MacBeth Is Insecure, His Wife Reasures Him
From the moment MacBeth gets his first taste of power, I believe he not becomes
addicted, but he also starts to be insecure. First, he ranks high in the king’s army as a
general. Almost immediately after he won the battle in which the play begins, he is told of
his new title- Thane of Cawdor. As the reader finds out later in the play, MacBeth
eventually takes the title of King.
MacBeth’s insecurity isn’t wholefully his fault. It seems that every time his
conscience starts to shine through, His wife, Lady MacBeth talks him back into doing evil.
She Strongly influenced him by urging and nearly ordering him to seize power for himself.
He both intentionally and unintentionally became Thane of Cawdor. On one hand
MacBeth was doing his job, but on the other, he strived to be the best and to gain power.
After that, the strive became an obsession. As he was speaking to the king he implies he’ll
be king:
“We will establish our estate upon Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we
name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland”
— Act 1, Scene 4, Lines 37 – 39
After MacBeth “kills” the King, Duncan, he becomes king of Scotland. Not as
easily done as said. He starts to have delusions. He (and Lady MacBeth) decide that
McDuff must die in order for things to stay in MacBeth’s favor. The witches once again
The Term Paper on Macbeth King Play Iii
... 'fate' in what sense? Do they cause Macbeth's actions? What powers do they have, and what are the ... Shakespeare's source for the story, Banquo helped Macbeth murder the king. Many critics believe that Shakespeare changed Banquo's ... a b Is the king going? Goes the king? Did the king go? Went the king? You do not look ... which is reflected in the setting. The action starts in the open fields, but the air is ...
greet him and say:
“MacBeth! MacBeth! MacBeth! Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane
of Fife. Dismiss me: enough.”
— Act 4, Scene 1, Lines 71 – 72
Not too long after this, MacBeth (and Lady MacBeth)plot to kill his enemies so as
he’ll have nothing to worry about. Soon after that, people start dying. Both MacBeth and
his wife knows who the real culprit is- them. MacBeth soon becomes haunted by
Banquo’s ghost while at a dinner banquet. One again the witches prophecy comes true.
This scares MacBeth. For in the witches fortune telling, they tell of Banquo’s children
gaining the throne, and his danger with McDuff. This marks the beginning of the end for
MacBeth; his wife dies and his enemies advance. His world starts to fall apart.
Out, out brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player That
ruts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is
tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury Signifying nothing.”
– Act 5, Scene 5, Lines 23 – 28
So, is MacBeth in secure and paranoid? Most likely. If not by his own hand, then
by the added pressure of his wife. His paranoia and insecurity become his fatal flaws, and
his eventual downfall. He resorts to killing everyone who mean anything to him, whether
directly or indirectly. Like most tragic heroes, his flaws become his downfall and in this
particular play- his death.
