Macbeth can be viewed as one of William Shakespeare’s most well known plays. It is one that is commonly taught and enjoyed by high school students. Macbeth’s popularity can be due to several unique elements presented in the play. The first fascinating piece from the play is the three witches. These characters are very unique and different from other characters presented in many of Shakespeare’s plays. Their supernatural powers make them interesting and prophetic. The use of the three prophecies predicted by the three witches shows Shakespeare’s use of foreshadowing. This technique allows for the play to be very interesting and captivating for anyone who reads it.
Another very interesting theme in the play is the desperation for power that many of the characters feel. Even though Macbeth has just earned the title of Thane of Cawdor after defeating Macdonwald, this title does not seem to satisfy him. His hunger for a higher status leads him to do the unthinkable, to murder the King. This inhumane act is particularly horrific. The King seems to very much respect and enjoy Macbeth and his wife. However, it is obvious that Macbeth does not share these mutual feelings with the King. Macbeth makes it clear that he does have loyalty to the King. His main concern is becoming King, and he is willing to go to any length to achieve this.
At one point during the play, Macbeth does seem to doubt his reasons for wanting to kill Duncan. Just as Macbeth starts to show some morality, his wife quickly puts an end to it. Lady Macbeth demonstrates her shrew nature by mocking her husbands brief moment of humanity. This is shown when Lady Macbeth says “Wouldst thou have that/ Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life/ And live a coward in thine own esteem,/ Letting ‘I dare not’ wait upon ‘I would,’/ Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage?” (1.7 45-49). This quotation demonstrates Lady Macbeth’s immoral attitude. At this point, it seems as if she is more interested in Macbeth becoming king than Macbeth himself is. Lady Macbeth’s later actions when developing the plan to kill Duncan only emphasizes her desperation for power.
It is particularly interesting to look at Macbeth from a psychological standpoint. In act 2.1, Macbeth begins to hallucinate. He believes that he sees a bloody dagger which is leading him to Duncan’s room. It is clear that Macbeth’s psychological state is beginning to deteriorate at this point. It is fair to assume that his want for power and the effects of plotting Duncan’s murder is affecting his mental health. At this point, if Macbeth is to kill Duncan and become king, his ability to rule a nation successfully is very questionable.
2 comments:
Lady Macbeth is a very interesting character. As you pointed out, she is the one who pushes for Macbeth to kill the king. I agree that she seems to have more of a thirst for power at this point then Macbeth. I think that by pushing her husband to commit this first murder, Lady Macbeth pushed him over the edge. He starts to hallucinate daggers and then later ghosts. I feel like the guilt she feels for pushing her husband to turn into a killer is what drives lady Macbeth crazy as well. Both character are not right in the head and not what you would expect of a royal couple.
Throughout this entire play, we see Macbeth struggle with his indecision, which makes us wonder if he will be able to be a good king. This trait does show his moral side, however, and makes him more likeable in our eyes. Some readers may even see him as a puppet being controlled by Lady Macbeth at this point, and his hallucinations represent the guilt he is feeling for his wrong deed.
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