noble” when Duncan remarks,
“What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won.”
This means that everything the Thane of Cawdor lost, Macbeth gained. This could mean many things even strength or bravery.
In Act 1 Scene 4 Macbeth is, yet again, described as “worthy” by Duncan, where Duncan says,
“O worthiest cousin,”
This shows that Duncan thinks that Macbeth is very worthy and precious. Duncan also trusts him as he gives Macbeth the title of “Thane of Cawdor”.
In the same speech, Duncan remarks,
“More is thy due than more than all can pay.”
Duncan means that he cannot pay Macbeth back for defending Scotland because what Macbeth deserves not even the King has.
In Act 1 Scene 4, Duncan again calls Macbeth “worthy”,
“My worthy Cawdor.”
The continuous description of Macbeth as “worthy” by Duncan stresses to the reader or viewer that Duncan trusted Macbeth and did not think that he would betray him.
King Duncan says that he loves Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 6. King Duncan asked Lady Macbeth,
“Conduct me to mine host, we love him highly,”
King Duncan is showing how grateful he is at Macbeth for allowing him to stay at their home.
Macbeth shows the readers and viewers that he is human and has a conscience in Act 1 Scene 7, where he states,
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition;”
Macbeth explains to Lady Macbeth that it is unfair to kill King Duncan because, firstly, it is not his turn to be King and he would be King unlawfully, and secondly, because it is a cruel act.
The last example of Macbeth not being a “butcher” is in Act 1 Scene 7, where Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that he will not kill Duncan and they will not talk about the arrangement again.
“We will proceed no further in this business.”
This shows us that Macbeth is still human as he has a conscience and knows that what they plan to do is immoral and cruel.
These examples show that Macbeth should not be described as a “butcher”.
Lady Macbeth
Malcolm describes Lady Macbeth as a “fiend-like queen”, but is this relevant to her behaviour in the play?
Below are examples to show that support Malcolm’s opinion of Lady Macbeth.
In Act 1 Scene 1, Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth that, because of Macbeth’s good nature, they will have to murder King Duncan in order for Macbeth to become King. This shows that Lady Macbeth is like Eve as in she has persuaded Macbeth to do evil, as Eve persuaded Adam to eat from a forbidden tree.
In Act 1 Scene 5, Lady Macbeth calls on the evil spirits to make her ruthless so that she can kill King Duncan. She pleads to the evil spirits by saying,
“Come to my woman’s breasts,
And take my milk for gall, you murd’ring
ministers,”
This means that Lady Macbeth is telling the evil spirits to take her breast milk and drink it to turn her into a ruthless woman so that she can kill Duncan without having a guilty conscience.
In Act 2 Scene 2, Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth what to do. For example, he has brought the dagger from the murder with him, and Lady Macbeth forces him to take them back or else they will be caught. This shows the reader and viewer that Lady Macbeth is forcing Macbeth to murder people he used to serve.
In Act 2 Scene 2, just after committing the crime of killing Duncan, Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to fetch some water. Whilst they are washing the blood off, Lady Macbeth remarks,
“A little water clears us of this deed.”
What Lady Macbeth means by this is that, by washing the blood off their hands they shall not be caught, little does she know that the guilt will kill them.
In Act 5 Scene 5, Lady Macbeth’s maid has noticed that she sleep walks at night, but what she is actually doing is re-enacting the night that Macbeth and her murdered Duncan. The maid tells the doctor that she has done this every night for the last couple of weeks. The doctor notices that Lady Macbeth is re-enacting that night and remarks,
“My mind she has mated, and amazed my sight.
I think, but dare not speak.”
The doctor is telling the maid that Lady Macbeth has amazed him by ‘admitting’ she and Macbeth killed King Duncan but is scared because if he tells someone what he has seen he will probably be killed as well.
The examples above support Malcolm’s view of Lady Macbeth but like Macbeth, there are instances where Lady Macbeth is praised.
In Act 1 Scene 6, King Duncan calls Lady Macbeth a “Fair and noble hostess”. He calls her this because she has invited King Duncan to stay at their home and he praises her by saying she is “Fair” and “noble”
Just before Macbeth and Lady Macbeth kill King Duncan, Lady Macbeth remarks,
“Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done’t.”
Lady Macbeth means that she would have killed King Duncan herself, but because he reminds her of her father, she will not kill King Duncan. This shows us that Lady Macbeth has a sentimental side to her.
These examples do not back up Malcolm opinions Lady Macbeth, a “fiend-like queen”.
So after analysing examples from the play, is Macbeth a" butcher” and is Lady Macbeth and “fiend-like queen”?
As a result of the evidence in the play, I think that Macbeth was not a “butcher”. This is because his wife, Lady Macbeth, forced him to commit the murder of King Duncan, which is the very first act of evil he performed. The murder then fuelled him to commit other acts of evil, the massacre of Macduff’s family and the murder of Banquo. Therefore, I think that Macbeth was thought of as a “butcher” because he killed people only due to the persuasion of Lady Macbeth.
Therefore, after analysing the evidence I think that Lady Macbeth was a “fiend-like queen” because she persuaded Macbeth to do wicked actions and if she had not have done this, then none of the other immoral actions would have been performed. I think that William Shakespeare wanted Lady Macbeth to persuade Macbeth to commit sin, because it can be compared to the actions of Eve, who persuaded Adam to eat from the forbidden fruit tree. The play can also show the attitudes of men in that era, that women were evil and forced men to commit sin.
Overall I think that to an extent Malcolm’s word were an appropriate epitaph for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, but I do not think that, after examining the evidence, Macbeth was a “butcher”, but I find Lady Macbeth was “fiend-like queen”.
“Producing forth the cruel ministers
Of this dead butcher, and his fiend-like queen,”