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For the past term in class, we have been studying the writer Shakespeare and in particular his play Macbeth. Shakespeare is famous for his literary works which he completed between 1589 - 1613. Some of his plays are comedies and some are historical. He is well known for producing some of the most famous works of this period. He is considered one of the best writers ever known. I’ve chosen two themes to analyse in the play Macbeth, I've chosen good versus evil and loyalty and guilt. The play Macbeth was a classic tragedy first performed in 1606. It was such a popular play with its themes of murder, guilt, jealousy, and ambition. This essay is going to cover these themes in major detail and show why this play included so many themes behind the scenes.
(Act 5 Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) “We’ve scorched the snake, not killed it. They cannot stop their violence because the need for power will never end. Things bad begun to make themselves strong by ill.’’ This quote explains the extent someone will go for power. Even though characters are perceived as good there is always that urge for more. In the play Macbeth, the theme of good versus evil is one of the most talked about themes. The characters who are introduced as good in the beginning turn out to be evil by the end. A good character is a person who has quality morals and thinks about others. These people are kind, and respectful and can show true feelings. Good characters are trusted by everyone. An evil character is a person that only cares for themselves. They are only concerned about how actions will affect themselves. Evil characters have no heart and are usually liked by no one. In the play, Macbeth, the title hero displays both good and evil. He starts as a heroic soldier and a considerate good person, but soon he kills many people to gain and keep power. Macbeth is a good person but is corrupted by the need for power. This is where good versus evil comes in. Macbeth and Macduff's relationship is a key example of this. Once Macbeth killed King Duncan, he became an evil person with a need for excessive power and was an “evil king”. And Macduff was viewed as a courageous hero.
(Act 2 Scene 3) “Will great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine”. Macbeth says this line as he encounters his wife after the brutal killing of Duncan. This quote refers to the physical blood of death on his hands but also the pain of guilt on his hands. He uses dramatic and grand language to imply that “blood would stain all the world's oceans red”. His use of language is referring to the fact that the consequences of what he has done will not be easily hidden. Macbeth will be a changed man after the effect of his actions, of killing someone you once diverse and loyal to. The guilt of murder is irreversible even though Lady Macbeth implies that blood can simply just wash off.
(Act 1, Scene 2, Line 16) “For Brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name” This quote is said by the captain to Duncan telling him that Macbeth is loyal to the name ‘The Thane of Cawdor’ and he is entitled to the name. In the final battle, Macbeth has no fear at all towards the villainous rebel Macdonwald and presents no mercy to prove his loyalty to his king and his country; he murders Macdonwald slicing him in half. This quote relates to the theme of loyalty because it demonstrates how Macbeth is loyal to his king and his country by going into battle to kill his king’s enemy with no fear of death. It also proves his loyalty because the king wouldn't name someone “Thane of Cawdor” only if the precipitate deserved this name. This act shows high standards of loyalty through Macbeth although he is one of the most unloyal characters in the play. This shows the theme of loyalty and guilt through Macbeth coming across as the good guy and the liked one but yet has undistinguished plans to stab those he is loyal to in the back. Lady Macbeth is a clear example of both these traits. She on one hand was loyal to her treacherous husband but yet also made him into this brutal killing machine through the likes of her peer pressure. She was guilty because originally she said to do the crime but later felt remorse. She felt guilt after saying that the victim looked too much like her dad she would no longer do such an unspeakable act.
Shakespeare was one of the best writers known. He was known for his use of meaning and themes behind his plays. In the second paragraph, it conveys the idea and topic of good versus evil and how it relates to this play, it shows how characters perceived as good come out as evil in the end and how the two sides are completely different yet shown by the characters in this play. The third paragraph shows a very powerful quote from the book and how the topics of loyalty and guilt play out in this play. Shakespeare shows different sides to a person's personality and how someone close to another who can be so loyal can then turn out to be a murderer. This paragraph demonstrates and highlights Macbeth's loyalty but underneath all this his guilt and desire for power. Shakespeare is a brilliant writer and shows such amazing key themes in extreme detail to draw the audience to develop a closer and deeper relationship with the characters.
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