Macbeth: Tragedy of Ambition, Guilt, and Moral Decay

Categories: Macbeth

Play "Macbeth" is one of the most famous tragedies of Shakespeare and this critical review about it. The plot is borrowed by the author from the Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland by Holinshed, as well as the plots of many of his other tragedies. The fate of the main hero is the tragedy of a strong and courageous man who, in an effort to take possession of the throne, believes that he has the right to this, based on his personal merits.

At the very beginning of the tragedy, we see the hero of Shakespeare as a man of high valor; it's no wonder that King Duncan raises him, giving him the title and possessions of the rebellious Tang of Kavdorsky. It was predicted by the witches to Macbeth. They greet the victorious commander three times, and their third greeting-prediction served as an impetus to the moral destruction Macbeth. Thought about the throne quickly takes possession of his soul. King

Duncan rules in Scotland, and the king has legitimate heirs.

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However, criminal intentions are ripening in the heart of a future killer, who initially was a faithful companion of the king. When he first thought about Duncan murder, Macbeth himself is afraid of what he is going to do.

Character Macbeth is not as simple as it can seem. Not only ambition Macbeth played a role in his crimes: Shakespeare seeks to talk about a deep social contradiction when the personal dignity of a human does not find appropriate recognition.

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Before committing his crime, he was indeed worthy of the throne of Scotland for many qualities. The very fact of the predictions, one of which happened, could have assured him that sooner or later circumstances would make him king. However, he does not want to wait. The hero believes that the royal power will exalt him as he deserves it. And, nevertheless, doubts, and then remorse, persecute him. For his wife moral concepts have no value; Macbeth himself, having committed a crime, realizes that he has trampled all divine and human laws.

He becomes a king. Duncan is dead, his sons are in England, but he is concerned about the witches’ prediction addressed to Banco. The thought of Macbeth is already habitually drawn to a proven and tested mean - murder, although the hero is still aware that his actions are terrible and lawless. However, this does not stop him on his bloody path. Retribution is already following him on his heels: his wife is losing her mind, and his enemies - Malcolm, Duncan's son, and MacDuff - arrived in Scotland with the English army.

He does not have loyal supporters, in Scotland; everyone hates him and serves him only because of fear. He is alone in this world, and his life has lost its meaning. He thought to gain greatness by becoming king, but instead loses his own "I." Killing his victims, Macbeth kills his soul and everything that was really great and worthy of him. He is gradually immersing in a state of moral self-destruction. However, he is not going to admit that he is defeated. The only thing that the criminal king of Scotland has is his courage. He fights not to fall in battle, but to defeat. The false predictions of the spirits misled him, and he imagines himself undefeated. But his hope for the vague prophecies of the spirits is vain. He tries to interpret them in a favorable manner, although they contained a direct hint at his death. But the criminal king never was a coward. Hearing that McDouf, his opponent, was not born naturally, Macbeth understands that retribution overtook him.

References

  • Crime in "Macbeth" – MarkedByTeachers.com,
  • Crime in "Macbeth" – Google Books,
Updated: Nov 20, 2023
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Macbeth: Tragedy of Ambition, Guilt, and Moral Decay. (2017, Aug 01). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/crime-in-macbeth-essay

Macbeth: Tragedy of Ambition, Guilt, and Moral Decay essay
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