Analysis of Macbeth :: Macbeth William Shakespeare Plays Essays

Analysis of Macbeth Macbeth is a character of powerful contradictions. He is a man who, for the sake of his ambition, is uncoerced to murder his king and his exceed friend. At the same time, he has a conscience that is so strong that just the thought of his nuisances tor ments him. In fact, yet before he commits his crimes the thought of them makes him miserable. Is Macbeth a horrible monster or is he a sensitive man- a victim of witches and his own ambitions? Or is he both? If he is both, how can the two sides of his nature be side by side? To answer those questions, lets first look at what he does. Then we will look at how he feels rough what he does. In the play, of course, the two go together. His actions are monstrous. If Macbeth were a deplorable brought to trial, the list of the charges against him would be long 1.He murders his king, who is also a relative. The crime is treasonous and sacrilegious, since every king is set on his throne by God. Macbeths guilt is eve n blacker because the King was his guest at the time of the murder. A host has responsibility to protect his guest. 2.He hires men to kill his best friend, Banquo. He wants the men to kill Banquos young son, Fleance, too, unless Fleance escapes. 3.He sends men to kill Macduffs wife and children. 4.Having taken the crown by murder, he keeps it by deception. He plants spies in all the nobles homes and spreads lies about Malcolm, who should rightfully inherit the throne. 5. more than crimes are referred to but not specified. Macbeth rules by terror, since he does not deserve- or ingest- anybodys loyalty. Describing Scotland under Macbeths rule, Macduff says, Each refreshing morn / New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows / Strike heaven on the face... (Act IV, Scene iii, lines 4-6). So Macbeth does horrible things, but that is not the whole story. Macbeth is different from some of Shakespeares other villains like Iago (in Othello) and Richard III. The last mentioned enjoy doing evil they have renounced what we think of as normal morality and morality. Macbeths feelings are more complicated. In the beginning of the play, at least, he appears to have a conscience that tells him what hes doing is wrong.