Shakespeare’s theme of temptation, conscience, evil and ambition in “Macbeth” are strongly developed right from the beginning. Shakespeare establishes the theme by imagery, language, and dramatic techniques. Shakespeare uses these techniques to show the flaws in Macbeth that leads to his tragic death. Macbeth was chosen to emphasize the drama and tragedy as he would have been one of the most courageous and honorable characters. From Macbeth’s death we can learn not to let temptation, desire, ambition, equivocation, and evil influence our moral and better thinking.
Through the Start of the play, Shakespeare explores how a discreet suggestion to a person with ambition, corrupts their ability to follow their better judgment. The “brave, noble, thane’ Macbeth is suggested by the “foul and fair” witches that “he shalt be Thane of Cawdor”, and “shalt be the King”. It is here that Macbeth’s ambition and desire to be king is awakened. Macbeth continuously shows interest in the ‘evil’ witches although Banquo quotes “the instruments of darkness tell us truths, to betray us in deepest consequence”. This shows Macbeth’s flaw of not being able to act with the better thinking provided by his best friend. Lady Macbeth teases and tempts Macbeth to kill the king, but Shakespeare at this point implements Macbeth’s intelligence through his soliloquy.
Macbeth understands the “deep damnation” bought upon the king’s death, the “consequences’ that will “trammel upon” him and also he realizes that it is just his “vaulting ambition” embarking on the “horrid deed”. Although Macbeth swore to “proceed no further in this business”, Lady Macbeth’s judicious “you are not a man” makes Macbeth “dare do all”. This is Macbeth’s flaw repeated. Macbeth’s first flaw that Shakespeare introduces the audience to is the inability to act according to his moral judgment. This flaw leads onto more flaws until his tragic death.
The Essay on Macbeth S Vaulting Ambition
Macbeth s Vaulting Ambition Puts Him in an Evil Frame of Mind A favorable character trait, when carried to the point of obsession, can often have disastrous effects. William Shakespeare particularly highlights this idea in his tragedy Macbeth. Macbeth s actions are the result of his own ambitions to be king. Macbeth s reaction to the witches prophecies is one example of his ambition to be king. ...
The reality and guilty conscience which torture Macbeth’s instable mind only proceed after the murder is done. Shakespeare here shows how guilty conscience only comes after you do harm and that consequences follow. Guilt is accountable for the enduring of Macbeth’s ongoing degradation. In the middle of the play, Shakespeare shows that Macbeth is “cabin’d, cribb’d, confined”, “full of scorpions is [his] mind”. Regretting is an endless twinge as he continues with “where our desire is got without content”. Shakespeare shows inconsistent mood changes and confusion in Macbeth by intervening regret with bravery like “the rugged Russian bear” repeatedly. But at the same time as he is regretting, “Banquo’s issues file[s] [Macbeth’s] mind”. This shows Macbeth’s ambition to be king discarding even the paternal love of his best friend. The thought of his power being taken away and the crime being discovered results in another, repeated murder. From the middle of Macbeth, Shakespeare expresses the fact that the inability for a character to remain true to his moral thinking will cause guilty conscience, fear, and confusion which will bring constant deprivation, torment, and great consequences.
Your beliefs and trusts influence your better judgment. Macbeth trusted the “evil” and “foul” equivocate witches for his advice. The second apparition given makes him feel as though he is invincible because the apparition states “no man of women born” can kill him. This gives Macbeth the impression that he can commit any crime and get away with it. The equivocation of the witches manifests near the end of the play. The witches prophesy of “not women born”, and “when Burnam woods to high Dunsinane hill” is overturned as Macduff is not born naturally but “untimely ripped from the mother’s womb” and trees of Burnam wood is carried by soldiers as camouflage. Shakespeare has Macbeth saying “juggling fiends no more believe, and then palter with us in a double sense”. This shows that Macbeth understands that trusting the sly witches was a bad thing. Shakespeare shows that we should be smart and careful in whom our trusts are given to.
The Essay on Biography William Shakespeare Time Born Plays
Biography: William Shakespeare William Shakespeare, playwright, whose work stands to be the most translated non-religious literature ever was born on April 23 rd, 1564 and was baptized the day after in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. He was the third of eight children born into the family of John Shakespeare-a well known merchant, and Mary Arden. Being the eldest son, following the customs of ...
‘Macbeth’ was a “brave”, “noble” and an admirable character until the revealing of his flaw. His tragedy not caused by the little suggestion but the flaw in Macbeth. The flaw is accountable for Macbeth’s tragic death. Shakespeare explains how temptation, suggestion, and ambition reveal weaknesses in a person. From the Play of Macbeth, Readers can learn not to do any deed as it will have consequences. Readers can also learn to stick wit Moral judgment and better thinking and not to act in the moment. Through the play of Macbeth, Shakespeare teaches us a lifetime experience.
