Macbeth - Monster or Not?
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- Category: English: Shakespeare
- Date Submitted: 08/06/2010 08:43 PM
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Macbeth ~ Monster or Not?
I believe that Macbeth is not a complete monster, but shows both evil monster-like qualities as well as human qualities.
Not a monster:
There are several qualities Macbeth displays during the play to suggest that he is not a monster. Firstly at the beginning Macbeth is an honourable and brave war general. He is a good man and he knows his place in society. He is very gracious when awarded by King Duncan and receives his praise in a modest way. Macbeth is deeply troubled by the witches when they tell him his prophecy. Also when Lady Macbeth tries to persuade him into killing Duncan, Macbeth refuses at first as he is content with the position he has earned already. This shows that he was actually a good person inside. After he murders Duncan, he feels very guilty. “To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself.” Act II, Scene II. This shows that he is not a complete monster as he can feel guilt for what he did. Though Lady Macbeth and Macbeth do not show much love between each other as the play progresses, Macbeth still mourns Lady Macbeth’s tragic death. This again shows that he is still a human and can feel these emotions. These are reasons that show he is not a complete monster.
A monster:
Again there are several qualities in Macbeth’s personality to show that he is indeed a monster. Firstly Macbeth hires assassins to kill Banquo and his son Fleance not long after hearing the witches’ prophecy. His ambitions consume him making him succumb to his wife’s goading to kill the king. He is starting to become like a monster. Also as the play progresses we see that he is becoming more like a tyrant, as this goes on he becomes more uncaring of other people and only think of his own problems. It comes as a surprise that he does mourn Lady Macbeth’s death. Another powerful scene that shows that Macbeth is a monster is when he gives orders to slaughter Macduff’s wife, children and servants. He is showing great cruelty and monstrosity here...
I believe that Macbeth is not a complete monster, but shows both evil monster-like qualities as well as human qualities.
Not a monster:
There are several qualities Macbeth displays during the play to suggest that he is not a monster. Firstly at the beginning Macbeth is an honourable and brave war general. He is a good man and he knows his place in society. He is very gracious when awarded by King Duncan and receives his praise in a modest way. Macbeth is deeply troubled by the witches when they tell him his prophecy. Also when Lady Macbeth tries to persuade him into killing Duncan, Macbeth refuses at first as he is content with the position he has earned already. This shows that he was actually a good person inside. After he murders Duncan, he feels very guilty. “To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself.” Act II, Scene II. This shows that he is not a complete monster as he can feel guilt for what he did. Though Lady Macbeth and Macbeth do not show much love between each other as the play progresses, Macbeth still mourns Lady Macbeth’s tragic death. This again shows that he is still a human and can feel these emotions. These are reasons that show he is not a complete monster.
A monster:
Again there are several qualities in Macbeth’s personality to show that he is indeed a monster. Firstly Macbeth hires assassins to kill Banquo and his son Fleance not long after hearing the witches’ prophecy. His ambitions consume him making him succumb to his wife’s goading to kill the king. He is starting to become like a monster. Also as the play progresses we see that he is becoming more like a tyrant, as this goes on he becomes more uncaring of other people and only think of his own problems. It comes as a surprise that he does mourn Lady Macbeth’s death. Another powerful scene that shows that Macbeth is a monster is when he gives orders to slaughter Macduff’s wife, children and servants. He is showing great cruelty and monstrosity here...