Macbeth
The tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare outlines the lust for power and desire of becoming King through ambition that leads to a disastrous demise. Macbeth was first performed in the Elizabethan era for King James the first at Hamptom Courtin in 1606 and enhances to use of witchcraft keep the king satisfied. Since then this tale is still being staged today in plays and movies, as even now we can relate to the characters and themes in the text. As treacherous murders, evil deeds, and corruption unfortunately still happens in today’s society. Throughout the text it explores the topics of Blind Ambition, Spousal Pressure and Guilt. Poetic techniques also describe these themes through metaphors, soliloquies, puns and imagery that gives the play a deeper meaning.
Throughout the play Macbeth is undermined by his insatiable ambition that blinds him and gradually becomes too strong to overcome. He struggles with his conscience at the beginning when he plans to kill the king. “if it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly”, “he’s in double trust: first, as his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murder shut the door, not bear the knife myself, “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’other” this shows Macbeth knows he shouldn’t be thinking killing the king as he is meant to be loyal to Duncan. But he also realises it is wrong to kill Duncan and will “blow the horrid deed in evil eye, that tears shall drown the wind”. This quote shows the dark imagery as it displays the evil manner as the desire to succeed overcomes him. In the dagger speech Macbeth indicates this ambitious nature how he has decided to murder Duncan but in the end it was his blind ambition that motivated him to do the deed. “I go and it is done. The bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell”.
Ever since humans have inhabited the earth blind ambition has been around. It has been dated back as far as the bible to nowadays. Blind ambition represents universal propensity of temptation and sin and this is relevant In today’s society as we have many people that are business men to drug lords that earn millions of dollars but they have to kill or ruin other’s lives to get where they are, like Macbeth they have a desire to succeed and be the best/highest person or leader no matter what the cost. Like modern days Macbeth had ambitious ways but so does Lady Macbeth, but unlike Macbeth she was overtaken by her ambition straight away when she reads the letter from Macbeth and afterwards says “come you spirits that tend mortal thoughts, unsex me here and fill me from the crown up to toe topfull of direst cruelty…”.in the soliloquy Lady Macbeth decides here that they have to do whatever is necessary for them to become king and queen. Furthermore as she is married to Macbeth she also gains more power and she willing to go to any lengths to get there.
At the beginning the loyal character Macbeth is forced into an internal battle and as he overcomes the evil thoughts Lady Macbeth crushes his loyalty to the king with the use of Spousal Pressure. By calling him a coward and threatening his manliness she uses his weaknesses against himself. Also she reassures him that everything will go to plan. “when your durst do it, then were a man. And to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man…”. Here she explains that if he doesn’t commit the deed he is not a man. This puts pressure on Macbeth and forces him to murder the king.
During today many people try and live up to their