Shakespeares Macbeth - Essay Example

Differentiating between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in terms of desire, action and the successive destruction Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s shadiest and most disastrous works. Known as one of the four great disasters, this play has been read and performed all over the world. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, even though their characters may appear alike, they are in fact dissimilar in many features. The once principled Macbeth, as he was acknowledged before he strolled down the shady path, was in the end a cold, callous killer who neither merited nor preferred life. Lady Macbeth did sway her husband, however her evil personality was superior even to Macbeth, and near her end she did demonstrate some positive traits. In the play, Shakespeare uses various styles to bring about the difference between the characters. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s characters differ to some lengths but also are similar to some extent. Their drives, aspirations, cruelty and ambitions are somehow similar. This comparative essay aims at comparing the two characters and bringing out+2 the difference and similarities between their characters throughout the play. This study uses the character’s traits to compare them. Lust, ambition, cruelty and the general change in characters are the points used to compare between the two characters. The paper quotes instances from the play and also digs deep into the play to correctly analyze the traits. The paper goes further to detail the efforts the writer put across to advance the performance of the play. It compares the texts from the play and the scenes from the two plays. Through determination, action and succeeding destruction, this essay will show their difference. Both Lady Macbeth’s and Macbeth’s determinations were boundless. Nevertheless each had their individual limits and commencements. Macbeth’s drive, while one of his deadly faults as a disastrous character, did take a sluggish start. During the first few acts his want on Lady Macbeth and her skill to inspire him was inordinate. The lady remarks here that her husband is too feeble to struggle for the crown. …”yet do I fear thy nature It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great, Art not with ambition…” (Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 16-19). Nonetheless, after becoming king, his determination takes on a life of its own as he fights to keep his influence. Once this point had been grasped, everything he perceives as a threat, he eliminates. Lady Macbeth conversely had an iron drive and an unwavering drive to begin with. She was the central one in the couple for much of the beginning. Once again though, with the accomplishment of the crown there is a transformation; her drive for more gradually dies as she is content with her endeavors. But she doubts and trusts that Macbeth maybe doing more than is required to keep the crown. Her drive for more is now vanished and as an alternative appears to be a need for peace. Their activities also pay much to the meaning of their character, as do their opinions. Macbeth had a massive hand to play in all three of the inordinate delinquencies in the play. The first, being the killing of Duncan, was devoted with the toxic sway of his lady. Macbeth’s responsibility and remorse is obvious after the killing. “To know my action, ‘twere best not know myself. Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou could’st!” (Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 73-74). All the same, his ethics does not stance in the way of the last two delinquencies, the murder of Banquo and the killing at Macduff’s fortress. The killings are ordered with a cold heart; his cruelty is now clear and so are his adversaries. Lady Macbeth was the principal player during Duncan’s killing. Her loyalty to the terrible deed was irresistible. A person’s desires can guide them to commit the most dreadful of crimes, which will finally bring about their downfall and destruction. In Shakespeare’s 27th play, Macbeth, this is clear, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are both represented differently, and they however show some similarities at some points in the play. Both the characters demonstrate lust for the throne, but they do differ in their determinations. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s aspiration to be at the very top of that is sparked off by the witches’ prophecies. Lady Macbeth’s longing of the throne gets stronger as the play continues whereas Macbeth’s aspiration weakens. At the begging, Macbeth’s desire of the throne comes to realization after the witches’ prophecy get revealed which demonstrate in the foreshadow Macbeth becoming the next king. Macbeth spontaneously sees himself killing King Duncan when he reiterates “My thought whose murder is yet Shakes so my single state of man that function smothered in surmise; and nothing is/but what is not"(1.3.149-152). The witch’s prophecy stimulates a new side of Macbeth, an undisclosed murderous drive. Instead, Lady Macbeth gets the news through letter sent by Macbeth and her opinions directly turn to murder. Lady Macbeth queries his personality by reiterating, "Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be/ What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature; / It is too full o' the milk of human kindness...Art not without ambition, but without/the illness should attend it"(1.5.14-16.18-19) Lady Macbeth considers that Macbeth is too compassionate and sweet to do what is essential to be the King. Besides, Macbeth's feelings have overwhelmed him and he resolves that killing Macbeth is hard. “We will ensue no more in this business/ He hath honored me of late, and I have bought /Golden opinions from all sorts of people/ Which should be worn in their newest gloss/not cast aside so soon"(1.7.33-36). Lady Macbeth agonizes none of her husband’s doubt. She wants the reign for him and wants him to killing Duncan so as to obtain it. When Macbeth reaches Inverness, she supersedes all of her husband’s oppositions and encourages him to slay the king that very night. He and Lady Macbeth strategize to get Duncan’s two officials drunk so they will shut down; the next morning they will fault the murder on the officials, who will be vulnerable, as they will recall nothing. While Duncan is fast asleep, Macbeth kills him, in spite of his doubts and a number of paranormal signs, counting a vision of a bloody blade. Macbeth is concerned about what other individuals will think and how the news will overwhelm the individuals of the kingdom. Lady Macbeth, unlike Macbeth is prepared to kill King Duncan and is not tentative on doing so. She displays that she is a much tougher person than Macbeth and he is scared for being afraid. She uses her strategies to bout his character to get him to approve the plan, but it fails. In a further effort to make her dream a certainty, Lady Macbeth tries to persuade Macbeth to murder Duncan by stating that he was a man when he sought to slay King Duncan, "When you durst do it, then you were a man"(1.7.54). Macbeth was ready to compel the crime from the very beginning, until he engulfed his mind with hesitation and postponement. But then Lady Macbeth shows her greed by showing devil like features, “Unsex me here/and fill me, from the crown to the toe, top full/ of direst cruelty"(1.5.45-46). This persuades Macbeth to query his own courage, which he has showed continually in wars, hitherto cannot do in this state. Macbeth finally provides in to his wife's arguments and decides to slay King Duncan. With Lady Macbeth using her influence skills to lure Macbeth to approve to her every word, this is all she desires to achieve her needs of being on the throne. But, her wily ways will also clue Macbeth to his ultimate self-destruction which comes later on in the book. Conclusion Lady Macbeth and Macbeth demonstrate different and some similar traits throughout the play. As seen in the paper, the two characters’ traits are similar in the beginning of the play as they both strive for the same thing, lust for the crown. Their ambitions and drives are somehow similar and very strong. Macbeth however is seen as hesitant in the opening stages. However, as the paly progresses, the character’s traits start to differ. Lady Macbeth, who was the crueler one at the beginning starts to somehow soften while Macbeth who at the beginning was laid back begins to become more aggressive. Bibliography Read More