Shakespeares Macbeth - Essay Example

Shakespeare’s Macbeth It was a barbaric era initiated by population pressures creating war and even resorting to community slaughtering, which was then accepted as a fact of life. Survival solely depended on having a competent warlord to protect one’s asset - Life. These groups of warlords would unite under the ostensible leadership of one king to promote their common interests and war on more distant nations. Thus, people began to have dependence in the divine rights of kings and lawful succession. James Stuart was already King James VI of Scotland when Queen Elizabeth’s death made him James I of England as well. Many people were convicted of wicked secret practises. James I also believed the witch hysteria and wrote a book about the supposed hidden world of wicked witches, entitled “Demonology”. Against this Scottish life setting, since James VI ascended the English throne, William Shakespeare wrote “Macbeth”, for two reasons; the plot was created by combining several stories out of Scottish history and King James I who was he King of England and who was a Scot. The name Macbeth means ‘Son of Life”. The play Macbeth is based upon actual events- real Macbeth ruled as King of Scotland from 1040-1057. Macbeth overthrew Duncan, and after his death and became King of Scotland. Life in the seventeenth century influenced Shakespeare’s writing as well as the audience response, due to societal myths. Values and attitudes were naturalised through the Elizabethan vision of society: a hierarchal structure that demanded order and loyalty. Superstitions were rampant throughout the Elizabethan society and Shakespeare portrays this evil in the play and this forms the essential characteristic of Macbeth; pushing him towards demolition. Superstition became mixed up with religion. Incomprehensible events that occurred was attributed to these supernatural forces. Thus this confirms that Macbeth possessed tragic hero qualities, and in other words, ultimately he had to die. This is because of his own deeds and flaw, which urged Macbeth into sending innocent people to their deaths, thus creating chaos and deception in a society which were unable to accept reality and which was not accustomed to such mortality. This supernatural world and its effect on Macbeth reveal the power that is beyond human control and stands as a symbol for the unpredictable forces of human motivation. The witches say that, “fair is foul and foul is fair”. This is obviously a paradox, but proves to be true for by the end of the play the witches’ predictions turn foul for Macbeth. Shakespeare was particularly compelling in that he "saw the men and women as equal in a world which declared them unequal The question one would ask at this stage is how much of the Elizabethan era was reflected in Shakespeare play “Macbeth”? The Elizabethan age was a time of religious reformation and fluctuating political relations, the previous two monarchs failed to establish a fair compromise for both the Protestants and Catholics of England. This left the people in a state of doubt between religion and life, as reflected in Macbeth struggle between good and evil. Such kind of events and personalities of the Elizabethan age helped Shakespeare create a vivid and colourful world to build his plays on, and Shakespeare genius helped to define this pinnacle of English History. The Elizabethans generally agreed upon a view of the universe i.e. the natural ‘order of things’. This ‘order of things’ was known as the Great Chain of Being (Bleck), which stated that everything in the universe has a place. There were medieval as well as modern thoughts in Elizabethan age. Elizabethan times in the 1600’s were a progression for the world of the theatre. From the violence that was prevalent, because of the Black Death, people turned to the theatre for relief and entertainment was looked upon as a means of reinforcement for life. Thus Shakespeare through his plays, describer’s the various personalities in humanity and at the same time depicts the evils of man and society as witnessed in Macbeth. As in Macbeth, Shakespeare uses blood to represent the impurities. Macbeth can be also be viewed from the human potential for evil, illustrating, though not completely in a religious context, the Christian concept of humanity’s loss of God’s grace. This triumph of evil in a man with many good qualities becomes evident, and that this potential for evil is frighteningly present in all of humanity and needs only incorrect circumstances and an entertainment of our desire for good to consume ones intellect.  This good in Macbeth cries out poignantly through out his vehement imagination, but the initiation of a supernatural power, Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth’s sophisticated ambition- thus all combine to crush his better nature and as it is stated that evil will come to an end, so did Macbeth. The appearance of the embodiments of evil in the opening act of the play establishes the tone of mysterious evil as well as the ugliness of society. Shakespeare’s depiction of supernatural evil in Macbeth takes shape within Macbeth who is the representation of the super natural world. This depiction of the embodiments of the devil, the representation of good and evil, portrays a world that is filled with deception and cruelty. Further, characters such as Macbeth’s address to the world determines the world in which the address is made and in terms of which the character (ie Macbeth) is to be apperceived. Macbeth reflects Shakespeare keen understanding of human nature. Seventeenth century society was one built on order and morality. Shakespeare had created a character which embodies everything someone should not be. Shakespeare carefully writes the syntax in Macbeth. Every word is intended to have a purpose and meaning for the audience. The symbolism of blood is used often symbolising guilt. Blood is stained on Macbeth’s imaginary knife before the murder.  Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth suffer from visions of blood after the murder. One of the most compelling scenes of the play is act three scene 4, the banquet scene haunted by Banquo’s ghost. The purpose of the scene in Act 3 Scene 4 was to celebrate the coronation of Macbeth with a banquet. It gives us an insight into his state of mind, as well as this scene reflects the boundary between reality and the supernatural. Ultimately, one is able to look at the deteriorating evil that is vivid in Macbeth. Every time Macbeth mentions Banquo, the ghost of Banquo appears. Macbeth address the ghost saying, “Thou canst not say I did it. / Never shake thy gory locks at me.” The appearance of Banquo ghost reflects the mixture of the supernatural with the real world. This presence of Banquo in the scene mixes the realm of idea with the physical world. The struggle between fate and free will is portrayed. Man’s significance versus his cosmic insignificance, sanity versus madness, and damnation versus salvation. Thus one can see Shakespeare portrayal of the characteristics of society, reflections of man’s mind in the form of Macbeth. This thirst for power and wealth, the main cause of mans annihilation, is interpreted in the character Macbeth thus revealing a violent and dangerous mankind. Further in order to enhance the dramatic impact, Shakespeare decided that Macbeth, the major character was damned, or that the audience perceived themselves as damned. That each one does is unequivocal, as the moral and providential platitudes that the Elizabethans and Jacobeans liked to see were not the piloting of ideas at the forefront of their awareness. Blood- a major theme that is mentioned thus reflecting the bloodiness of society and mankind. Macbeth has always been known to be a “bloody” play. As Macbeth says: “It will have blood; they say blood will have blood: Stones have been known to move and trees to speak; Augurs and understood relations have By magot-pies and choughs and rooks brought forth The secretst man of blood. What is the night?” Macbeth attained his position by bloodshed, so it was inevitable that he should pay with his own life. This blood illustrates the drastic change in Macbeth’s character, thus reflecting the dangers that are ever prevalent in society and that evil always lurks everywhere. The human potential for evil is well depicted, and from the religious point of view, the Christian concept of humanity’s loss of God’s grace. This feeling of damnation, a sense of failure in life, creates this sense of questioning of each individual in a society, the question of moral order. ‘Blood’ a word associated with life as well as death also enhances the feeling of gloom and death. It will have blood; they say blood will have blood The blood stains (signifying evil deeds) can never be washed away. Though humanity may oversee evil deeds, still nature: Stones have been known to move and trees to speak who sees everything, is also a true witness to life. Here Shakespeare refers to the Elizabethans “order of things” wherein everything has a place in the universe. Though predictions promise a fulfilled life, still the spurious blood, the secrets of mankind can never be hidden from reality. Just as the night is dark and black, and one is able to cover their misdeeds, still good will triumph thus leading evil to damnation. Thus Shakespeare had the character of Macbeth exhibit first the "sound" conscience, next the "superstitious" conscience, and finally the "cauterized" conscience, and this was according to the classification of the King’s book- “Demonology”. So as it may be stated by society of the seventeenth century, that those who delved into the supernatural, the evil, and those who did not conform to society norms, would not be accepted by society and this would only lead to their destruction. From the religion point of view, the Christian society, Macbeth would have had a choice, wherein he chose to mix with evil while his fate was foreshadow from the beginning. From these lines, Macbeth confirms that society norms and fate due to ones deeds are interrelated. The death of Macbeth generates a feeling of relief that evil has been destroyed and goodness reinstated. In other words, the Elizabethan society needed to transformation. Thus one would find these characteristics such as ambition, evil, disorder versus order, appearance versus reality, violence and tyranny, guilt and conscience, in the play, features that would summarise the qualities found in the Elizabethan society. The violent feudal system of hierarchical male power versus bloody stereotypes of what it is to be a man in the Elizabethan society. Ivor Browns book, Shakespeare in His Time (1960), Brown suggests Shakespeare himself was voicing his own views that an actor should not just act for entertainment, but to reflect the "very age and body of the time". (Brown Ivor. Shakespeare In His Time). Works Cited Best, Michael. Shakespeares Life and Times. 18 Sept. 2001. University of Victoria. 8 Oct. 2002. Accessed from http://web.uvic.ca/shakespeare/Library/SLTnoframes/intro/introsubj.html. Bleck, Bradley. Elizabethan Characteristics. 13 Nov,1998. Community College of Southern Nevada. 5 Oct. 2002. Accessed from http://www.ccsn.nevada.edu/english/eliz.htm. http://www.shakespeare-online.com http://library.thinkquest.org/23293/Macbeth.html http://www.britainexpress.com/History/Elizabethan_life.htm Brown Ivor. Shakespeare in His Time. 1960. Accessed from http://www.modjourn.brown.edu/mjp/Bios/Brown.htm Read More

Such kind of events and personalities of the Elizabethan age helped Shakespeare create a vivid and colourful world to build his plays on, and Shakespeare genius helped to define this pinnacle of English History. The Elizabethans generally agreed upon a view of the universe i.e. the natural ‘order of things’. This ‘order of things’ was known as the Great Chain of Being (Bleck), which stated that everything in the universe has a place. There were medieval as well as modern thoughts in Elizabethan age.

Elizabethan times in the 1600’s were a progression for the world of the theatre. From the violence that was prevalent, because of the Black Death, people turned to the theatre for relief and entertainment was looked upon as a means of reinforcement for life. Thus Shakespeare through his plays, describer’s the various personalities in humanity and at the same time depicts the evils of man and society as witnessed in Macbeth. As in Macbeth, Shakespeare uses blood to represent the impurities.

Macbeth can be also be viewed from the human potential for evil, illustrating, though not completely in a religious context, the Christian concept of humanity’s loss of God’s grace. This triumph of evil in a man with many good qualities becomes evident, and that this potential for evil is frighteningly present in all of humanity and needs only incorrect circumstances and an entertainment of our desire for good to consume ones intellect.  This good in Macbeth cries out poignantly through out his vehement imagination, but the initiation of a supernatural power, Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth’s sophisticated ambition- thus all combine to crush his better nature and as it is stated that evil will come to an end, so did Macbeth.

The appearance of the embodiments of evil in the opening act of the play establishes the tone of mysterious evil as well as the ugliness of society. Shakespeare’s depiction of supernatural evil in Macbeth takes shape within Macbeth who is the representation of the super natural world. This depiction of the embodiments of the devil, the representation of good and evil, portrays a world that is filled with deception and cruelty. Further, characters such as Macbeth’s address to the world determines the world in which the address is made and in terms of which the character (ie Macbeth) is to be apperceived.

Macbeth reflects Shakespeare keen understanding of human nature. Seventeenth century society was one built on order and morality. Shakespeare had created a character which embodies everything someone should not be. Shakespeare carefully writes the syntax in Macbeth. Every word is intended to have a purpose and meaning for the audience. The symbolism of blood is used often symbolising guilt. Blood is stained on Macbeth’s imaginary knife before the murder.  Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth suffer from visions of blood after the murder.

One of the most compelling scenes of the play is act three scene 4, the banquet scene haunted by Banquo’s ghost. The purpose of the scene in Act 3 Scene 4 was to celebrate the coronation of Macbeth with a banquet. It gives us an insight into his state of mind, as well as this scene reflects the boundary between reality and the supernatural. Ultimately, one is able to look at the deteriorating evil that is vivid in Macbeth. Every time Macbeth mentions Banquo, the ghost of Banquo appears. Macbeth address the ghost saying, “Thou canst not say I did it.

/ Never shake thy gory locks at me.” The appearance of Banquo ghost reflects the mixture of the supernatural with the real world. This presence of Banquo in the scene mixes the realm of idea with the physical world. The struggle between fate and free will is portrayed. Man’s significance versus his cosmic insignificance, sanity versus madness, and damnation versus salvation. Thus one can see Shakespeare portrayal of the characteristics of society, reflections of man’s mind in the form of Macbeth.

This thirst for power and wealth, the main cause of mans annihilation, is interpreted in the character Macbeth thus revealing a violent and dangerous mankind.

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