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 willing to murder his king and his stovepipe friend. At the same time, he has a conscience that is so strong that just the thought of his discourtesys torments him. In fact, even 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 both sides of his nature exist side by side? To answer those questions, lets first look at what he does. Then we will look at how he feels about what he does. In the play, of course, the two go together. His actions are monstrous. If Macbeth were a criminal 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 e ven blacker because the King was his guest at the time of the murder. A legion 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, but Fleance escapes. 3.He sends men to kill Macduffs married woman 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 crimes are referred to but non specified. Macbeth rules by terror, since he does not deserve- or have- anybodys loyalty. Describing Scotland under Macbeths rule, Macduff says, Each new morn / New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows / Strike heaven on the face... (Act IV, dig 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 latter enjoy doing evil they have renounced what we think of as normal ethics 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.