Macbeth by Shakespeare. Lady Macbeth is the real driving force behind the murder of Duncan - Coursework Example

Lady Macbeth is the real driving force behind the murder of Duncan" Of all the tragedies of Shakespeare, Macbeth is famous for wildness, passion and rapid action. Unlike his other tragedies, Macbeth stands aloof in terms of absence of humour. There is no philosophic contemplation and reasoning. Shakespeare has followed no rules while drafting Macbeth. His protagonist blindly follows his ideas while performing dreadful acts though often pricked by conscience, which he suppresses for his prudential and selfish reasons. The entire play is based on Macbeth ambitions and the path he adopts to achieve them. His ambitions define his character. In the beginning of tragedy, it appears unlikely for a character, like Macbeth to commit such a horrific acts as he appears as the bravest soldier and honourable Thane of Glavis. He holds the honour and nobility of value and appears to be fit for this .His character undergoes a drastic transformation after his encounter with the witches. It appears that they have rekindled his desires and ambitions. The three witches establish their malicious nature before meeting Macbeth and Banqau.For them “the fair is foul and the foul fair,”.They announce Macbeth “The Thane of Glavis”, “the Thane of Cowdor ‘and “the King here after”. Immediately after this encounter, the prophecy of the witches comes true and Macbeth is announced as the Thane of Cowdor, thereafter, he starts thinking being a king. His dilemma is whether to succumb to witches’ temptation or to wait for the right time or fate to decide. Banqao, who accompanies Macbeth, warns him that these spirits “might enkindle you to aim at the throne; Writer 2 but oftentimes these ministers of darkness tell us truths in little things, to betray us into deeds of greatest consequence”. The witches no doubt, awaken his ambitions, they do not make any suggestions, they tempt him and by placing this thought that he would be the future king they have set him on the path that leads to murder Duncan, the king of Scotland. Macbeth communicates the entire incidence to his wife .The Lady Macbeth is characterized as a very ambitious woman and she starts considering the prophecies by the witches as real when she is told about its partial accomplishment. Her ambition drives her to accomplish the prophecy. The role of Lady Macbeth is persuasive. Yes, she is the major driving force .She goads him to commit regicide. She knows Macbeth’s true temperament and thinks he is, “too full of milk of human kindness”, therefore instigates him, counters his arguments and reminds him that it is his ambition. She plots the details and when she finds Macbeth reluctant, she accuses him for being coward and challenges his masculinity thus winning him to attain her designs. When she learns that King Duncan will stay at their castle, she enthusiastically greets the news and finds this opportunity best to kill the king. She conveys her plans to Macbeth who is still uncertain of the need to kill Duncan. She asks gods to remove all the feminine signs and compassion and replace them with cold and ruthlessness. She even warns Macbeth that she can bash the brain of her child that sucks her breast. Hearing her saying such things, Macbeth decides to murder Duncan. He still wrestles his conscience, Lady Macbeth then, decides to do the murder herself but when she reaches the King Chambers and looks at Duncan face, she finds it resembling with her father’s and returns to Macbeth. She drugs Duncan’s attendants and lays draggers ready for the commission of the crime. Macbeth kills the sleeping King and Lady Macbeth waits for him. She then, orders him to return the daggers at the crime scene when he refuses, she herself carry the daggers and smears the drugged attendants faces with Duncan’s blood. Duncan Writer 3 sons flee the site fearing their lives. Macbeth is appointed the King of Scotland and he plots further murders to secure his King ship but without consulting Lady Macbeth. At the royal banquets, Macbeth hallucinates and the queen dismisses her guests very cleverly. In the later part of the tragedy, it seems lady Macbeth undergoes compunction and remorse. In the fifth Act of the play, Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking .As she walks she echoes, “What! Will these hands ne'er [never] be clean? No more o’ [of] that, my lord, no more o' that: you mar all with this starting”. She recollects the horrific images and impressions of the past. She washes her hands to get off the stains of blood to overcome the guilt of killing the innocents, “All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.”The doctor and the woman attendant watching her are left flabbergasted. She is a tormented soul and dies offstage when Malcolm declares that she died by, “self and violent hands.” Strangely, the King of Scotland, Duncan, in this tragedy is a very naive and trusting King. At the beginning of the tragedy, he is betrayed by the old Thane of Cowdor, who is succumbed and is killed by his loyal and trusted accomplice, Macbeth .He confers Macbeth with the same title and in turn is murdered by his trusted person, Macbeth. He is bad judge of character. He is unable to judge the evil intentions of Lady Macbeth and in fact gifts a diamond for her hospitality. He is not an absolute Monarch; his character does not appear convincing, as he seems to believe everyone easily. His role is full of irony in the sense that he is unable to unveil the intentions of Macbeth. He represents the morality in the play and his death sets up anarchy in the Kingdom. Writer 4 Shakespeare characters appear to be knitted in a very intricate fashion. They do and act according to a power beyond their control. What made Macbeth behave strangely? Why Lady Macbeth forced Macbeth into heinous crime? Why did Duncan trust Macbeth blindly? Such questions find answers in the word fate. The concept of fate is interwoven throughout the play, in dreams, prophesies and curses that predict the fate for several key characters. The prophesied fall of these key characters sets the ball in motion. It was preordained by fate that Macbeth will listen to the prophesies of the witches. He starts thinking of being a king and as the fate would have it, he works towards it. Without any remorse and qualms, he commits more murders to retain his throne. Duncan and Banqao sons are saved and it is the fate that helps them. As the play advances, he blindly believes the witches and thinks a woman born will not kill him but he is mistaken. The witches begin his road to success and demise. Shakespeare has used various devices in Macbeth. He employs imagery to heighten atmosphere, mood and character; the soliloquies reflect unrest, indecision and meditative flashes of thought. He uses foreshadows in the second passage when Macbeth plans to kill King Duncan, he finds an image of knife pointing at him. Similarly, he utilizes symbolism in the episode of Lady Macbeth washing hands repetitively that represents the guilty conscience. The somnambulistic behaviour of Lady Macbeth is another instance. Shakespeare employs various ironical devices. Macbeth’s misinterpretation of witch’s prophecy, when one prophecy came true, he believes the other to come true as well. Another dramatic irony is Duncan’s faith in Macbeth, who murders him. The paradox is apparent in witch’s statement, foul is fair and fair foul when all fair predictions turn foul for Macbeth. Macbeth’s poetry is the measures of his sensitive and battered soul. Work Cited 1. Absolute Shakespeare /Macbeth study guide. Web. 2nd April .2010. Read More