Terminating Undesirable Relationships: Macbeth’s and Scrooge’s
Journey to a Redeveloped Life William Shakespeare’s parents both died barely ten years apart, which is why so many of his tragic plays end in death. In his play The Legend of Macbeth Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are obsessed with their own selfish desires and cannot stop their murderous deeds. In Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, the character Scrooge is a representation of the type of person Dickens could have become because his father made him start working at the age of twelve. Scrooge is an old, grouchy, and cruel man who cares more about money than his relationship with his fiancée Belle. Although Macbeth and Scrooge both undergo changes of the heart, the outcome brings about
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Lady Macbeth is overwhelmed with guilt, shame, and cannot control the thoughts in her mind any longer. Early in the story she has all the power in the couple’s relationship and that is how she wants it to stay. However, she begins to manipulate Macbeth by using her sexuality to maintain power by trying to “evoke jealousy in her husband”, but her plan comes quickly to a halt when she decides not to be physical with him until he agrees to murder Duncan (Rooks). This rejection causes Macbeth to turn to the three persistent witches until he is sexually appreciated. From this point on, Macbeth feels as though he no longer needs his wife (Everett). Since Macbeth feels this way, his wife has no one to care for her when she becomes a sociopath. Varying from the psychotic individual of Lady Macbeth, Belle feels as though she is no longer a priority in Scrooge’s life because of money. She wants to be with someone who loves her more than he loves his income. After believing that Scrooge was in love with her for many years, Belle is coming to the conclusion that their relationship is not going to work out. Exactly one year later, Belle’s husband sees Scrooge in his work place and makes the comment to his wife that Scrooge seems lonely. Belle does not pity Scrooge and knows this……..?? By this point, Scrooge realizes how alone he is and will be without Belle, and he cannot stand the thought …show more content…
After Lady Macbeth dies, Macbeth begins to feel remorseful about what he has done throughout his life. However, it is too late to have a change of heart, and he has already gotten himself into a fight with Macduff, his archrival. Macbeth cannot be killed by a human; however, Macduff is not a human because he was ripped out of his mother’s womb as an infant (Mac. Act. Scene. Line #). Although Macbeth no longer needs his wife sexually, he now has a reason to live because he does love her. At the end of the fight, Macbeth gets what he deserves for all the evil he has done and is killed by Macduff. “The Macbeths are probably Shakespeare’s most thoroughly married couple,” says Barbara Everett. After Belle breaks Scrooge’s heart, he does not want to celebrate Christmas with anyone, not even his family. When the first ghost takes Scrooge back home, he reminiscences on the days when he and Belle were in love. Patrick Reardon claims, “Through these visitations, Scrooge comes to realize that he has been pursuing a bleak life of fear and selfishness, and he converts —he takes on a new life. Scrooge walks out of his lodge on Christmas Day and gives money to the poor, gives gifts to those he’s previously shunned, gives a raise to Bob Cratchit and gives his heart to Bob’s family, particularly Tiny Tim.” He is no longer consumed with greed, and he gives his money to the poor If it wasn’t
Scrooge was and owner of a factory and made a whole bunch of money, but he did not care about anyone else. “Merry Christmas said his nephew, what right do have to be merry you are poor enough”. This shows that scrooge is mean to family and does not care about Christmas.
Most people probably thought that Lady Macbeth did not have a humane side to herself and is self-centered. When Lady Macbeth was hiding in the bushes waiting for Macbeth to return, she was talking to herself. At the beginning of Act II scene 2, Lady Macbeth shows her sympathetic side by stating “He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done’t.” Lady Macbeth is inherently a person with emotional attachment, but when it comes to her ambitious needs, she shows a different side of herself.
At this point, Shakespeare has provided sufficient evidence to prove that Macbeth is mentally troubled. His death and his mental deterioration are inevitable. He is haunted by the deeds he has done and the witches’ prophecies. Macbeth claims that life is utterly meaningless when he says, “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player/ That struts and frets his hour upon the stage/ And then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury/ Signifying nothing.” (5.5 27-31). He no longer has the will to live with knowledge of what he has done. The witches, however, have revealed that he cannot be killed by “one of woman born.” Upon hearing this, Macbeth believes himself to be invincible. During the battle of Dunsinane, he fights recklessly against his foes, under the impression that none can harm him. Macduff then enters the scene. He reveals that he was not of woman born but “from his mother’s womb / Untimely ripped” and therefore has the ability to kill Macbeth (5.8 19-20). Afraid for his life, Macbeth remains persistent and declares that he will not surrender. In the end, Macbeth is slain and Malcolm becomes King of Scotland. Ultimately, Macbeth’s mental deterioration led to his downfall and imminent death. Before Macduff slew him, Macbeth was almost wishing for death. He was overwhelmed with guilt, regret, ambition, power, paranoia, and the blood on his hands.
Some traditional stories are so influential, they are born again in modern-day books. Such as, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Ebenezer Scrooge lives in London in the 1800’s. He is selfish and greedy. His ex-partner comes to visit him as a ghost. He warns him that he will be visited by three spirits: The Ghost of Christmas Past, The Ghost of Christmas Present, and The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Just like A Christmas Carol, How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss, The Grinch is mean. He tries to steal the Who’s, from the imaginary town of Whoville, Christmas spirit and happiness. Cindy Lou Who helps The Grinch become a better person. And of course, The Grinch’s dog, Max, tags along.
After the slaughter of his former comrade, Macbeth explains to his wife, “Strange things I have in head that will to hand/Which must be acted ere they may be scanned” (3.4.137-140). This assertion from Macbeth paves the path for his future misdeeds. Lady Macbeth is concerned by her husband’s announcement and responds with, “You lack the season of all natures, sleep” (3.4.141). Lady Macbeth believes that her husband has lost his sanity. She no longer supports Macbeth’s murderous plans, and resents his new impulsivity. Following this conversation, Macbeth continues to kill harmless people, such as Macduff’s wife and children. He implies that he will no longer think about his actions before completing them, which is a deranged approach to life. The change in Macbeth’s behavior reshapes Lady Macbeth’s personality. She realizes that “what’s done cannot be undone” (5.1.57). Lady Macbeth now recognizes the lasting impact of the murders on herself and her husband. Initially Lady Macbeth approves Duncan’s murder, as it leads to her queenship. Her sadism and zeal for power declines after Macbeth’s killing spree. Lady Macbeth’s newfound heart is the outcome of her husband’s wicked
First, there are many similarities that, without Shakespearean influence, could not be coincidental. Dickens opens his story with “The mention of Marley's funeral brings me back to the point I started from. There is no doubt that Marley was dead. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate. If we were not perfectly convinced that Hamlet's Father died before the play began, there would be nothing more remarkable in his taking a stroll at night, in an easterly wind, upon his own ramparts, than there would be in any other middle-aged gentleman rashly turning out after dark in a breezy spot -- say Saint Paul's Churchyard for instance -- literally to astonish his son's weak mind." This is an obvious reference to Shakespeare’s work in Dickens work already. At the very beginning of each story, there is the death of a character. Each of these deceased characters are the cause and motivation for the actions of the main characters in each story. The death of Marley causes Scrooge to hate Christmas and anything related. He goes out of his way to tell off carolers, tear down decorations, and discourage any Christmas spirit. This continues for many years until finally the ghost of Marley comes back to warn Scrooge. Similarly, Hamlet is depressed and lost with the loss of his father. Too add to his distress, Hamlet cannot understand why his recently widowed mother so acceptingly marries his uncle. One night, he is visited by the ghost of his father to tell him how he really
At this point in the play, Macbeth is afraid of losing his crown that he is willing to do anything to save it. He lost his moral values and rational judgment. Every actions does indeed have consequences. Macduff learns the truth that Macbeth killed Duncan and when Macduff is often absent from Macbeth’s sight he grows suspicious. Macbeth has also been told by the witches during his second visit to beware of Macduff. Upon hearing this, he decided to send people to kill Macduff and his family. Macduff fled the castle first leaving his family behind. During the time Lady Macduff voice her fear: "He loves us not; / He wants the natural touch: for the poor wren, / The most diminutive of birds, will fight, / Her young ones in her nest, against the owl" (4.2.11).
In the beginning of the book, the main character Macbeth is a honorable man that stumbles upon 3 wicked witches that corrupt his mind. When Macbeth and the witches first meet, the witches tell him that he will be Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis, and king, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis.”(17) The witch’s corrupt Macbeth’s mind with the fact that he can obtain these titles by doing certain things like killing Banquo to progress farther in his ranks. Toward the end of the book, Macbeth isn’t a bystander anymore, but an enemy to many to where he will be slain by a man who was not of woman born. During a battle, a man named Macduff comes and kills Macbeth, “And let the angel whom thou still hast served tell thee Macduff was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.”(185) Macbeth became the evil that he stood by from in the beginning.
Macbeth’s under-developed morals and impaired judgement result in his ability to create conflict through murder and ultimately drive him insane as he is overcome by guilt. Moreover, Lady Macbeth’s role in inciting these murders is justly compensated as she too overcome with guilt takes her own life. Macbeth’s role in the murders of Banquo, Duncan, and Macduff’s family as well as the play’s namesake mark him as the anti-hero of
There are many theories that people have as to why Scrooge is so cruel and terrible in, “A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley,” but I think that one theory in particular stands out among all the other and really does make sense. Not only is it reasonable, but it has evidence to back up why Scrooge acts the way he does now: his father’s anger issues must have made his childhood really, truly terrible and traumatic. Maybe his father’s anger has influenced him to act the same way, or maybe he wants people to feel how he did when he was a child so that
From the time Macbeth took the power of the Scottish throne, many more innocent civilians and royal officials have been executed by Macbeth to satisfy his lust for complete power. This central focus on power plunged the country into despair and lowered the wellbeing of his subjects, causing mass disapproval and speaking out from everyone; this subsequently led to Macbeth murdering anyone who spoke against him. This, as well as in seeking aid for Scotland, causes Macduff to travel to England, as, “For from broad words, and ‘cause he failed his presence at the tyrant’s feast, I hear Macduff lives in disgrace” (3, 22 – 23). Macbeth continues to ruin Scotland, causing Macduff to speak out, yet in a plain and concerned manner, rather than a boastful, selfish tone. Many would not dare speak against the king, as doing so ensures certain death. The courage of Macduff, however, does not prevent him from holding his tongue nor his actions, and he seeks to help Scotland without much regard for Macbeth’s backlash. This backlash, however, reaches Macduff’s family, and Macbeth orders everyone slain, which leaves only Macduff alive in England. Even though he no longer possesses anything in Scotland to physically fight for and protect, Macduff resolves to courageously fight for Scotland and rid it of Macbeth, while at the same time he works to avenge the murders of his family and household. Macduff’s final
... truly seen as a character when he discovers the just previously murdered Duncan. He shows utter shock at the sight of the deceased Duncan and is first to question Macbeth about the suspicious act, including the death of the servants. Macduff provides Macbeth with paranoia that is evident through the rest of the play and Macduff continues to show his loyalty to Duncan even after the murder by making it his goal to ensure the rightful king is crowned. Macbeth is told by the witches to beware of Macduff, but also that he may not be harmed by anyone “born of woman”. Macduff is therefore destined to slay Macbeth and end the conflict that Macbeth has created with his ambition as his was “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb. The heroic Macduff through bravery and fate is able to withstand the prophecy and kill Macbeth honoring his family, morals and all of Scotland.
...e murdered. When king Duncan thanks Macbeth for his heroic service in the battle he replies “Your highness a king cares for his people as a father cares for his children and the people represent the loyal children to the father (I, iv, 23-25). Later in the scene, Lady Macbeth shames her husband so he can continue with the plan of killing Duncan. To shame Macbeth, she calls him a coward, questions his manhood, and tells him that he should be as tough as she is, (1.7.54-59). The second apparition is a bloody child which shows Macbeth "The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth" (4.1.81). This shows that no man can harm Macbeth because everyman is born of a women except Macduff. He says that Macduff was born untimely and was ripped out of his womb . This was abnormal because being ripped out of your mothers womb is being born.
He had a family but held them second after his country and king. Macduff discovers King Duncan’s body. ‘'O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart / cannot conceive nor name thee!? Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope / the Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence / the life o' the building!’, Macduff begins to tell the surrounding people about the death of the king. Macbeth blames the guards for killing the king and Macduff decided to flee to England to join Malcom and left his family behind. Macbeth then goes to Fife to kill Macduff, but ends up killing his family and destroying his home after realizing the absence of Macduff. He expressed his pain by stating, 'all my pretty ones? All my pretty chickens and their dam / at one fell swoop?' (Act 4, Scene 4). Macduff knows he will 'feel it as a man' but not lose sight of his goal, he continued to act like a real mean. He felt the grief of not being there to protect his family, then turned it into anger and decided it was his duty to kill Macbeth and gain revenge. The audience feels sorry for Macduff, and agrees with him to get his revenge. Macduff does this by killing Macbeth.
The witches do not force him to kill Duncan, but they do plant the idea is his head. After murdering Duncan, Macbeth made the decision to murder the guards, making Macduff suspicious of him. He also chooses to kill Banquo, and Macduff’s family. His actions are the reason that his life ended in the way that it did. At the beginning of his moral conflict he says in an aside “If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir” (1. 3. 143-144). Macbeth is thinking to himself that if he is meant to be king by fate, he should just sit back and let it happen. He does not want to betray his king. After some careful thought, Macbeth chooses to take matters into his own hands by murdering the king. He was not influenced by the witches when he makes the decision to have Macduff’s family murdered. In an attempt to scare Macduff and show that he does not fear the Thane of Fife, Macbeth seals his own fate and ensures his death. Shortly after the death of his children and wife, Macduff returns to Scotland for revenge.