Macbeth
Gazing afar the galaxy of poets, none shines
as brightly as William Shakespeare. His
ingenious depiction of
characters, uncanny medley of vocabulary, and use of rhetorical
devices was
unprecedented. Shakespeare, in the play Macbeth,
examines the
psychological aspect of
crime. He puts forth an interesting notion – that one could be
easily shocked by crimes
which appear abruptly in their full magnitude, but alleviated by
the stratagem of
self-deceit, one could be negligent of the gradual growth of one’s own
wickedness as a
consequence, which ultimately triggers more crimes. As Macbeth kills
Duncan, Banquo, and
Macduff’s family, he undergoes a subtle change in character, and
ultimately becomes the
tyrannical ruler portrayed in the end.
Following the atrocious act of murdering Duncan, Macbeth, though engulfed by guilt,
immediately contemplates
yet another crime. A major distinction can be seen between the
first and second great
crime pertaining Macbeth’s judgment. Prior to the murder of
Duncan, a virtuous
Macbeth shows reluctance towards temptation and sees the witches’
prophesy as merely a
daunting yet inevitable burden. It is not through Lady Macbeth’s
persistent instigation
when he finally takes up the dagger. Afterwards, the last vestige of a
righteous Macbeth has
already begun to fade away, and in its place, an avaricious and
selfish criminal.
Notably, he says to the murderers, “So he is mine; and in such bloody
distance that every
minute of his being thrusts against my near’st of life” (3.1.115-117),
meaning that every
minute of Banquo’s existence eats away at his heart. His revulsion
towards Banquo is
emphasized by the hyperbole which demonstrates that he would
secure his crown at the
cost of betrayal. Moreover, Macbeth quotes, “Come, seeling night,
scarf up the tender eye
of pitiful day and with thy bloody and invisible hand cancel and
tear to pieces that
great bond which keeps me pale. […] Good things of day begin to
droop and drowse; […]
Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill” (3.2.46-55). In
contrast to the first
great crime, Macbeth has taken the role as the conspirer of murder.
The apostrophe used in
addressing night shows that Macbeth is seeking the assistance of
darkness to conceal his
future crimes. “Great bond” refers to Banquo’s lineage of kings,
which Macbeth hopes to
avert through the Fleance’s death. In doing so, Macbeth is
willing to let his “good
things of day”, which metaphorically represent his conscience,
“droop and drowse”,
which shows his intention to clear any remnants of goodness. The
last phrase translates
into “bad deeds force you to commit more bad deeds”. Since
Macbeth has gained power
through violence, he needs to retain it the same way. Crime
has breached Macbeth’s
mind which led him to his second great crime.
When Banquo is killed, Macbeth becomes even more reckless in his path to
tyranny. Macbeth quotes,
as he decides to revisit the witches, “I am in blood, stepped in
so far that, should I
wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er” (3.4.135–137).
The vivid imagery of
blood emphasizes his burden of bad deeds and the impossibility of
atonement, which pushes
him to commit more crimes. Furthermore, Macbeth becomes
outraged in hearing
about Macduff’s desertion, and says,
Time, thou
anticipat’st my dread exploits. The flighty purpose never is o’ertook unless
the deed go with it […] I’ll raid Macduff’s castle, seize the town of Fife, and
kill his wife, his children, […] No boasting like a fool. This deed I’ll do
before this purpose cool. But no more sights” (4.1.144-156).
Even
more so than before, he refrains from evaluating the consequences and purpose
of
his
actions, as suggested by “This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool”. His mind
has
now
deteriorated to the point that he is consciously forcing himself to be
arbitrary and
brutal,
and to act upon his whim. He ceases to be scrupulous and discreet and makes no
attempt
in concealing his intention of murdering Macduff’s family. Moreover, he
mentions
that he wants no more hallucinations, through which one can imply that he
determines
to feel no more guilt from his actions, which also reflects a drastic change in
character.
In conclusion, Macbeth’s sinister personality becomes even more apparent
after
the death of Banquo.
During Macbeth’s final hours, when he becomes acquainted with iniquity, he goes
through
a thorough transformation into the obnoxious tyrant. He reprimands the servant,
“Go,
prick they face and over-red they fear, thou lily-livered boy. […] Death of thy
soul!
Those
linen cheeks of thine are counselers to fear. What soldiers, they-face?”
(5.3.14-17).
Through
the use of cacophony – “lily-livered”, “death” and “they-face”, one sees
Macbeth’s
strong detest against the hapless servant who is devoid of guilt. Macbeth has
always
used hypocrisy to conceal his vulgarity, which ceases to be the case. Partially
due
to
the witches’ prophesies, but more so due to the immensity of his crimes that
weighs
heavy
upon him, Macbeth has become heedless and arrogant, which is amalgamated with
a
vague sense of fear. Moreover, Macbeth refuses to be further informed with news
of the
rebellion
and says, “Then fly, false thanes, and mingle with the English epicures”
(5.3.7-
10).
The metaphor of “epicures” - A person devoted to luxurious living - is used to
show
his disdain towards the rebels. Macbeth has
also abandoned the value of loyalty, as he is
oblivious
to his dwindling subjects. This clearly demonstrates Macbeth’s tyranny, for, in
the
face of an invasion, he cares no more for the safety of his country, or that of
his
subjects.
The abuse of crime has left Macbeth corrupt, and brings about his demise.
Crime has always been the instigator of corruption. Macbeth becomes a victim of the
insidious
poison of crime after the murder of Duncan, which deteriorates him even more
so
after the death of Banquo, and leaves him in a malicious cycle of crimes.
However,
crime
is not a death sentence. No
matter how far one is down the path of crime,
redemption
is only a benevolent thought away.
Word
Count: 1000.