The Yin Yang in Macbeth

The yin yang circle resembles two complete opposites and show that they connect and support each other, similar to how Macbeth's actions have shown both righteous and villainy sides combined in the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Although Macbeth is shown as greedy, evil, and cold blooded, none of his doings should be blamed on him. Many foul factors aid in creating his wicked actions such as his ambition-driven wife and his longing of recognition and power in which he is influenced into. In the dark room of his guided treacherous deeds sparks a candlelight of his loyalty and value of friendship, his rectitude, and his hesitation to beckon to his influentials. Macbeth is surprisingly not the villain he is commonly thought as. Rather, he is the helpless puppet of his masters.

Macbeth is initially presented as a rational and well-thought out man of conscience believing in God’s judgement. He earns himself an envious reputation of a brave and loyal soldier and values success. Motivated by honor and glory, he fights in service for King Duncan and is lauded:

For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name,

Disdaining fortune, with his brandish’d steel,

Which smoked with bloody execution,

Like valour’s minion carved out his passage. (1.2, 2)

Macbeth feeds off on the rewards of success as it satisfies him with new titles, fame, and royal favor. He seeks to please with no malicious intent and grabs attention from many. Although he wants people to look up to him and potentially desires power, his independent self never shows ideas of heinous methods to achieve such cravings. He asserts to the king his noble deeds, “The service and the loyalty I owe / In doing it, pays itself.” (1.4, 10) Macbeth, without fetter, finds himself doing wha...

... middle of paper ...

...ll the house: / ‘Glamis hath murder’d sleep, and therefore Cawdor / Shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more.’” (2.2, 23) However he has slain countless people in war, horrors fill Macbeth when he slays King Duncan. Macbeth was truly unwilling to kill and only did so in spite of Lady Macbeth. The murder would definitely not have happened if it weren’t for Lady Macbeth.

In conclusion, Macbeth was not guilty independently. Rather he was controlled by Lady Macbeth’s emotion-toying manipulations. He is a loyal hero of high morales dirtied and corrupted by his wife. Lady Macbeth’s reach for goals aid Macbeth’s actions, and her goals are fulfilled using Macbeth’s doings, identical to the white and black symbol of the yin yang. If it was not for Lady Macbeth’s convincing, Macbeth would still be a highly respected and loyal soldier instead of his life conclusion.