Macbeth

3 Pages 675 Words

MacBeth
A tragedy is a literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw and a moral weakness. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is an example of such work. In this drama we discover that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are, in fact, tragic characters in that they suffer to a greater extent than their misdeeds and their ultimate come to ruin and complete destruction further defines them as tragic figures.
A prosperous and powerful warrior, Macbeth was respected by soldiers and commoners alike. King Duncan of Scotland, Macbeth’s brother, highly valued and appreciated Macbeth’s fearless warfare accomplishments. Duncan expressed gratitude by honoring his brother with the Thane of Cawdor and saying “more is thy due than more than all can pay”(1.4, line 24). Despite this, Macbeth became incredibly ambitious to become king when he discovered that King Duncan named his eldest son, Malcolm, the heir to the crown of Scotland. This envy lead Macbeth along with his wife, Lady Macbeth, to attempt to “o’erleap” Duncan’s appointment of the next king by committing numerous of dreadful murders. Although Macbeth reaches his objective, he is thrown into pool of insecurity, guilt, and paranoia.

Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s “dearest partner of greatness”(1.5, line 11), has greater ambition and desire to make her husband king. The play illustrates that although they both think of murdering King Duncan as soon as they hear the witches' prophecies, Macbeth thinks more about what he may or may not do, whereas Lady Macbeth immediately appeals to evil spirits to give her the strength to kill Duncan. Upon Macbeth refusal to proceed with the plan Lady Macbeth pressures her husband to commit the murder and states: “and live a coward in thine own esteem”(1.7, line 47). After the assassination of Duncan is complete, Lady Macbeth acquires the highest position ...