Macbeth the True Nature of Man - 898 Words

In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the author tries to show the true nature of man by using the play s main character, Macbeth, as an example. He is overly ambitious, courageous, and self-doubting. Throughout the play, Shakespeare displays these characteristics to the audience through Macbeth to show the true nature of man. At the end of the play, these characteristics ultimately lead to Macbeth s downfall. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is described as being valiant. He is a skilled warrior, who is loyal to his king and his country. Almost single-handedly, he wins the war for Scotland. He defeats many of the enemy soldiers, including a traitor, all in the name of his king. But, when three witches encounter†¦show more content†¦Even though Macbeth can be called a tyrant and a murderer, he is nonetheless, very courageous. In the beginning of the play, he fights very bravely for his king and country. At the end, he fights valiantly, even though he know s he is going to die. He realizes he is going to die when he learns the truth about Macduff s birth. One of the prophecies given to Macbeth gave him a sense of security: Be bloody, bold, and resolute! Laugh to scorn/The pow r of man, for none of women born/Shall harm Macbeth. (IV,i,79-81) Macbeth knows he is going to die when Macduff tells him Macduff was from his mother s womb/Untimely ripped. (V,viii,15-16) Still, Macbeth continues fighting valiantly to the end. He wants to die fighting, with honor. Right before he dies, Macbeth says I will not yield,/To kiss the ground before young Malcolm s feet,/And to be baited with the rabble s curse./Though Birnam Wood be come to Dunsinane,/And thou opposed, being of no woman born,/Yet I will try the last. Before my body/I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff;/And damned be him that first cries ‘Hold, enough! (V,viii,27-34) This scene in the play brings everything full-circle. In the beginning Macbeth fights bravely, wit h honor, winning on the battlefield and in the end he is again fighting bravely and with honor, this time dying in combat. Macbeth seems to be very secure up on his high pedestal. But it isShow MoreRelatedComparison Of Masculinity In Macbeth872 Words   |  4 Pagescharacters in the play contrast Macbeth and Lady Macbeths twisted perception of a man by allowing their emotions and not giving in to traditional gender roles. When taking a look at masculinity in Macbeth, MacDuff’s is an aforementioned character. Shakespeare gives MacDuff phrases, which contrast the misguided ways of Macbeth and his Lady, and also show that there is hope in masculinity. It is obvious that MacDuff is Shakespeares ideological adaptation of a real man. MacDuff knows himself and heRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1474 Words   |  6 Pages Integrity Within Nature Many famous philosophers including Plato and Aristotle have proposed that all matter and life are part of a strict religious hierarchy called the Great Chain of Being. The Chain starts with God on the top and progresses downward to angels, demons, celestial bodies, kings, nobles, men, wild animals, domesticated animals, trees, plants, and finally minerals. They theorized that when the Chain breaks, chaos follows. William Shakespeare uses the Great Chain of Being in many ofRead More Macbeth - Tragedy Essay1224 Words   |  5 Pagesof his most famous in the tragedy genre is Macbeth. Though Shakespeare can be considered as a scholar in the sense that he was both a renowned and prolific playwright, look back a few hundred years to find Aristotle, one of the most famous scholars and philosophers of all time. In his treatise titled Poetics, he defends poetry against criticism as well as sets standards for tragedies in quot;The Nature of Tragedy,quot; a section of the Poetics. Is Macbeth f it to be included in the tragedy genre accordingRead MoreAnalysis Of Grendel And Macbeth 915 Words   |  4 Pagesand sadness† (Herrera). In Grendel, tragedy and confusion is seen throughout the story. The theme in the story of Macbeth is tragedy and pain. This early literature exemplifies evil through these themes. The philosophers whose theories support these themes through British literature are Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Sigmund Freud and Fred Alford. Throughout the stories of Grendel and Macbeth, evil is displayed differently as well as the theories that contribute to the evil seen. Although their philosophyRead MoreMacbeth s Order Of The Universe944 Words   |  4 Pagesking, man, animals, plants, inorganic material, and lastly, chaos. The king is similar to a God on earth, so any ill-willed acts against the king is a direct attack on God. In â€Å"The Tragedy of Macbeth† written by William Shakespeare, there is a breakdown of order throughout Scotland when Macbe th kills King Duncan. This destruction is visible through three main factors: within the person, through Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, and through nature. For the prophecies told by the witches to become true, MacbethRead MoreMacbeth As Guilty Of His Fate1605 Words   |  7 PagesMacbeth is as guilty of his fate as a man under the influence is guilty to drive off his family from a cliff, to their demise. It is only on him that the guilt lies for he is the one and only at the helm of events. Of course you could take into account the booze in the man, and the prophecy that rotten the mind of Macbeth. Nevertheless, no matter the influence, free will was present, and therefore no one is to blame, but that who chooses. The man could have said no to the bottle, and MacbethRead MoreThe Nature Of Evil : Macbeth By William Shakespeare1664 Words   |  7 PagesOct, 5 2017 The Nature of Evil The story of Macbeth written by William Shakespeare is a dark and quite depressing dramatic play that revolves around the themes of our bare to the bone human nature and if naturally evil or is something decided and developed by the individual mind. In the beginning of the story, are introduced to the main character Macbeth Thane of Glamis, the play gives many heavy implications that he generally liked by the people and the king especially. Macbeth was a warrior ofRead MoreThe Role Reversal Between Macbeth Lady Macbeth1480 Words   |  6 Pagesplay Macbeth by Shakespeare, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s way of thinking get switched. The main reasons for this are the three witches. They told Macbeth and his trustworthy friend, Banquo, that he would be Thane of Glamis, which he already is, Thane of Cawdor, and the king of Scotland. Banquo was told he would father kings. They were both sceptic of these prophecies, but once Macbeth soon became Thane of Cawdor he started believin g in what the witches told him. Once he sees Lady Macbeth, afterRead MoreMacbeth-Nature of Evil1221 Words   |  5 PagesMacbeth explores the nature of evil by the gradual change in the environment and the people within the play. Various factors of individuals, society and politics and supernatural themes contribute to the nature of evil. Individuals and Supernatural influences cause Macbeth to become king of Scotland and his reign affects social and political factors. Macbeth was a Scottish general and Thane of Glamis, a loyal, brave man who turned into a murderer and traitor in order to become King of ScotlandRead MoreMacbeth - Fate or Choice?1457 Words   |  6 PagesMacbeth Throughout the ages it is believed fate, by some uncontrollable force, has the power to forge ones destiny. The outcome of a persons choices is controlled by the way in which they are fated to occur. However, some believe these choices can defy fate and that fate only manipulates ones mind into choosing their own path. The question still remains as to whether individuals are victims of fate or of their own choices, or if each aspect plays a significant part in determining their destiny