Throughout its history, literature has often illustrated the struggle of the individual against society. Two works of literature—one classic and one modern—provide valuable insights on this topic: William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Will Ferguson’s 419. Despite the vast difference in the respective settings of medieval Scotland and modern Nigeria, both depict a hierarchical society in which ambitious individuals resort to blind pragmatism, isolate themselves in self-detachment, and endure an ultimate karmic downfall, demonstrating that ambition must not be placed above morality. This is shown in Macbeth through the title character, a Scottish thane obsessed with his prophecy of becoming King of Scotland, willing to murder for it, despite knowing
Macbeth’s isolation from reality insulates him in a sense of safety; believing that “no man that's born of woman/ Shall e'er have power upon [him]” (Macbeth 5.3.6-7), as the Witches prophesied. He does not consider the alienation of his citizens with his murderous actions, the most egregious being the murder of Macduff’s family and servants. Taking revenge, Macduff kills Macbeth as he wished, “Front to front...Within my sword’s length set” (Macbeth 4.3.232-234), delivering seemingly destined karmic retribution to Macbeth. Similarly, Winston also endures this ultimate downfall; his money is taken by Laura, who threatens to have the “EFCC [Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission] knocking down [his] parents’ door with a battering ram” (Ferguson, 344) if Winston does not “give back what [he has] taken” (Ferguson, 345). His downfall is karmic as he loses the money he had made through pursuing his greedy ambitions through the manipulation of his detached family, descending back into poverty. The downfalls of Macbeth and Winston are perpetrated by victims of their immoral acts in a fashion reminiscent of their rise, creating a sense of poetic justice in both works. Thus, both Ferguson and Shakespeare demonstrate the ultimate karmic downfall one suffers after an ambitious rise based upon
Typical of Shakespeare’s works, the play Macbeth has a protagonist who ultimately experiences a downfall that lead to his demise. The protagonist or tragic hero of this play is Macbeth, once brave and honorable, who eventually becomes tyrannical and feared by many due to what Abrams describes as his “hamartia” or “error of judgment or, as it is often…translated, his tragic flaw.” In this case, Macbeth’s tragic flaw proves to be ambition; however, he cannot be held solely responsible for his downfall. As a result of many outside influential factors, including the witches’ prophecies and a rather coaxing and persuasive wife, one should not hold Macbeth entirely culpable for his actions and tragic end.
Handling the adversity that develops within a character’s life is something that requires ultimate determination, dedication and thought. However, when the given adverse situation is handled in a violent manner, the following occurrences include downfall and destruction. Throughout William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Macbeth, he is able to convey the realistic negative consequences that may follow the effects of violence on adversity. From the very genesis of the play, Macbeth is constantly handling adversity, which at times results in various dilemmas as a result of his tragic flaw. The violent acting on adversity or challenges placed before main character Macbeth, causes him to build a “snowball effect” of downfall and dismay throughout the play. Initially, Macbeth begins handling his challenges in different manners and is constantly altering his procedure. From handling situations cautiously to thoughtlessly, or having his own opinions to none of his own at all, and finally from fighting the truth to accepting his fate, regardless of the type of task, his violent handlings of them causes his own domino effect of transformations. By applying a variety of literary techniques such as personification and foreshadowing, William Shakespeare is able to effectively prove that acting violently upon adversity has a strong potential of resulting in pure disaster.
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
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.
After murdering Banquo, Macbeth begins to fear other powerful men around him, such as Macduff. The witches provide Macbeth with Apparitions that tell him his fate for the future as king. The second Apparition, a bloody child tells Macbeth that no individual born from a woman can harm Macbeth. Macbeth then replies “Then live Macduff; what need I fear thee? But yet I’ll make assurance double sure and take a bond of fate. Thou shalt not live, that I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, and sleep in spite of thunder” (4,1,93-97). Even though Macbeth gains the knowledge that no individual born from a woman can harm him, he acts cowardly to protect himself. Macbeth turns to murder instead of facing the powerful Macduff himself. As Machiavelli said men act cowardly, and Macbeth demonstrates just that by murdering anyone who seems to pose even a slight threat towards him as king. Macbeth believes murdering Macduff will allow him to “sleep in spite of thunder.” Macbeth uses this metaphor of sleep by saying the people who sleep are innocent and the ones who don’t sleep are guilty. Macbeth believes if Banquo is dead, he can sleep as an innocent person. Macbeth presents a cowardly character who believes murder is the “right” way of handling his problems. As a result of Macbeth murdering more and more people out of fear, his people will think of him as a cowardly king. Macbeth wants his people to think he is a strong king, but by killing good people out of fear, individuals will have their idea of Macbeth’s character alter into being a
Throughout the play, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Macbeth continuously decides bad choices and the consequences of these decisions catch up to Macbeth and result in his mental deterioration, however with Macbeth’s almost infant feel for ambition this makes him susceptible to manipulation, which then grows into an insatiable appetite for power. The acts of this with the manipulation from outsiders, causes his blind ambition, his false sense of security and then finally his guilt, which all contribute to his derangement.
From Macbeth’s comprehension of the events taking place around him to his repentance to his conscience, its unarguable that Macbeth at the end of the play was insane. From the beginning, Macbeth fabricates his own demise, eventually going on to control his fate right up till his ruinous end. Once a good, and loyal noble man of Scotland, Macbeth, was driven to by whatever motivation to commit acts of such malice, such cowardice and of such malevolence that it’s an insult to the memory of those whose lives were taken by him, to classify him as merely a ‘deranged hell hound’.
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth many characters commit actions that they regret later. These characters try get away with their mischievous deeds, but it ultimately comes back to haunt them until they die. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth fail to cover up the murder of Duncan without people having suspicion of them killing him. While some characters seek to commit injustice other are determine to fight and bring justice and harmony. Characters in Macbeth define what they believe is justice by abiding by their set of morals, this is a mindset of what they think is right and wrong. The mindset and ambition of characters in Macbeth ultimately lead to their actions being justified or help justifying what is wrong. Justice in Macbeth is served on different levels depending on the character’s integrity and desire to do unmoral deeds. The characters in Macbeth are provoked to commit actions out either of personal desire or manipulation, animosity and revenge of one another. Macbeth’s inner desire to suddenly become king portraits how justice is served after he continues to murder, Macduff’s determination to bring proper order and justice without any personal gain shows how he is the true hero and an agent of justice, and Lady Macbeth’s guilt proves her injustice deeds which drives her to commit suicide.
Macbeth’s blind ambition leads him to surrender to his dark desires that taunt him throughout the play. Macbeth is frequently tempted to result to the wrongful methods that seem to roam inside of him. In the beginning however Macbeth tends to ignore these desires and depends on chance. He declares “if chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir” (Shakespeare, act 1, scene 3, 143-144). This declaration by Macbeth shows his initial stand, which is reliant on fate and sin free. Yet as Macbeth’s character develops throughout the play, he moves farther from his dependence on chance and closer to his darker desires. Eventually his blind ambition to become king overp...
No person can go through life without facing the consequences of their actions. In fact, it is generally believed that every action must have a reaction. This belief is exhibited in Shakespeare's Macbeth. In the play, Lady Macbeth was the push that led her husband, Macbeth, to kill their king. This murder causes a series of consequences for both characters, which ultimately lead to their downfall. These character’s actions led to negative repercussions, but the audience will have a hard time pitying them, as their tragedy appears to be self inflicted. This idea of a self wrought tragedy is apparent in Lady Macbeth, as she is initially seen as a brutal woman because she convinced Macbeth to kill king Duncan, and aided in the murder. However, her guilt eventually lead to her own demise.
Power can transform even the most loyal of men. In Shakespeare’s gloomy and morbid Macbeth, nothing is as it seems. Even the most loyal characters are duplicitous in their nature, exemplified by Macbeth. The greatest Scottish warrior becomes power hungry in his quest to re-kindle his relationship with his wife, Lady Macbeth, and is thrown over the edge when he is not appointed the Prince of Cumberland, an honor he feels he deserves. This same hunger for power ultimately destroys Macbeth, leading him to betray all those he loves, including king Duncan, his friend Banquo, and his wife.
Choices all individuals make impact their lives. In the play, Macbeth, we see the damaging physical and psychological consequences that unchecked ambition can have on an individual; showing Macbeth as a once good willed nobleman that turns in a two faced tyrant king. Treachery, paranoia and external forces play a role in Macbeths descendent into madness, displayed through verbal representation such as the disparity between cruelty and masculinity, the difference between kinship and tyranny a parallel use of antithesis to represent the interrelationship of fate and coincidence. Through such themes, Shakespeare demonstrates that despite external factors influencing Macbeth's decisions,
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a tragedy in which the main characters are obsessed by the desire for power. Macbeth’s aspiration for power blinds him to the ethical implications of his dreadful acts. The more that Shakespeare’s Macbeth represses his murderous feelings, the more he is haunted by them. By analyzing his hallucinations it is possible to trace his deteriorating mental state and the trajectory of his ultimate fall. Throughout the play Macbeth is never satisfied with himself. He feels the need to keep committing crime in order to keep what he wants most: his kingship. The harder Macbeth tries to change his fate the more he tends to run into his fate. His ambition and struggle for power was Macbeth’s tragic flaw in the play. Macbeth’s rise to the throne was brought about by the same external forces that ensure his downfall.
Macbeth is swaying between the forces of good and evil. He wants to stop killing but he also wants to become king and in his mind the only way to do that is to kill whoever is in his path, saying “I am in blood/ Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more,/ Returning were as tedious as go o'er.” (3.4.168-170). Macbeth is already deep into this situation and if he were to turn back now, it would cause him greater hardship than relief. Macbeth has been dealing with this inner conflict ever since he was told by the weird sisters that he is fated to become king. This conflict ties everything together, between fate versus free will and sane or insane. Macbeth started the play as being a glorified war hero, however as time moved on he transformed into a bloodthirsty tyrant. Macbeth has gone through so much that he has shifted into a guilty man haunted by nightmares and hallucinations but will not stop until he gets what he came for. Macbeth has gone so far into the void of guilt that his name has now fell into infamy, as shown by quote by Young Siward saying “The devil himself could not pronounce a title/ More hateful to mine ear.” (5.7.10-11). Macbeth had already grown a name for himself while he kept his innocence, however with all the killings macbeth has made, he has done nothing but shame his name. Macbeth name to others is more hateful and there is nothing that Siward would rather do than to end Macbeth’s life, thus ending all the guilt and evil inside
The main theme of Macbeth-the destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints-finds its most powerful expression in the play's two main characters. Macbeth is a courageous Scottish general who is not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds, yet he deeply desires power and advancement. He kills Duncan against his better judgment and afterward stews in guilt and paranoia. Toward the end of the play he descends into a kind of frantic, boastful madness. Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, pursues her goals with greater determination, yet she is less capable of withstanding the repercussions of her immoral acts. One of Shakespeare's most forcefully drawn female characters, she spurs her husband mercilessly to kill Duncan and urges him to be strong in the murder's aftermath, but she is eventually driven to distraction by the effect of Macbeth's repeated bloodshed on her conscience. In each case, ambition helped, of course, by the malign prophecies of the witches is what drives the couple to ever more terrible atrocities. The problem, the play suggests, is that once one decides to use violence to further one?s quest for power, it is difficult to stop. There are always potential threats to the throne?Banquo, Fleance, Macduff?and it is always tempting to use violent means to dispose of them.