Macbeth

Macbeth

  • Submitted By: sully333
  • Date Submitted: 11/15/2015 2:55 AM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 434
  • Page: 2

Although the play is called The Tragedy Of Macbeth, it is not just about a personal tragedy. It also presents a national disaster.
Shakespeare’s Macbeth commences and concludes in a similar fashion. It begins with Macbeth defending Scotland against invaders and rebels, while also being drawn to a close with the tyrant defending Scotland from righteous rebels. Macbeth’s transition from noble war hero to oppressive tyrant is caused by his literal-mindedness and his ignorance upon hearing the witches’ prophecies. Scotland also suffers tragically, as a nation once prosperous and strong, now has a breakdown in loyalty and trust under Macbeth’s reign. The general citizens of Scotland struggle to survive, powerless against Macbeth’s terror and power. Not only does Macbeth collapse due to his narrow mind, but the whole of Scotland is rocked with the implementation of evil.
Macbeth is depicted as a ruthless and valiant warrior by his fellow soldiers and thanes, but declines as a result of his limited mind. Through the Captain’s words, we discover Macbeth’s nobility and courage on the battlefield, whose heroics have ‘bought golden opinions from all sorts of people.’ Macbeth is also portrayed as a ruthless fighter, intending to ‘bathe in reeking wounds;’ he possesses a callous indifference to the suffering of others, possibly even satisfaction, foreshadowing dire consequences. The Captain also recounts how Macbeth ‘unseamed [Macdonald] from the nave to t’chaps,’ revealing Macbeth’s undisputed ability and bravery in the battlefield. Yet, when the Captain describes his heroics on the battlefield, he also sheds light on Macbeth’s ruthlessness and aggression. From the outset, we can see that Macbeth is capable of great violence. As Mary McCarthy claims in her book, William Shakespeare, Macbeth’s literal-mindedness is his tragedy. During his conversation with Seyton and the doctor, Macbeth reveals his belief that he is protected by the witches’ forecasts. He is adamant that...

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