The Importance Of Courage In Macbeth

1389 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: A short article on courage

Briona Bowyer
AP Lang. & Comp.
Ms. Schaner
2nd Hour
10 Mar. 2016
It Can Make A Person or Break A Person
The world consists of people who have two opposite traits. Half of the population is brave, fearless, and daring. The other half is wimpy, fearful, and pusillanimous. All of these traits are synonyms and antonyms of one definition: courage. Courage is when someone has the inspiration to be mentally strong; or it is when someone has the willpower to do things that he/she would not normally do. Usually society identifies courage as a positive action leading to a positive outcome, but that is not always the case.
In Utopia, Sir Thomas More wrote a letter notifying the people of the type of ruler they deserve as a king and how he should rule. …show more content…

In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, a man by the name of Macbeth decimated an enemy in battle; by doing so, Macbeth earned the title of a hero. With the motivation from three nefarious witches and his wife, Macbeth committed a tragedy, which caused him to become a tragic hero. In Act I, Scene 2, the captain proudly informs the king, “But all’s too weak; for brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name), disdaining fortune, With his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution, like Valor’s minion, carved out his passage till he faced the slave; which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops, and fixed his head upon our battlements” (Shakespeare 9). The captain is informing the king of what Macbeth has just done; Macbeth has just saved the kingdom from its arch enemy by splitting him open from the navel to the jawbone and then stapling his head to the castle wall. Macbeth had the courage to slaughter the enemy. This is one positive act of courage that leads to one positive outcome, but this one positive act leads to multiple negative acts of courage. Soon after Macbeth wins his title of a hero, he works up the courage to commit a tragedy. In act II, scene 2, Macbeth cries out, “Whose hands are these? Ha! They’re plucking out my eyes. Will all the water in the ocean …show more content…

“Utopia.” McDougal Littell Literature: British LIterature. Evanston: McDougal Littell, 2008. 438. Print.
Queen Elizabeth I. “Speech Before the Spanish Armada Invasion.” McDougal Littell Literature: British Literature. Evanston: McDougal Littell, 2008. 440. Print.
Shakespeare,William. Macbeth. New York: Simon and Schuster Paperbacks, 1992.

Show More
Related

  • Chasing Courage By Maya Angelou: One Of The Best Explanation Of Courage

    712 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the best explanations of courage is the following by Maya Angelou: “One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtues with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” Her explanation summarizes all that courage can lead you to who you are in life. Courage is standing up for what you believe in, despite disapproval, pain, fear, uncertainty, or intimidation. Courage is challenging what is normal. Courage is giving voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. Courage is using whatever power available to educate the world about injustice. Courage is following your heart even when the path is not known. Courage is trying after failing.

    Read More

  • Courage in To Kill A Mockingbird

    544 Words  | 2 Pages

    Courage is the thing which can be found in a child to an old man. It needs a lot of courage to take out courage from the heart. It is like a brain. It depends on the person, how and when he uses it. This tiny word has the power to convey the whole gesture of a person. According to Harper Lee?s genius ?To Kill a Mockingbird?, Courage is when you know you are licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through it through no matter what.

    Read More

  • How Does Otto Frank Show Courage

    404 Words  | 1 Pages

    According to Google.com courage says “The ability to do some things that frighten one (Noun) Mr. Frank showed courage by letting the Van Daans in the Secret Annex and Mr.Dussel too. Another way he showed courage was when a robber broke into the shop where the Annex was above,

    Read More

  • Ambition And Pride In Macbeth

    729 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are myriad fine lines in life, seemingly unattainable happy mediums that we endeavour to find, and spectrums that we attempt to exist in between. As sentient beings, we are continually evolving, and yet we are always searching for something that will remain constant in our often haphazard lives: Balance. Without it, one may see structure within their life deteriorate, as an overwhelming sense of chaos begins to percolate day to day existence. When we fail to achieve balance, adverse effects soon transpire. In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Macbeth, the type of balance being discussed is that of ambition and pride. The author suggests that ambition and pride are both respectable qualities to possess, and can coexist within a person

    Read More

  • How acts of courage develop and nurture personal integrity

    653 Words  | 2 Pages

    True courage is rarely found, while many strive for it, it is scarcely achieved. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare there are multiple acts of true bravery, which occur because of the desire to set past wrongs right. However, there are also many acts of cowardice because Macbeth and Lady Macbeth become greedy and commit many horrific crimes. It is these yearnings that set this tragic play in motion, and destroys any relationships that stand in the way of gaining it. The inevitable demise of Macbeth was set in motion by Lady Macbeth’s greed for power, but by Macbeth becoming King and gaining all this power his morals suffered greatly, and he became fearful and paranoid of anyone that was a possible threat to his throne.

    Read More

  • Macbeth Courage Quotes

    892 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Screw your courage to the sticking place, and we’ll not fail” This phrase written by William Shakespeare, spoken by Lady Macbeth, means to be firm and resolute. These are very contradicting words given the consequences of lady Macbeth’s actions. In the play, “The tragedy of Macbeth”, Lady Macbeth’s character and personality traits shift throughout the play. In turn, this causes plot advancement by allowing the other characters to rely on her future actions as problems or resolutions in the play.

    Read More

  • Essay On Human Nature In Macbeth

    857 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare draws Macbeth as an ambitious usurper who nevertheless has certain virtues: courage, righteousness, and a devoted love for his wife. In doing so, Shakespeare shows he understands the dual nature of human beings. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is portrayed as a courageous and noble warrior, who valiantly fought for his King, until he finally meets the witches. “For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name”, (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 16). Dramatic irony is tied in as only the audience know that Macbeth will soon betray the king – displaying his duplicity. Macbeth is praised for his courage in battle by the Sergeant. “O valiant cousin! worthy gentleman!” replies Duncan, and we, the audience see the esteem Macbeth is held in and the nobility he has shown as a loyal solider and kinsman. This leads to Macbeth being ennobled with the Thaneship of Cawdor which later engenders in him hope for inheriting the crown. Soon, Macbeth meets the witches and they prophesise that Macbeth will be crowned king of Scotland – unleashing his passion for ambition whi...

    Read More

  • Macbeth Brave Character Analysis

    1746 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Act 1, Macbeth is a brave and noble soldier ready to die for his king, Duncan. He is considered a hero after taking a leading role in defeating the invading army. We know this from his defeat of Macdonwald and the Norwegian king. King Duncan was thrilled with this victory and decides to make Macbeth his new Thane of Cawdor. In Act 1, scene 2 Macbeths victory is recognized recognition and status and he is praised by the captain. "For brave Macbeth,-well he deserves that name...."Macbeth is presented as a brave man who led King Duncan 's forces to victory. Shakespeare creates an impression to the audience of Macbeth as a servant of bravery as the word "brave" suggests he is very loyal and noble . His brutality in the battlefield revealed his courageousness and that is why the Captain calls Macbeth ‘ brave Macbeth’. This shows the respect and status Macbeth has gained which portrays him as a very heroic character. kings

    Read More

  • Honor and Bravery in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    635 Words  | 2 Pages

    A struggle is present in every tragedy, as a person tries to overcome their flaws and fit the mold of their ideal.  William Shakespeare plainly defined a good man in the play, Macbeth.  Prudence and logic, temperance and patience, as well as the vindication of honor are Shakespeare's defining characteristics of a good man. Honor and bravery are Shakespeare’s defining characteristics of a good man while illogical passion and impatience are characteristics that do not characterize a good man.

    Read More

  • 12 Angry Men Courage Analysis

    1026 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Courage - a perfect sensibility of the measure of danger, and a mental willingness to endure it.” Courageous people understand the danger that they face when they act how they do. That is what courage is all about. Many historical events occur due to people having the courage to do what they think is right, or because of those who use their courage to do what they want. Having the courage to stand alone in one’s beliefs may be one of the hardest thing a person can do.

    Read More

  • Free Definition Essay - The Meaning of Courage

    661 Words  | 2 Pages

    In life there are many terms that are relative to individual cultures. That means that the definition is different depending on the culture's location and its persons believe. The definition for one such term, courage, as defined by both Daniel Webster and Funk & Wagnalls is "That quality of mind or spirit enabling one to meet danger or difficulties/ opposition with firmness/fearlessness." The words that make courage a relative term are danger and opposition.

    Read More

  • Macbeth: The Most Tragic Hero

    428 Words  | 1 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, many of the characters may be considered to be the most tragic. Macbeth was the most tragic character in the play because of his high status and how he handled his death with dignity. After he killed Duncan, he became the king of Scotland. When he knew Macduff could kill him, he stayed to fight him and died with dignity.

    Read More

  • Macbeth: A Tragic Hero

    1162 Words  | 3 Pages

    Tragic heroes, who destined for a serious downfall, are the protagonist of a dramatic tragedy. A tragic hero is usually a great hero, who gets the most respect from other people; on the other hand, a tragic hero can also lose everything he gained because of his mistakes. His downfall is the result of a wrong judgment, a flaw which might combined with fated and external forces. The downfall can cause the tragic hero to suffer for the rest of his life. In many literary works, the downfall of the tragic heroes usually happen in their highest point. In the same way, Macbeth is a tragic hero in the play called “The Tragedy of Macbeth” which is written by a legendary writer, William Shakespeares. Macbeth is a great general who gained many respect from the people and even the king. In the highest point of his life, because of seeking for greater power, it created Macbeth’s downfall. Macbeth, a tragic hero, causes suffering for himself and others by committing murders and creating distress, which are the negative effects of seeking for a greater power.

    Read More

  • Essay About Courage

    743 Words  | 2 Pages

    What is courage? Courage is the spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, and bravery. Courage to me is bravery, heroic acts, and people that put their life in danger. Many people show acts of courage everyday in the world. You might not know if you are showing courage, unless it is a big act.

    Read More

  • macbeth as a tragic hero

    818 Words  | 2 Pages

    A Shakespearean tragic hero starts out as a noble person; a great exceptional being who stands out. A tragic hero has a tragic flaw of an exaggerated trait that leads to their downfall and eventually to death. William Shakespeare often made his main characters tragic heroes in his plays. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the role of the tragic hero is given to the main character: Macbeth. This is because he starts off as a loyal and well liked man in the beginning, but has a tragic flaw of ambition which ultimately leads to his downfall.

    Read More

More about The Importance Of Courage In Macbeth

Open Document