Macbeth

Who is Macbeth?

• brave warrior

• strong man

• tyrant

• sinner

• sufferer

• linked to the supernatural

• ambitious

• evil

Macbeth is a tragic hero, he starts in glory and acts as a reliable good character until his hamartia of unchecked ambition causes his fall from grace.

Tragic Hero

Glory/High Status - Act 1 (pre regicide)

he’s presented as a stereotypical hero and ideal warrior: brave, skillful, loyal to country. Shakespeare initially gives Macbeth this noble status to heighten his tragic downfall of hero to villain to show how anyone is capable of immorality or being affected by the supernatural.

Hamartia of unchecked ambition - Act 1→ 4

Macbeth’s unchecked ambition is presented early on in the play, showing the audience how it was always there and a part of him, not caused by someone else. This ambition leads to him killing King Duncan and disrupting natural order for the sole purpose of becoming King and gaining more power.

His kingship is still not enough for him, his guilt and greed lead to him becoming a paranoid tyrant, ruling by fear and continuing down his path of sin.

With this Shakespeare teaches the audience the importance of morality

Downfall: mental torment, death in battle, damned to damnation - Act 2→ 5

Just after committing regicide Macbeth is full of guilt, this guilt leads to him hallucinating, having paranoia, and suffering.

At the end of the play Malcolm and Macduff’s armies siege Dunsinane castle and Macduff assassinates Macbeth, leaving him portrayed as a “dead butcher”. This ending helps create an almost cyclical structure, as Macbeth was defeating the traitor Macdonwald at the start of Act 1.

After murdering Duncan Macbeth is instantly cut off from God, although he debates the consequences of his actions during act 1, the reward of power seems to convince him to do it. However he deeply regrets it when he realises there is no chance of redemption and is left to completely align with the supernatural.

From this tragic downfall Shakespeare shows the consequences of unchecked ambition and connection to the supernatural world.

Masculinity

Shakespeare writes Macbeth to be a symbol for toxic and repressive masculinity, ultimately associating manhood with violence. At the same time Macbeth’s fear of being emasculated and his ‘feminine’ traits helps Shakespeare explore femininity through his character.

initially Macbeth is presented as extremely masculine, he’s strong in battle, has a loyal loving wife, and is fated to become King - the top of the patriarchal system.

But he still seems to try prove his masculinity, leading to him pursuing power and violence.

Lady Macbeth uses this flaw of his to manipulate and influence his decisions, like killing Duncan. Any challenge to his manhood is enough to convince Macbeth of any crime, some may say that Macbeth’s determination to achieving ultimate power is for him to be seen as indisputably ‘manly’

Ambition

Macbeth’s unchecked ambition is his hamartia, he would have avoided his downfall if he was just patient but his ambition was fed by the witches and Lady Macbeth. His ambition leads to him disrupting the natural order and going down a path of immorality.

Through ambition being the cause of his downfall Shakespeare wants to teach the Jacobean audience the importance of self-restraint and controlling your ambition and leaving it up to God’s plan, which supported King James I as he was nearly assassinated by the gunpowder plot in 1605.

Guilt

Immediately after committing regicide, Macbeth becomes guilt-ridden and tragically remorseful, he’s now tormented by his own conscience and becomes surrounded by violence, darkness, and death.

As Macbeth’s ambition leads him to unescapable regret, with a punishment of mental torment, death, and damned to hell. He is no longer able to enjoy the life he sacrificed his soul for. With this portrayal of guilt Shakespeare illustrates how no crime/sin can go unpunished and no one can cope with the guilt our conscience/inner voice of God creates.

Violence & Conflict

The play Macbeth includes a lot of violence and conflict, both internal and external.

• free will vs fate - Macbeth vs Witches prophecies

• good vs evil - Macbeth’s tyranny vs Duncan

• supernatural vs natural - Witches vs God

• appearance vs reality - Macbeths’ deceit

Violence itself is largely associated with masculinity, to combat allegations of femininity Macbeth responds with violence and brutality. He tries to repress feelings of doubt in fear of appearing weak or feminine.

Furthermore, cruelty and violence are linked with masculine ideals of honour and bravery. Jacobean stereotypes would present men as noble and strong leaders, but Macbeth interprets this as bloodlust. Perhaps Shakespeare is implying that ideals of bravery and honour are used to disguise injustice.

In addition, Shakespeare demonstrates how violence and bloodshed are used by Macbeth to maintain his tyrannical rule, causing Scotland to be diseased. While with King Duncan it was well nurtured.