“ [Individuals] have self-centered minds, [which] gets [one] into plenty of trouble. If [one] does not come to understand the error in the way an individual thinks, [one’s] self-awareness, which is [one’s] greatest blessing, is also [one’s] downfall.” In William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the theme is that one’s tragic flaw or weakness can result in a downfall, as one recognizes failure is inevitable. Firstly, when a person leads their life with trust and expectations, it can lead to a lifetime of sorrow, depending on the people they surround themselves with. Also, when a person becomes compelling to others, their control over that individual becomes inevitable. Lastly, when a person becomes constrained by a mental illness, they become unaware of their surroundings, which leads to acting eccentric to those around them.
When a person who acts on trust and expectations, is also surrounded by gruesome people, their downfall is inevitable. Firstly, Macbeth’s actions have guided him down an abhorrent path, if he continues to go forward with the actions he has committed, it can lead to his demise. For example, Macbeth says, “ Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! 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.”(Shakespeare, V, v, 19-28). In this quote, Macbeth realizes the cost of his unchecked ambition and that it is too late, the reversing of his consciousness of his evil opportunism is no longer. Secondly, Macbeth's activities have guided him down a detestable way, on the off chance that he keeps on going ahead with the activities he has submitted, it can prompt his death as “ Macbeth’s downfall involves more than the mere loss of life or crown.” (Miguel, 1). This quote states that his downfall was not only met with the losses of his life and crown but overall respect for those who loved and knew him as a “friend”. Furthermore, Duncan’s trust and confidence in Macbeth continue to grow, as did their friendship. But when Duncan continues to trust Macbeth, because he is the Thane of Cawdor, it soon leads to his end. Duncan says; “ To find the mind’s construction in the face/ He was a gentleman, on whom I built An absolute trust.” (Shakespeare, I, iv, 13-16). In this quote, King Duncan states that the former Thane of Cawdor, which is Macbeth, seems to be a “gentleman” and most importantly “trusted”, soon backstabbed King Duncan, which leads to his demise. Duncan’s assurance of Macbeth is what had him killed in the first place, Duncan thought just because Macbeth is the Thane of Cawdor he is a trustworthy person. Duncan was naive to think that no one would go against him to become the king. It leads to demonstrate his end. Moreover, Lady Macbeth’s influence towards Macbeth leads him down an indistinct path, because of her compelling ways, which soon lead to Macbeth’s demise. Lady Macbeth states, “ Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be/ What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it.” ( Shakespeare, I, v, 15-20). Lady Macbeth states that she reserved a letter from Macbeth about the witches’ prophecy. Lady Macbeth quickly acts off her instinct and selfishness, which leads to King Duncan’s murder. She proceeded to influence Macbeth so that they could have all the power with no one to stop them. Her selfishness of wanting power and living a lavish life took over both of them and soon led to their process of failure. Furthermore, Macbeth's exercises have guided him in an abhorrent way, if he continues proceeding with the exercises he has submitted, it can provoke his demise as “It involves another downfall equally real: the rapid and radical disintegration of two splendid personalities” (Miguel 2). This seems to demonstrate that Macbeth has two different personalities, such as his will to continue to be a good person, but the influence certain characters have over him, which affects him. Additionally, Banquo’s suspicion continues to grow towards Macbeth, Banquo knows that something terrible will occur for Macbeth to become king, but he does not take action upon that, which leads to his own demise. Banquo exclaims, “ Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promised, and I fear Thou played’ st most foully for ’t. Yet it was said It should not stand in thy posterity, But that myself should be the root and father Of many kings. If there come truth from them— As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine— Why, by the verities on thee made good, May they are not my oracles as well, 10 And set me up in hope? But hush, no more.” ( Shakespeare, III, i, 112-113). Banquo’s speech explains that he grew suspicious of Macbeth, who soon becomes king, soon after the witches describe Macbeth’s prophecy. Banquo’s thought process is solely focused on Macbeth killing Duncan, which drives Banquo to become unsure of Macbeth and grow fearful of him. Banquo continues to grow skeptical of Macbeth but does nothing about it, which leads to his demise. In conclusion, when certain characters in the novel have trust and expectations for each other and also surround themselves with gruesome people, their downfall is inevitable.
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When one becomes egocentric, they proceed with circumstances with selfishness and greed, which can ultimately lead to a lifetime of guilt and regret. Straightaway, Lady Macbeth’s selfishness towards wanting more power and abusing that control over Macbeth is what causes Macbeth to go down a terrible path. Lady Macbeth explains, “ O proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear: This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said, Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts, Impostors to true fear, would well become A woman's story at a winter's fire, authorized by her grandma. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all's done, You look but on a stool.” (Shakespeare, III, iv, 144-145). This quote states that Lady Macbeth’s selfishness and greed have captivated her, she continues to push Macbeth with control and authority, and Lady Macbeth tries to control him into doing something that he will regret the rest of his life. Additionally, Lady Macbeth’s guilt towards the murders she has organized had an effect on her, it captivated her. She continues to have regret towards the murders, stating “To bed to bed! There’s a knocking at the gate. Come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What’s done cannot be undone. To bed to bed to bed!” (Shakespeare, V, i, 212-213). Lady Macbeth states in this quote, that her guilt towards the murders affected her mentally and physically, overall, and her strong, assertive personality. Throughout the whole process, Lady Macbeth realizes that there is nothing she can do to prevent it and take away the guilt, towards the murders she organized. Furthermore, Macbeth is easily controlled and manipulated by Lady Macbeth's selfishness. Lady Macbeth states, “ But screw your courage to the sticking place, And we’ll not fail. When Duncan is asleep— Whereto the rather shall his day’s hard journey Soundly invite him—his two chamberlains Will I with wine and wassail so convinced That memory, the warder of the brain, Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason A limbeck only: when in swinish sleep Their drenchèd natures lies as in a death, What cannot you and I perform upon The unguarded Duncan? What not put upon His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt Of our great quell?” (Shakespeare, I, vii, 60-61). Lady Macbeth continues to not follow Macbeth’s dismissal for Duncan to live, so plans and organizes the whole murder, which continues to influence Macbeth and get him in on the plan causing Macbeth to soon murder Duncan. Thus, when one becomes egocentric, they proceed with circumstances with selfishness and greed, which can ultimately lead to a lifetime of guilt and regret.
If one’s mental state is not stable enough, the symptoms that come with certain mental illnesses advance toward hallucinations and delusions. Firstly, the gentlewoman is terrified by the blood that is on Lady Macbeth’s hands, because of the murders she took part in, and she explains how Lady Macbeth is suffering from the tragic murders, Gentlewomen explains, “ Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon it, read it, afterward seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.”. In this passage, the gentlewoman explains the process of Lady Macbeth’s mental state and how it slowly deteriorating, most importantly how it has taken an effect upon her. Additionally, Macbeth’s guilt and mental state continue to advance as time goes by each day, which slowly causes him to lose disgrace and anguish. For example, “ I have almost forgotten the taste of fears. The time has been my senses would have cooled To hear a night-shriek, and my fell of hair Would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir As life were in ’t. I have souped full of horrors. Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts Cannot once start me.” (Shakespeare, V, v, 232-233). In this quote, Macbeth is displaying characteristics of a sociopath, he describes that the murders he committed have no effect on him. His fear and guilt that he has towards the murders he committed has no repercussion towards his action, but slow deterioration to his mental state. One's awful blemish or shortcoming can bring about defeat, as one perceives disappointment as inevitable. Firstly, when an individual drives their existence with trust and desires, it can prompt a lifetime of distress, contingent upon the individuals one encircles themselves with. Additionally, when an individual gets convincing to other people, their command over that individual becomes inescapable. Ultimately, when an individual gets obliged with psychological maladjustment, they become ignorant of their environment, which prompts them to act unpredictably toward those around them.
Overall, one’s downfall can lead to a lifetime of sorrow or happiness, it depends on how one approaches the situation. This topic is relevant to demonstrate the number of mistakes one goes through, how one resumes the conflict, describe the type of person they are, and determine the path ahead of them.
Works Cited
- Beck, Joko. “Joko Beck Quotes.” BrainyQuote, Xplore, www.brainyquote.com/quotes/joko_beck_538153.
- Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Ontario: Nelson Education, 2001. Print.
Annotated Bibliography
Miguel A. Bernad Shakespeare Quarterly Vol. 13, No. 1 (Winter, 1962), pp. 49-61
Miguel explores a connection between Shakespearean dramatization and certain characters in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, through different incredible reproductions of focal occasions in Macbeth: downfalls, guilt, regret, and mental illness. Macbeth is Shakespeare's emotional variant of the dynamic connection of the oblivious procedure to standard ideas. The author discusses Macbeth’s role towards his own downfall, and how certain things such as his loss of life and the throne were not his biggest downfall of them all, but overall the respect for his people and most importantly himself is his biggest downfall. This article/essay is solely based on Macbeth’s downfalls and how much it has affected him throughout the novel. Overall, this source is not useful at all, due to the fact it has limited context about Macbeth’s downfall and it was the only one I can find that remotely came close to my essay. The information is reliable because it does make sense to an extent because I truly believe that Macbeth’s downfall was not solely dependent on his life and his throne. The source was somewhat helpful, due to the fact that it brought to my attention that Macbeth’s downfall was not only affecting his life and crown but overall his pride. It helps shape my argument because it ultimately describes the other downfalls that occur throughout the novel for Macbeth.
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