Shakespeare’s Macbeth shows us a good man with a pure heart who after committing great evil suffers from all he has lost. He suffers the loss of his wife and the close bond they had. He suffers the loss of the respect, companionship and loyalty of his friends and followers. He suffers dearly with the guilt and shame. He feels horrible, having killed a good and loved king.
Macbeth who at the start of the play was a loyal and noble thane acquired a thirst for power which led him down the path of evil. The suffering Macbeth goes through suggests he is a moral man, who knows that he had done great wrong.
After Macbeth murdered King Duncan his suffering began. Macbeth was a loyal servant of the king. We saw this when he was highly praised and highly regarded by Duncan. After murdering Duncan, Macbeth felt guilt and shame above all other feelings. As soon as Macbeth murdered King Duncan he wished he could turn back time and return to a time before this terrible act of treason.
A result of feeling guilty after the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth suffered from horrible nightmares which caused Macbeth great anguish. Before Duncan was even murdered Macbeth was having evil thoughts and desires about having the crown. He calls these desires ‘black and deep’. He knows they are evil but wants the crown. He wonders if there is a way he can ‘jump the life to come’ or avoid the price of his evil acts. After the murder Macbeth realises that he has done the devils work and the understanding that he will go to hell, almost makes Macbeth crazy.
Rather than being a man who could control himself and others he becomes a man who is always talking to himself and trying to reason with himself to stay calm. Always afraid of being discovered he doubts his followers’ actions and loyalty. Macbeth used to be full of courage, but he becomes full of fear and realises he has to kill others if he is going to avoid being caught. Macbeth knows he has to kill his once great friend Banquo as Banquo knows of Macbeth’s ambitions. Macbeth sends people to murder Banquo and even his innocent young son Fleance, as Macbeth believes the witches who tell him that Fleance will take his crown at some time.
Throughout the play Macbeth wears the crown, but suffers knowing that the crown is not rightfully his. As soon as he has the crown he can see that if it is not worth having. Rather than a ‘hollow round’, he wishes he had his peace of mind. He decides, despite that, to continue to defend himself, to protect himself from thanes who might accuse him. Macbeth says that it is as much an effort to go back as it is to continue.
As Macbeth continues his bloody reign he loses everything he ever valued. He loses desire to stay King he calls the throne ‘merely a stool’. He loses the respect and love of people who hold him in high regard Macbeth knows the thanes laugh at him as a ‘dwarfish thief’. Macbeth feels shattered and almost loses the will to live. Macbeth taunts death by saying to death ‘let death be-all and end-all’ Macbeth seems to lose the will to live. Every new day is ‘tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow’. Life has lost all meaning.
The great regret Macbeth feels stems from the fact that he was a good man. He knew the difference between good and evil and he knew the shame he had brought on himself. After the murder of Banquo, Macbeth sees a ghostly image of his bloody dead friend. Banquo shakes his head at Macbeth as if to say you have sinned greatly. Macbeth knows Banquo is dead so he knows this is the work of his own mind. Macbeth was once a man of enormous courage, but know is frightened of an empty seat. Once Macbeth was afraid of no-one, but now his guilty heart makes him afraid of everyone. Even though the thanes are afraid to publicly accuse him of the evil they know he has committed. Macbeth’s own guilty conscience says the words they are afraid to say. Only a man who could clearly see a difference between good and evil could feel as guilty as Macbeth does.
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth we are asked to see Macbeth as a good and even great man, but what makes this a tragedy is that this great man is greatly flawed. Macbeth suffers from great ambition and great greed. To realise his dreams he does great evil and suffers greatly through his own intense realisation of his own guilt. We also see Macbeth crumble under the weight of his own accusations. Macbeth loses his self respect and the respect of others. He loses everything he valued and eventually he loses his head and the crown that sat on top of it.
Mark Tognolini 11B
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
YOUNAN
Macbeth is a good man who suffers a great ordeal when he turns to the dark side. In the beginning, Macbeth has a peaceful soul but once he decided to turn evil we see his soul suffer and his life descend into chaos. King Duncan’s murder is always on Macbeth’s mind and the pain of guilt of his treason, his killing of a good man and kinsman is continually with him. Macbeth suffers from nightmares every time he sleeps. The evil of his acts cannot be put aside. This great sense of guilt suggests Macbeth is a good man. He sees the ghosts of people he has killed because he knows he has done unimaginable evil. If Macbeth was a bad man he would have killed without another thought. Macbeth knows the difference between good and evil and it precisely because of this that he suffers.
Banquo’s murder drives Macbeth to the point of insanity. The death of Banquo further burdens Macbeth who feels already the great guilt of his killing of his king. Banquo was more than another nobleman. He was a friend and a comrade in arms. We see Banquo speak highly of Macbeth. Despite this great bond, Macbeth sets murderers on Banquo having ordered his death, Macbeth suffers enormously. We see this happen when Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo. Macbeth’s reaction tells us that he is burdened by the deaths of those he’s killed.
The thought of the killings he has ordered, the thought of his victims’ innocence lead Macbeth to seeing ghosts. This suggests that the evil act that Macbeth has performed has made him suffer greatly. Macbeth was once a good man. He was a man much admired and greatly loved and trusted. He was a man never haunted by horrible imaginings. Now, having acted immorally and because he knows the difference between good and evil, he feels powerfully the guilt of these most horrible murders. Macbeth is driven to the point of seeing ghosts rise from the grave and accuse him with the shaking of “gory locks”.
The nightmarish images stirred up by Duncan’s murder have a great effect on Macbeth’s life. Macbeth continually sees images. Always in Macbeth’s thoughts they stop him sleeping and resting. Just after Macbeth had killed King Duncan we hear him say “Wake Duncan with thy knocking.” These words seem to suggest that he almost wishes Duncan was alive. If he could, Macbeth could turn back time and undo his actions. Macbeth clearly regrets his actions and suffers from this guilt and this guilt threatens to destroy him. Being a good man who performs evil, Macbeth is led into depression and isolation. He cannot trust anyone. He cannot discuss his fears with anyone. He draws away from everyone including his beloved wife and confidant Lady. Macbeth, trying to keep her “innocent of knowledge” he has of all the evil he has unleashed.
For Macbeth sleep is like torture. Macbeth is unable to sleep peacefully without the shouts of his murdered victims keeping him awake. For him, sleep can’t “knit up the ravelled sleeve of time.” He is unable to wake up rested. His victims, those he murdered, are continually wandering through his mind making sleep impossible for Macbeth. Sleep tortures his guilty soul. He feels he is tortured like a bear tied to the stake. Instead of feeling powerful, he feels under threat.
Macbeth turns for some hope to the creatures of the dark. He turns to the witches for help. Once Macbeth heard the prophecy that he would become King he was in their power. When these evil creatures disappear, instead of being grateful he calls them to “come back”. Macbeth lets the prophecies of the creatures of darkness guide his acts and help him to become King. He joins the creatures of the dark relying on their dark prophecies. He calls them “worst means” and so he knows he is losing his soul by going over to them. Despite that Macbeth allows greed and ambition to rule him. He knows the difference between good and evil, and knows he will go to hell. Despite everything he continues.
Macbeth is a good man, a noble man whose loyalty and courage was much admired. He was a good man who gave himself over evil when greed and ambition overwhelmed him. He suffers terribly once he murders and betrays. The re-appearing images of his victims torture his mind and take over his every thought. His ghostly victims are the product of his moral conscience, and they haunt him both day and night. It is because he is a good man that he suffers so much from the evil he does.
Banquo’s murder drives Macbeth to the point of insanity. The death of Banquo further burdens Macbeth who feels already the great guilt of his killing of his king. Banquo was more than another nobleman. He was a friend and a comrade in arms. We see Banquo speak highly of Macbeth. Despite this great bond, Macbeth sets murderers on Banquo having ordered his death, Macbeth suffers enormously. We see this happen when Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo. Macbeth’s reaction tells us that he is burdened by the deaths of those he’s killed.
The thought of the killings he has ordered, the thought of his victims’ innocence lead Macbeth to seeing ghosts. This suggests that the evil act that Macbeth has performed has made him suffer greatly. Macbeth was once a good man. He was a man much admired and greatly loved and trusted. He was a man never haunted by horrible imaginings. Now, having acted immorally and because he knows the difference between good and evil, he feels powerfully the guilt of these most horrible murders. Macbeth is driven to the point of seeing ghosts rise from the grave and accuse him with the shaking of “gory locks”.
The nightmarish images stirred up by Duncan’s murder have a great effect on Macbeth’s life. Macbeth continually sees images. Always in Macbeth’s thoughts they stop him sleeping and resting. Just after Macbeth had killed King Duncan we hear him say “Wake Duncan with thy knocking.” These words seem to suggest that he almost wishes Duncan was alive. If he could, Macbeth could turn back time and undo his actions. Macbeth clearly regrets his actions and suffers from this guilt and this guilt threatens to destroy him. Being a good man who performs evil, Macbeth is led into depression and isolation. He cannot trust anyone. He cannot discuss his fears with anyone. He draws away from everyone including his beloved wife and confidant Lady. Macbeth, trying to keep her “innocent of knowledge” he has of all the evil he has unleashed.
For Macbeth sleep is like torture. Macbeth is unable to sleep peacefully without the shouts of his murdered victims keeping him awake. For him, sleep can’t “knit up the ravelled sleeve of time.” He is unable to wake up rested. His victims, those he murdered, are continually wandering through his mind making sleep impossible for Macbeth. Sleep tortures his guilty soul. He feels he is tortured like a bear tied to the stake. Instead of feeling powerful, he feels under threat.
Macbeth turns for some hope to the creatures of the dark. He turns to the witches for help. Once Macbeth heard the prophecy that he would become King he was in their power. When these evil creatures disappear, instead of being grateful he calls them to “come back”. Macbeth lets the prophecies of the creatures of darkness guide his acts and help him to become King. He joins the creatures of the dark relying on their dark prophecies. He calls them “worst means” and so he knows he is losing his soul by going over to them. Despite that Macbeth allows greed and ambition to rule him. He knows the difference between good and evil, and knows he will go to hell. Despite everything he continues.
Macbeth is a good man, a noble man whose loyalty and courage was much admired. He was a good man who gave himself over evil when greed and ambition overwhelmed him. He suffers terribly once he murders and betrays. The re-appearing images of his victims torture his mind and take over his every thought. His ghostly victims are the product of his moral conscience, and they haunt him both day and night. It is because he is a good man that he suffers so much from the evil he does.
KARIM
Shakespeare’s Macbeth is about Macbeth’s fall from grace. He was a great soldier and fought for his King well. He earned great respect from everyone for his life of courage and loyalty. Macbeth and King Duncan were great friends they were practically family. On the battlefield they were ‘brothers’. In other words they were great supportive allies. But Macbeth was an ambitious man and when his ambitions were thwarted, he allowed evil to enter his heart and mind.
The witches seeming to sense the potential for evil in Macbeth told him they had great prophecy for him. They told him in the future he would be crowned king of Scotland. This prophecy got Macbeth thinking and worse, planning. Greed and ambition swept aside all his good qualities. His loyalty to his king was forgotten as Macbeth began to think of how he could make this prophecy quickly come true. When King Duncan gave Malcolm the right to succeed him to the throne, Macbeth was greatly displeased with the decision. This became the spur to his plans for the murder of the king.
When King Duncan told Macbeth that he would show his gratitude by visiting his castle, Macbeth quickly left and rode back to his castle to plan his response. Macbeth was not that happy that the king had decided that his weak son Malcolm would be the next king. He was also thinking about the prophecy the witches had given him. When he got to the castle Macbeth told his wife (Lady Macbeth) that the king was coming to the castle to celebrate. Then he told her the witches’ prophecy. Lady Macbeth had her own little evil plans. She says to Macbeth “what if the king never leaves”. In other words she plans to assassinate, murder the king. Macbeth doesn’t like the sound of the idea even though he kept thinking about it. Macbeth is more moral than Lady Macbeth. He is tempted, but can’t bring himself to do the things he knows to be wrong.
At the celebration feast the king is feasting but Macbeth is outside thinking about the idea of killing King Duncan. His conscience makes him try to bail out but a furious Lady Macbeth tells him that he is not a ma. She says she would even grab her own son and smash his brains out rather than back away from a promise she had made to Macbeth. Macbeth listens to the voice of temptation. In a room by him self he sees the dagger leading him to kill the king. He decided to do evil when he orders the dagger to come into his hand.
Macbeth is finally crowned king but he is never the same man. He feels so guilty that he is haunted by the evil he had done. If he was a good man because he wouldn’t care about the murders, but because he knows the difference between good and evil, he is tortured by his guilt.
The witches seeming to sense the potential for evil in Macbeth told him they had great prophecy for him. They told him in the future he would be crowned king of Scotland. This prophecy got Macbeth thinking and worse, planning. Greed and ambition swept aside all his good qualities. His loyalty to his king was forgotten as Macbeth began to think of how he could make this prophecy quickly come true. When King Duncan gave Malcolm the right to succeed him to the throne, Macbeth was greatly displeased with the decision. This became the spur to his plans for the murder of the king.
When King Duncan told Macbeth that he would show his gratitude by visiting his castle, Macbeth quickly left and rode back to his castle to plan his response. Macbeth was not that happy that the king had decided that his weak son Malcolm would be the next king. He was also thinking about the prophecy the witches had given him. When he got to the castle Macbeth told his wife (Lady Macbeth) that the king was coming to the castle to celebrate. Then he told her the witches’ prophecy. Lady Macbeth had her own little evil plans. She says to Macbeth “what if the king never leaves”. In other words she plans to assassinate, murder the king. Macbeth doesn’t like the sound of the idea even though he kept thinking about it. Macbeth is more moral than Lady Macbeth. He is tempted, but can’t bring himself to do the things he knows to be wrong.
At the celebration feast the king is feasting but Macbeth is outside thinking about the idea of killing King Duncan. His conscience makes him try to bail out but a furious Lady Macbeth tells him that he is not a ma. She says she would even grab her own son and smash his brains out rather than back away from a promise she had made to Macbeth. Macbeth listens to the voice of temptation. In a room by him self he sees the dagger leading him to kill the king. He decided to do evil when he orders the dagger to come into his hand.
Macbeth is finally crowned king but he is never the same man. He feels so guilty that he is haunted by the evil he had done. If he was a good man because he wouldn’t care about the murders, but because he knows the difference between good and evil, he is tortured by his guilt.
GIUSEPPE
Even though Macbeth has killed many people and done much evil he has the instincts of a man who knows right from wrong and as a result, suffers greatly. His evil actions kill his ability to have peaceful sleep and instead nightmares fill his mind.
As soon as the vile murder of Duncan is committed, we see Macbeth regrets his actions. Having murdered the king he rushes to Lady Macbeth and tells her he is horrified by what he has done. As he does so he is disturbed by a knock at the castle door. On hearing that knocking he says he wishes that knocking could wake Duncan. He wishes he had never committed the gross murder. He wishes that Duncan could be alive to hear the pounding at the door. After Macbeth has killed Duncan he cannot go back in the room as he is frightened of what he has done. He is frightened of the consequences. He knows that he is doomed to hell for what he has done. His fear shows that he really understands what is right and what is wrong, but at the same time he knows that he has to try cover up the crime or he will suffer the same fate as the traitor Macdonald.
Guilt is the reason why Macbeth orders Banquo to be killed. Macbeth knows that Banquo is too good a man to keep quiet about Macbeth’s ambitions. Macbeth knows that if Banquo speaks everything will be exposed. Then his next great sin the murder of Banquo begins to haunt him. Macbeth’s guilt makes him see Banquo’s bloody ghost accusing him of evil and sin. Macbeth knows he does great evil and he recognises he has sinned. It is because Macbeth feels guilt that he suffers greatly.
At the start of the play, before Macbeth kills so many people, he is a noble and respected man. The king calls him “valiant cousin”. Macbeth is a good man loved by all the other thanes. During the battle Macbeth killed many of his king’s enemies. In reward of his loyalty, King Duncan gave Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor, but knowing that he will never be king drives Macbeth to do so much evil.
After Macbeth kills King Duncan we see how regretful he is from how much he suffers. From that day onwards Macbeth never gets any sleep or has any peace. Even while Macbeth is sitting down in the safety of his castle and amongst friends, he has flashes of the bloody murder he has committed. When he does get his couple hours of sleep he isn’t in peace, as nightmares snake into his mind to make him re-live Duncan’s bloody and cruel murder. These are the nightmares of a man who knows good from evil.
We see how greatly Macbeth suffers after the evil actions he uses to get the titles, power and acknowledgement he yearns for. After he kills Duncan, Lady Macbeth tells him to go put the daggers back in the room where Duncan’s bloody body lies. Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that he can’t go back in there because he is scared to see what horrible murder he has committed. We see how regretful he is because even though he found a way to kill his own king, he can’t go back to the crime scene. It’s the same guilt we see, and the same suffering from the evil he has done, when Macbeth orders for Banquo to be killed. He orders Banquo to be killed because Banquo is an honest man who will turn against Macbeth if he finds out what evil Macbeth has done. When Macbeth is asked to sit down with the other thanes at the table he sees Banquos bloody ghost. That ghost is the image of his guilt and horror.
At the end of the play Macbeth shows courage and some of the never-say-never attitude that once earned him great honours and respect. All the thanes and soldiers have come for Macbeth’s head. All his friends have run away and have fled. Macbeth does not beg for mercy. He stands there ready to accept his fate.
Macbeth kills many innocent people, his best friend and his own king and in doing all this evil we see him suffer greatly throughout the play. After he kills Macbeth he does not get one minute of sleep or peace. Macbeth suffers greatly because he is a moral man who was tempted to do great evil.
By Giuseppe.
As soon as the vile murder of Duncan is committed, we see Macbeth regrets his actions. Having murdered the king he rushes to Lady Macbeth and tells her he is horrified by what he has done. As he does so he is disturbed by a knock at the castle door. On hearing that knocking he says he wishes that knocking could wake Duncan. He wishes he had never committed the gross murder. He wishes that Duncan could be alive to hear the pounding at the door. After Macbeth has killed Duncan he cannot go back in the room as he is frightened of what he has done. He is frightened of the consequences. He knows that he is doomed to hell for what he has done. His fear shows that he really understands what is right and what is wrong, but at the same time he knows that he has to try cover up the crime or he will suffer the same fate as the traitor Macdonald.
Guilt is the reason why Macbeth orders Banquo to be killed. Macbeth knows that Banquo is too good a man to keep quiet about Macbeth’s ambitions. Macbeth knows that if Banquo speaks everything will be exposed. Then his next great sin the murder of Banquo begins to haunt him. Macbeth’s guilt makes him see Banquo’s bloody ghost accusing him of evil and sin. Macbeth knows he does great evil and he recognises he has sinned. It is because Macbeth feels guilt that he suffers greatly.
At the start of the play, before Macbeth kills so many people, he is a noble and respected man. The king calls him “valiant cousin”. Macbeth is a good man loved by all the other thanes. During the battle Macbeth killed many of his king’s enemies. In reward of his loyalty, King Duncan gave Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor, but knowing that he will never be king drives Macbeth to do so much evil.
After Macbeth kills King Duncan we see how regretful he is from how much he suffers. From that day onwards Macbeth never gets any sleep or has any peace. Even while Macbeth is sitting down in the safety of his castle and amongst friends, he has flashes of the bloody murder he has committed. When he does get his couple hours of sleep he isn’t in peace, as nightmares snake into his mind to make him re-live Duncan’s bloody and cruel murder. These are the nightmares of a man who knows good from evil.
We see how greatly Macbeth suffers after the evil actions he uses to get the titles, power and acknowledgement he yearns for. After he kills Duncan, Lady Macbeth tells him to go put the daggers back in the room where Duncan’s bloody body lies. Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that he can’t go back in there because he is scared to see what horrible murder he has committed. We see how regretful he is because even though he found a way to kill his own king, he can’t go back to the crime scene. It’s the same guilt we see, and the same suffering from the evil he has done, when Macbeth orders for Banquo to be killed. He orders Banquo to be killed because Banquo is an honest man who will turn against Macbeth if he finds out what evil Macbeth has done. When Macbeth is asked to sit down with the other thanes at the table he sees Banquos bloody ghost. That ghost is the image of his guilt and horror.
At the end of the play Macbeth shows courage and some of the never-say-never attitude that once earned him great honours and respect. All the thanes and soldiers have come for Macbeth’s head. All his friends have run away and have fled. Macbeth does not beg for mercy. He stands there ready to accept his fate.
Macbeth kills many innocent people, his best friend and his own king and in doing all this evil we see him suffer greatly throughout the play. After he kills Macbeth he does not get one minute of sleep or peace. Macbeth suffers greatly because he is a moral man who was tempted to do great evil.
By Giuseppe.
CAYLIN
Shakespeare’s play Macbeth is an interesting tale of greed, ambition and malice. An evil man does many horrible and evil things just to become king. All his peers believe he is a good man and have much respect for him. They don’t think he could be capable of such horrific actions. Everyone is blinded by what they believe is his courage and loyalty and don’t see that Macbeth had always harboured ambitions that could not be satisfied by legitimate means. Macbeth does great evil and his actions cause him great suffering, but this does not make him a good man. Knowing what the personal, emotional and moral consequences of his actions were, he should have stopped himself. Instead, Macbeth continued down the path of evil on his way to “greatness” and by doing so deserved all the suffering he finally endured. Macbeth was an evil man who well understood the evil nature of his actions.
Macbeth was never a “good” man. At the beginning of the play many people heaped accolades on him, calling him “valiant cousin” or “worthy gentleman” but he was never these things. Macbeth was always an evil man. He managed to camouflage his evil from everyone else, displaying what many people thought of as courage, nobility and loyalty. The truth is Macbeth always harboured evil. These good impressions people had of him were just masks he’d created to hide the truly hideous thoughts that were really going through his mind. You see Macbeth’s evil when he had his first encounter with the witches. The witches give him three predictions. He would be “Thane of Glamis”, “Thane of Cawdor”, “and then King hereafter”. Instead of being surprised by this he was pleased and less than surprised. He appeared to have wanted such honours for some time. Macbeth’s response to these predictions proves how evil he was. The witches told him great things were waiting for him. However, the witches never told him he’d have to use evil to get them. If these glories were truly meant for him, nature would have found a way to make sure he came by them “without his stir”. Instead Macbeth immediately decided to kill the King. This murder was not an action he had to undertake. He was not destined to become murderer of the King. It was his choice to take the “fastest way”. Choosing this action, he had to accept everything that came with it. He gained the superficial things like titles and power but he knew the real legacy of his actions was the guilt, pain and the loss of his peace of mind. He knew he would lose his “eternal jewel”. A greedy and impatient man, Macbeth chose this future and his punishment.
Macbeth, as evil a man as he is, does suffer greatly. He does appear to feel guilty about the murders but this is not proof that he is a good man. If he truly felt that much guilt after one murder he wouldn’t have kept killing. Macbeth was not so naïve as to think he wouldn’t feel these horrible reminders of his guilt after each murder. Like a serial murderer, who has no conscience about the lives he ends, right to the end he kept killing.
Macbeth lost a lot of things once he became a murderer. He lost his wife, his most important supporter. She truly felt remorseful about the killings, so much so that she couldn’t live with the memory of her evil actions any longer. After the initial murder of King Duncan, the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth was shattered. They barely spoke to each other. They did not confide in each other as they had once done. At the start she was his soulmate. In the end he no longer shared his plans with her to protect her from the ill thoughts. Macbeth drove Lady Macbeth to insanity. Macbeth himself was affected by those ill thoughts. He had a lot of trouble sleeping as a result of his guilt. After he murdered King Duncan, Macbeth knew he had lost sleep for eternity.
A lot of Macbeth’s suffering though was due to his fear of getting caught. He became so fearful of everyone around him. No-one was safe anymore. If Macbeth thought someone suspected him or doubted him for a second, he killed them. If he couldn’t kill the one he feared, as was the case with Macduff, he killed their families, servants, anyone they cared about. Macbeth did suffer greatly with the loss of his wife and the loss of their very close and intimate relationship, with the fear and paranoia he felt, and with the loss of people’s respect. He lost much and suffered much but he deserved the suffering he endured.
Macbeth does do many evil things and he does suffer greatly as a result. He chooses the path of evil every time he is faced with a choice. He could have chosen between listening to the witches or walking away and ignoring them. He chose to listen to them and to give himself over to the temptation of their evil. He was given the choice between killing King Duncan or waiting and letting time bring him the rewards he earned. Instead, he chose to kill Duncan. He was then presented with the option to keep killing innocent people, people like Banquo, the guards, Macduff’s family, and many more, or to stop once he had discovered how horrible and immoral an act it was to kill innocents. Despite this he chose to keep killing. He chose to lose everything that had once mattered to him. He chose to continue killing people. He chose his path to ruin. His was not the suffering of a good man; it was the suffering of an evil man that was trying hard not to get caught.
There is no question that Macbeth suffered. Did he suffer though because he was a good man, who was trying to come to terms with a few wrong choices? Did he suffer because he was an evil man and he couldn’t stop his hunger for power? Many times he proves he is not a good man. A good man would not continue doing what he knows is wrong. Anyone can understand the difference between right and wrong but that understanding is not a sign of goodness. A good man may turn to wrong once but always comes back to what is right. An evil man ignores what is right and chooses wrong every time. Macbeth was not a good man. He was evil from the start, and his suffering was deserved. He killed kinsmen and the King himself. He killed innocent and guilty with impunity. He was a man drenched in blood and who knew nothing of love, but everything of greed. Macbeth knew the difference between right and wrong, and still did great wrong. He is, by the end of the play, not so much a man as a “butcher”.
Macbeth was never a “good” man. At the beginning of the play many people heaped accolades on him, calling him “valiant cousin” or “worthy gentleman” but he was never these things. Macbeth was always an evil man. He managed to camouflage his evil from everyone else, displaying what many people thought of as courage, nobility and loyalty. The truth is Macbeth always harboured evil. These good impressions people had of him were just masks he’d created to hide the truly hideous thoughts that were really going through his mind. You see Macbeth’s evil when he had his first encounter with the witches. The witches give him three predictions. He would be “Thane of Glamis”, “Thane of Cawdor”, “and then King hereafter”. Instead of being surprised by this he was pleased and less than surprised. He appeared to have wanted such honours for some time. Macbeth’s response to these predictions proves how evil he was. The witches told him great things were waiting for him. However, the witches never told him he’d have to use evil to get them. If these glories were truly meant for him, nature would have found a way to make sure he came by them “without his stir”. Instead Macbeth immediately decided to kill the King. This murder was not an action he had to undertake. He was not destined to become murderer of the King. It was his choice to take the “fastest way”. Choosing this action, he had to accept everything that came with it. He gained the superficial things like titles and power but he knew the real legacy of his actions was the guilt, pain and the loss of his peace of mind. He knew he would lose his “eternal jewel”. A greedy and impatient man, Macbeth chose this future and his punishment.
Macbeth, as evil a man as he is, does suffer greatly. He does appear to feel guilty about the murders but this is not proof that he is a good man. If he truly felt that much guilt after one murder he wouldn’t have kept killing. Macbeth was not so naïve as to think he wouldn’t feel these horrible reminders of his guilt after each murder. Like a serial murderer, who has no conscience about the lives he ends, right to the end he kept killing.
Macbeth lost a lot of things once he became a murderer. He lost his wife, his most important supporter. She truly felt remorseful about the killings, so much so that she couldn’t live with the memory of her evil actions any longer. After the initial murder of King Duncan, the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth was shattered. They barely spoke to each other. They did not confide in each other as they had once done. At the start she was his soulmate. In the end he no longer shared his plans with her to protect her from the ill thoughts. Macbeth drove Lady Macbeth to insanity. Macbeth himself was affected by those ill thoughts. He had a lot of trouble sleeping as a result of his guilt. After he murdered King Duncan, Macbeth knew he had lost sleep for eternity.
A lot of Macbeth’s suffering though was due to his fear of getting caught. He became so fearful of everyone around him. No-one was safe anymore. If Macbeth thought someone suspected him or doubted him for a second, he killed them. If he couldn’t kill the one he feared, as was the case with Macduff, he killed their families, servants, anyone they cared about. Macbeth did suffer greatly with the loss of his wife and the loss of their very close and intimate relationship, with the fear and paranoia he felt, and with the loss of people’s respect. He lost much and suffered much but he deserved the suffering he endured.
Macbeth does do many evil things and he does suffer greatly as a result. He chooses the path of evil every time he is faced with a choice. He could have chosen between listening to the witches or walking away and ignoring them. He chose to listen to them and to give himself over to the temptation of their evil. He was given the choice between killing King Duncan or waiting and letting time bring him the rewards he earned. Instead, he chose to kill Duncan. He was then presented with the option to keep killing innocent people, people like Banquo, the guards, Macduff’s family, and many more, or to stop once he had discovered how horrible and immoral an act it was to kill innocents. Despite this he chose to keep killing. He chose to lose everything that had once mattered to him. He chose to continue killing people. He chose his path to ruin. His was not the suffering of a good man; it was the suffering of an evil man that was trying hard not to get caught.
There is no question that Macbeth suffered. Did he suffer though because he was a good man, who was trying to come to terms with a few wrong choices? Did he suffer because he was an evil man and he couldn’t stop his hunger for power? Many times he proves he is not a good man. A good man would not continue doing what he knows is wrong. Anyone can understand the difference between right and wrong but that understanding is not a sign of goodness. A good man may turn to wrong once but always comes back to what is right. An evil man ignores what is right and chooses wrong every time. Macbeth was not a good man. He was evil from the start, and his suffering was deserved. He killed kinsmen and the King himself. He killed innocent and guilty with impunity. He was a man drenched in blood and who knew nothing of love, but everything of greed. Macbeth knew the difference between right and wrong, and still did great wrong. He is, by the end of the play, not so much a man as a “butcher”.
ANTHONY
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, we first see Macbeth as a noble man; a man loyal to his King. He has earned respect from his King and the court and is regarded as first amongst his peers. But Macbeth falls from this highly regarded position. He commits evil acts. He kills King Duncan first, then many other innocent, good people. Macbeth continues committing evil acts, but each time Macbeth’s clear sense of what is right and wrong takes a toll on him. Though Macbeth does great evil he suffers, until he cares not whether he lives or not. He loses his “jewel”, his sense of grace and peace of mind and without this he knows that his life is worthless.
When the play opens, Macbeth is a noble, loyal man who would give his life for his King. He puts his life in great danger to save Duncan and his crown from the traitor Macdonald. Macbeth battles bravely and with honour. Macdonald had waged war against King Duncan and his kingdom and threatened Scotland’s peace. Macbeth was reported to have saved many people from capture by the enemy through his great valour. This earned him “golden opinions” from his King and other nobles. Macbeth was regarded a “worthy gentleman”; a man who should be rewarded and trusted. Macbeth was a man the King could depend on for loyalty. Macbeth is at the beginning of the play a great soldier and loyal servant to the King. His reputation for goodness and courage could not have been higher as the play opens.
A natural leader Macbeth had great ambitions and felt inadequately rewarded by his King. Macbeth knew that he could become King by use of force, but to do so would mean to break his oath of loyalty to the King. This would be an act that would condemn him to the flames of hell. Macbeth thinks often of the reasons that should prevent him from killing his King. Duncan was put on the throne by God, so if Macbeth was to kill him he would be acting against God’s will and would be doomed for all eternity to hell. Despite clearly understanding that he is acting with evil, Macbeth decides to kill Duncan. He sees a dagger floating in the air before him. The temptation is so strong that he sees the imaged actions as real. We know that he has taken the decision to act immorally when he orders the dagger to come into his hand. Macbeth’s mind is full of dark ideas. He can gain greater power and wealth. He can gain the recognition that he knows he deserves but he also knows that he will be full of sin if he does this.
Macbeth commits a gross act that most other thanes would never even think about. The Thane of Cawdor went into King Duncan’s chamber and stabbed him repeatedly. He left his King’s chamber with blood all over his clothes and hands. This is a sight that haunts him and makes him suffer enormously. His sense of guilt was so great that he feared that the King’s guards had seen him while he was committing this most ungodly act. He felt he must kill these innocent guards to keep suspicion away from him. He felt that his blood soaked hands were so guilty, they would turn the world’s oceans red and that no amount of water would be able to wash away the blood. He felt that he would be unable to remove this sin or make amends for it. Macbeth knew he would have horrific visions and thoughts for the rest of his doomed life. Macbeth committed an act that he knew would condemn him to hell.
Macbeth hopes that his gross actions will bring the matter to an end but he finds it necessary to commit more evil acts to try and protect himself. His pain is magnified by every murder he commits. Macbeth had called killing Duncan the “be all to end all” but it was not so. He finds that he must go on a murderous path if he is to escape detection. He sees his friend Banquo and his innocent son Fleance, as enemies plotting against him. Therefore he feels they must be removed from the face of the Earth, to ensure he will remain unchallenged on his throne. He sends murderers to kill Banquo and his son. They fail in killing Fleance, but succeed in killing Banquo. This throws Macbeth into a rage fuelled by fear but Macbeth’s conscience has even more punishment in store for him. Macbeth’s sense of guilt and evil makes him see visions of Banquo’s son growing up and taking the crown from Macbeth. Macbeth’s horror at the guilt of killing a good man, a close friend like Banquo, manifests itself as an illusion of Banquo’s ghost which rises from the grave to torment Macbeth’s very soul. Macbeth commits more and more evil acts in the name of self preservation and this need for self preservation springs from his sense of utter guilt.
Macbeth continues on this path until he feels his own life is so ruined, it is worthless. He keeps going but his every act digs him deeper into trouble. With every immoral act he was condemns himself further and further down into the pits of hell. He knew this and eventually he cared not if he lived or died. Macbeth had become a shell of a man, he only cared that he would die honourably in combat, so that he wouldn’t be baited and tormented like the bears caged for the people’s entertainment. Macbeth had suffered so much that to him death was a release from the misery that he had created for himself.
Macbeth does commit great evil, but for each evil act, he was tormented by his moral instincts. His good side made him suffer by showing him horrific sights and putting terrifying thoughts into his mind until he couldn’t face his life anymore. The memory of his good, noble self that was loyal to his King and God, was destroyed and this caused him more suffering than the suffering of those he hurt with his actions. Macbeth commits the most evil acts but is so tormented by his actions that he would rather die and go to hell than endure his suffering any more.
When the play opens, Macbeth is a noble, loyal man who would give his life for his King. He puts his life in great danger to save Duncan and his crown from the traitor Macdonald. Macbeth battles bravely and with honour. Macdonald had waged war against King Duncan and his kingdom and threatened Scotland’s peace. Macbeth was reported to have saved many people from capture by the enemy through his great valour. This earned him “golden opinions” from his King and other nobles. Macbeth was regarded a “worthy gentleman”; a man who should be rewarded and trusted. Macbeth was a man the King could depend on for loyalty. Macbeth is at the beginning of the play a great soldier and loyal servant to the King. His reputation for goodness and courage could not have been higher as the play opens.
A natural leader Macbeth had great ambitions and felt inadequately rewarded by his King. Macbeth knew that he could become King by use of force, but to do so would mean to break his oath of loyalty to the King. This would be an act that would condemn him to the flames of hell. Macbeth thinks often of the reasons that should prevent him from killing his King. Duncan was put on the throne by God, so if Macbeth was to kill him he would be acting against God’s will and would be doomed for all eternity to hell. Despite clearly understanding that he is acting with evil, Macbeth decides to kill Duncan. He sees a dagger floating in the air before him. The temptation is so strong that he sees the imaged actions as real. We know that he has taken the decision to act immorally when he orders the dagger to come into his hand. Macbeth’s mind is full of dark ideas. He can gain greater power and wealth. He can gain the recognition that he knows he deserves but he also knows that he will be full of sin if he does this.
Macbeth commits a gross act that most other thanes would never even think about. The Thane of Cawdor went into King Duncan’s chamber and stabbed him repeatedly. He left his King’s chamber with blood all over his clothes and hands. This is a sight that haunts him and makes him suffer enormously. His sense of guilt was so great that he feared that the King’s guards had seen him while he was committing this most ungodly act. He felt he must kill these innocent guards to keep suspicion away from him. He felt that his blood soaked hands were so guilty, they would turn the world’s oceans red and that no amount of water would be able to wash away the blood. He felt that he would be unable to remove this sin or make amends for it. Macbeth knew he would have horrific visions and thoughts for the rest of his doomed life. Macbeth committed an act that he knew would condemn him to hell.
Macbeth hopes that his gross actions will bring the matter to an end but he finds it necessary to commit more evil acts to try and protect himself. His pain is magnified by every murder he commits. Macbeth had called killing Duncan the “be all to end all” but it was not so. He finds that he must go on a murderous path if he is to escape detection. He sees his friend Banquo and his innocent son Fleance, as enemies plotting against him. Therefore he feels they must be removed from the face of the Earth, to ensure he will remain unchallenged on his throne. He sends murderers to kill Banquo and his son. They fail in killing Fleance, but succeed in killing Banquo. This throws Macbeth into a rage fuelled by fear but Macbeth’s conscience has even more punishment in store for him. Macbeth’s sense of guilt and evil makes him see visions of Banquo’s son growing up and taking the crown from Macbeth. Macbeth’s horror at the guilt of killing a good man, a close friend like Banquo, manifests itself as an illusion of Banquo’s ghost which rises from the grave to torment Macbeth’s very soul. Macbeth commits more and more evil acts in the name of self preservation and this need for self preservation springs from his sense of utter guilt.
Macbeth continues on this path until he feels his own life is so ruined, it is worthless. He keeps going but his every act digs him deeper into trouble. With every immoral act he was condemns himself further and further down into the pits of hell. He knew this and eventually he cared not if he lived or died. Macbeth had become a shell of a man, he only cared that he would die honourably in combat, so that he wouldn’t be baited and tormented like the bears caged for the people’s entertainment. Macbeth had suffered so much that to him death was a release from the misery that he had created for himself.
Macbeth does commit great evil, but for each evil act, he was tormented by his moral instincts. His good side made him suffer by showing him horrific sights and putting terrifying thoughts into his mind until he couldn’t face his life anymore. The memory of his good, noble self that was loyal to his King and God, was destroyed and this caused him more suffering than the suffering of those he hurt with his actions. Macbeth commits the most evil acts but is so tormented by his actions that he would rather die and go to hell than endure his suffering any more.
ALI
Macbeth was an evil man, because he did a lot of bad things, but because he suffers greatly, we can tell the he has a good spirit. Macbeth does a lot of evil things, but he knows that it is evil, and he knows that he is going to lose everything in the end.
Macbeth killed King Duncan and he suffered so badly. Macbeth started to have a lot of nightmares about Duncan. Macbeth knew that after he killed Duncan that he was not going to sleep anymore and that he lost the respect of all the people. He showed us this when he did the killing and came out of the murder scene with the daggers. Lady Macbeth told him to put them back in there but he said to her that he couldn’t go in there anymore. He was so frightened that the bad things he had done.
When Macbeth killed Duncan he heard knocking on the door and he said that he wished Duncan could hear the knocking and wake up. This tells us that he felt so bad after he killed his cousinK King Duncan. He wishes he could go back to a time when Duncan was still alive.
Macbeth suffered a lot after he killed Duncan but he had no chance to clean him self. There is no way that he can undo the evil. He has to continue killing and killing to try and cover up his evil.
After killing Duncan Macbeth has to kill Banquo because Banquo was the only person that heard the witches’ prophecy. Banquo knew that Macbeth might kill the king to get the golden round or crown. After killing Banquo, Macbeth starts to have nightmares of Banquo. He sees Banquo’s face covered with blood. Macbeth believes he is being followed by Banquo’s ghost. He sees him everywhere he goes. Macbeth is the only person that can see the ghost. The ghost is the face of his guilty mind.
Macbeth suffers at the way people speak about him. He suffers at being hated by the people that used to say good things about him. All the people left him by himself in the castle because they were scared of being killed by Macbeth. He knows that he can’t rely on anyone.
At the end, Macbeth knows that he can’t fight a whole army but he still doesn’t give up. He fights until he is killed. He believed in the witches but he knew that they were evil. He knew that would not tell him anything that would be good. They were the worst people to ask about the future. Once Macbeth was a good man but his evil thoughts led him to the side of the witches and the devil.
Macbeth suffered greatly because he knew that what he was doing wrong and because he had a good soul. He knew in the end that he deserved to be punished.
Macbeth killed King Duncan and he suffered so badly. Macbeth started to have a lot of nightmares about Duncan. Macbeth knew that after he killed Duncan that he was not going to sleep anymore and that he lost the respect of all the people. He showed us this when he did the killing and came out of the murder scene with the daggers. Lady Macbeth told him to put them back in there but he said to her that he couldn’t go in there anymore. He was so frightened that the bad things he had done.
When Macbeth killed Duncan he heard knocking on the door and he said that he wished Duncan could hear the knocking and wake up. This tells us that he felt so bad after he killed his cousinK King Duncan. He wishes he could go back to a time when Duncan was still alive.
Macbeth suffered a lot after he killed Duncan but he had no chance to clean him self. There is no way that he can undo the evil. He has to continue killing and killing to try and cover up his evil.
After killing Duncan Macbeth has to kill Banquo because Banquo was the only person that heard the witches’ prophecy. Banquo knew that Macbeth might kill the king to get the golden round or crown. After killing Banquo, Macbeth starts to have nightmares of Banquo. He sees Banquo’s face covered with blood. Macbeth believes he is being followed by Banquo’s ghost. He sees him everywhere he goes. Macbeth is the only person that can see the ghost. The ghost is the face of his guilty mind.
Macbeth suffers at the way people speak about him. He suffers at being hated by the people that used to say good things about him. All the people left him by himself in the castle because they were scared of being killed by Macbeth. He knows that he can’t rely on anyone.
At the end, Macbeth knows that he can’t fight a whole army but he still doesn’t give up. He fights until he is killed. He believed in the witches but he knew that they were evil. He knew that would not tell him anything that would be good. They were the worst people to ask about the future. Once Macbeth was a good man but his evil thoughts led him to the side of the witches and the devil.
Macbeth suffered greatly because he knew that what he was doing wrong and because he had a good soul. He knew in the end that he deserved to be punished.
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