Macbeth Essay

Submitted By joenefkens
Words: 582
Pages: 3
Open Document
Nefkens 1
Joe Nefkens
Mr. Bailey
English 3, Period 7
November 19th 2014
Cruelty in Macbeth Throughout Elizabethan times, England was a place where men were warriors and women were caretakers. While the men fought in armies and killed for their kings, women stayed home and took care of the children. It is no surprise that Shakespeare’s contemporary plays were reflections of the times. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, cruelty and violence are most associated with masculinity. Shakespeare proves the relationship between men and cruelty through Lady Macbeth’s desire to be unsexed, Macbeth’s urge for power achieved through malice to prove his manliness, and the male characteristics of the three weird sisters. Lady Macbeth is a prominent female character in the play whose personality contradicts conventional female nature, who introduces a violent, cruel view of masculinity that is later adopted by her husband. Despite her wicked intensions, Lady Macbeth believes that she is too feminine to act on her greedy urges for power. She believes that because she is a woman, she isn’t capable of committing the brutal murder her husband is having second thoughts about committing. Lady Macbeth wishes “the spirits (would) unsex (her), and fill (her) from the crown to the toe top full of (the) dirtiest cruelty” (Act 1, Scene 5, p. 33, Lines 47-50). Lady Macbeth literally asks for a higher power to take away her female characteristics, and replace them with a masculinity that she defines as cruel. Then, she would be stripped of remorse, and would be able to do what is necessary to make a grab for power. By creating an evil female character that so greatly contradicts the ideal female of the time, Shakespeare shows the reader that women have the same cruel capabilities as men. When Lady Macbeth is unable to kill the king herself, she turns to her husband for help. Although she fears that Macbeth may be "too full o' the milk of human kindness" (1.5.15),a feminine quality referring to nursing mothers, to commit murder and treason, she tries to convince him by questioning his manhood. “What beast was’t then, that mad you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man” (1.7.53-58). Shakespeare’s characters conform to
Show More

Related Documents: Macbeth Essay

Macbeth: Macbeth and Macbeth Analytical Essay

Macbeth Analytical Essay Macbeth is portrayed in two different versions, in Polanski’s film version (1971) and in Shakespeare. In Shakespeare’s version Macbeth is depicted as a victim of his own actions, and in Polanski’s, Macbeth is characterized as a victim of fate. This is shown in Act Two, Scene Two and Act Three, Scene Six and Act Five, Scene Five. These scenes give a close analysis of Macbeth’s behaviour. Observing the juxtaposition in these two scenes with Polanski’s Macbeth with the influence…

Words 1086 - Pages 5

Macbeth: Macbeth and Business Lady Macbeth Essay

Macbeth “Macbeth” By William Shakespeare is a play in which the relationship between a male and female character changes significantly. This essay will show how the relationship between the two characters changes and to what extent this illuminates a central ideas of the play which are power and ambition. “Macbeth” is about a loyal kinsman to the king of Scotland allowing his ‘vaulting ambition’ to get the better of him. He plans with his wife who turns out to be the driving force, to commit…

Words 962 - Pages 4

macbeth essay

BAKER1 Robert Baker Mr. Favreau April 6, 2014 ! ! ! Why Shakespeare’s Macbeth Is The Best Classic Play Shakespeare’s Macbeth is by far the best classic play in existence. His writings pleased masses and he was very much ahead of his own time. Out of many great plays, Macbeth in particular stands out because of Shakespeare’s spectacular use of a supernatural essence to progress the story. Adding to it’s excellence is the writers effective use of pathos throughout the play to truly make it feel…

Words 779 - Pages 4

Macbeth Essay

Zach Shaffer C­7 June 2, 1015 Macbeth Essay Written by William Shakespeare over 400 years ago, Macbeth tells the story of a Scottish noble overcome by his own evil ambition for kingship. One of the most intense scenes comes after Macbeth has killed King Duncan, and Macbeth must act as a good liar while the other Scottish nobles discover the dead body. The transitioning of this scene from the original script to film caused only minor dialogic…

Words 481 - Pages 2

macbeth essay

Macbeth Essay The statement “Macbeth should not be blamed for what happens in the play- he is merely the fatalistic victim of super natural powers” is not true. Macbeth is to blame for all the tragic events he has committed throughout this play. Although the witches had given him his prophecies Macbeth made them real. The only person who can control your future is yourself, you may be offered options but in the end you make the final decision. After Macbeth ran into the witches and was given…

Words 920 - Pages 4

Macbeth Essay

Macbeth Essay The way people act on the outside and who they really are on the inside may be two completely different things. Some may change because they fill as if they are not socially accepted, others pretend to be something they truly aren’t. No matter which way you analyze it, if you try to act like someone your not, the truth will always come out in the end. Which is exactly what happens in William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth. Banquo, MacBeth, and Lady MacBeth each project a specific persona…

Words 552 - Pages 3

Macbeth essay

Macbeth Essay By Jacobus Overgaauw Suicide may be a selfish act but it is not an unacceptable one. Different people all see suicide differently. Suicide has a wide effect on family as well as friends. In the play Macbeth by Shakespeare there is a case of suicide that shows all of the issues of the touchy subject, suicide. People often see the subject of suicide to be “taboo” or a “no go” area, generally something people just don’t like to talk about understandably. In the play Macbeth when…

Words 481 - Pages 2

Macbeth Essay

Kayle Wing Ms. Biliter English III. 1/18/15 Macbeth Essay In act 1 scene 7, Macbeth grows hesitant to go through with the plan Lady Macbeth formulated to murder the king. Lady Macbeth is then left with the task of convincing Macbeth back into going through with the plan. The first technique Lady Macbeth uses to manipulate Macbeth is that she challenges his masculinity. While Lady Macbeth talks with Macbeth, she says: “Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, and live…

Words 454 - Pages 2

Essay Macbeth: Soviet Union and Macbeth

similarities have been found between historical figures and fictional characters. The character “Macbeth” created by William Shakespeare for the play “Macbeth. One of the most easily explainable examples of this would be with previous soviet ruler, Joseph Stalin. Stalin got to power by creating a platform of trust while being the General Secretary. He was extremely close to Lenin and his supporters. As Macbeth was to King Duncan, loyalty and trust to the previous head of power, he eliminated the threats…

Words 1206 - Pages 5

Essay Macbeth: Macbeth and Macbeth Play Macbeth

English Macbeth Notes PLOT At the banquet, a murderer arrives and reports to Macbeth just as the dinner guests begin to arrive. He informs Macbeth that Banquo is dead but Fleance has escaped. Shaken, Macbeth thanks him for what he has done and arranges another meeting on the following day. The murderer leaves and Macbeth returns to the feast. Looking over the table, Macbeth declares that the banquet would be perfect if only Banquo were present. At this point Banquo's ghost appears unobserved and…

Words 2200 - Pages 9