Macbeth Play

Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare, is a play full of corruption and tragedy. In the play Macbeth had helped win a battle between his home, Scotland, and their enemy Norway. He meet some witches telling him his destiny is to become the next king of Scotland. After gaining a new title, greed overtook his family, and corruption slowly began to fill the kingdom. For the prophecy the witches gave Macbeth would have to do many things he would regret; Guilt eventually ripped him apart. He had accepted he would no longer be happy; all he needed to do was protect himself. At this point he was no longer worried about anyone, and slowly losing everything he had gained. After the next war began, Macbeth died at the hands of the king's son, Macduff, giving the rightful heir to the next king of Scotland, Malcolm. They all knew it would take time to rewrite the wrongs Macbeth had done, but everyone was ready to help rebuild Scotland. They all felt the effects of their corrupt king, Macbeth. Corruption is a topic that can be seen throughout the play.

The play Macbeth has many different themes throughout; one often showing itself as the corruption of people. The viewer starts the play by hearing three witches talk about a battle that is going on and how they need to meet afterward with the already decided victor: FIRST WITCH

When shall we three meet again?

In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

SECOND WITCH

When the hurly-burly’s done,

When the battle’s lost and won.

THIRD WITCH

That will be ere the set of sun.

FIRST WITCH

Where the place?

SECOND WITCH

Upon the heath.

THIRD WITCH

There to meet with Macbeth. (Shakespeare 1.1.1-8) The three are ready to meet with Macbeth; without his knowledge of the gathering, he might not even know of these witches who watch over him. The witches almost choose Macbeth after he helps bring Scotland a victory in their battle with Norway. After hearing one of the witches say “That will be the set of sun'' it's like they know what will happen, and after the battle is over they need to meet with the victor to bestow upon them a new responsibility “When the battle’s lost and won”. The witches later meet with Macbeth worshiping him as a leader: FIRST WITCH

All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!

SECOND WITCH

All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!

THIRD WITCH

All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter! (Shakespeare 1.3.2-3) Here, the witches talk about Macbeth as the next king of Scotland, almost as if after he helped end a gruesome battle he started a new era, with him being the leader. Whether that be the birth of a new kingdom or its demise remains to be seen.

For Macbeth to become the next king he would have to make a decision whether or not to kill the current king, his cousin. Macbeth had come to the decision to not kill his cousin because it was morally unjust. Although, his wife wanted the power for herself; she essentially tells him he's a failure: Was the hope drunk

Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?

And wakes it now, to look so green and pale

At what it did so freely? From this time

Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard

To be the same in thine own act and valor

As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that

Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life,

And live a coward in thine own esteem,

Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would, ”

Like the poor cat i' th' adage? (Shakespeare 7.2.7-17) Lady Macbeth is a corrupted woman trying to push a seemingly uncorrupt man to do horrible things to someone he loves. She was making it seem like it was his decision “As thou art in desire” she is telling him that he wants to do this, that the decision is all on him but if he doesn't do it she will no longer love him. He was ready to walk away without doing this crime but his wife had convinced him there was no other choice. Lady Macbeth wants this title so much, she thought there was no other option but murder. After convincing her husband there was no other way, they were ready for a long night.

When reading this play it is obvious that Macbeth has a strong conscience, knowing that if he goes through with the plan to kill the king it will corrupt everything he has come to love and cherish. So much runs through his head weighing in on his decision; on one hand, there is the prophecy that the witches gave him, telling him he is destined to become the next king. Then his consciousness, knowing that if he goes through with this he will have killed a good man. He seems to know that he now has only one option--to kill the king--although gilt was never far behind: 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. (Shakespeare 1.3.1-3) He knows what he is about to do could destroy so many lives, even his own. He knows what is about to happen but seems reluctant to go through with it “Hear it not”, although he knows it's bound to happen he doesn't want that bell to ring; knowing that means that the deed will be accomplished. He knows the second that the bell rings it will mean the end of a life done by his own hands. The gilt he felt after the murder was loud; he could not think straight: Methought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more!

Macbeth does murder sleep”—the innocent sleep,

Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, The

death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath, Balm of

hurt minds, great nature’s second course,

Chief nourisher in life’s feast. (Shakespeare 2.3.1-6) He had taken away a trusted figure leaving many people to lay awake in fear through the coming nights. Alone he had taken away the person so many looked up to; a man that everyone sought as trustworthy. Even he would lay awake with disturbing knowledge of what he had done: Still it cried, “Sleep no more!” to all the house.

“Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore

Cawdor Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep

no more.” (Shakespeare 2.3.8-10) His conscience was telling him that what he had done would haunt him for eternity. He will never rest peacefully again; the murder of his cousin forever played in his head. As the play goes on, guilt and horror will continue to tear Macbeth apart. He almost completely shuts down to the world. Whether Macbeth has accepted it or not, the truth is, he had killed the king and knows he could put trust in no one; he will forever be alone from this point on: Had I but died an hour before this chance,

I had lived a blessèd time, for from this instant

There’s nothing serious in mortality.

All is but toys. Renown and grace is dead.

The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees

Is left this vault to brag of. (Shakespeare 3.6. 4-9) Macbeth saw the overwhelming panic surrounding the nation, only him knowing that his death could have saved more than his life could. His surviving the battle led to this murder. He knows that had he“Died an hour before”, his death would have saved everyone from this tragedy. Although Macbeth had gained this honorable position, yet he is no man of honor. He had been told by people he thought to be trustworthy of no other option but to kill the king and gain power; he would live a worthy life as the new king. Although Macbeth never stopped to think of the repercussions and the horror ultimately getting bestowed upon him along the road to hierarchy. After the murder, Macbeth felt guilt fill every part of his mind, leaving no room for tranquility and proving he had followed through with the wrong decision, "nothing serious in mortality" seeing little worth in his new name. Macbeth saw no point in living through a sick joke, saying "All is but toys" which proves that he saw the world as nothing more than a game; everything he thought was fair was no more than mockery. It allowed anyone to gain power by killing good men. Throughout this story, Lady Macbeth tried to keep her guilt tucked away, showing it only slightly a few times: “Wash your hands. Put on your nightgown. Look not/so pale.—I tell you yet again, Banquo’s buried; he /cannot come out on ’s grave”(Shakespeare 5.1.13-15). The only time Lady Macbeth had any emotion was in her time alone. She had tried to talk herself through the guilt she felt as she once did, saying, “Look not/so pale”. Lady Macbeth knew to stay calm around her people, or they would find out about all her wrong doings, not knowing she had confessed all her wrongdoings in her sleep. Lady Macbeth, asleep, found she could live no life of peace and restful sleep.

When Macbeth is first introduced, he is portrayed as an honorable character. After winning a battle, he is seen as a hero, someone people should look up to. As the reader continues reading they will see people whom Macbeth trusts telling to do this terrible deed to gain power. He gets a first-hand experience of what happens when you trust the wrong people; they twist their words, hurting people along the way. After the murder of a loved king Macbeth had taken the position of playing a lie for the rest of his sad life: We have scorched the snake, not killed it. She’ll

close and be herself whilst our poor malice

Remains in danger of her former tooth.

But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds

suffer,

Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep

In the affliction of these terrible dreams

That shakes us nightly. Better be with the dead,

Whom we, to gain our peace,Than on the torture of the mind to lie

In restless ecstasy. (Shakespeare 3.2.15-20) Macbeth sure is going through a lot of torture for an unwanted position. He would rather be “dead” than endure this suffering. Macbeth knows that what he has done will not end well. When he says “We have scorched the snake, not killed it”, he sees that he has only scraped the surface of the things he has to do to protect his power. The story then portrays Lady Macbeth as a killer, the main person who corrupts Macbeth. Belittling him for showing great sorrow after killing the king. Lady Macbeth was never shown accepting what she had done; until she got a moment to herself: “'Tis safer to be that which we destroy / Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy” (Shakespeare 3.2.6-9). She is alone for the first time in the play, finally coming to terms with her actions. She isn't shown feeling the same guilt as Macbeth, although she seems to regret her actions. She knows that what she has done has left her to live a life of disquietude “dwell in doubtful joy”. Although, she seems to come to terms with that information much faster than Macbeth. It shows the differences in grief; how two characters with the same secret, decide to live. However, later Lady Macbeth is back to her old way. Telling Macbeth how to be a man, he has to overcome his actions. It is seen, that Macbeth has a different plan up his sleeve: Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,

Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night,

Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day

And with thy bloody and invisible hand

Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond

Which keeps me pale. Light thickens, and the crow

Makes wing to th' rooky wood.

Good things of day begin to droop and drowse;

Whiles night’s black agents to their preys do rouse.

Thou marvel’st at my words: but hold thee still.

Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill.

So, prithee, go with me. (Shakespeare 3.2.1-12) Here the play switches Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's roles. Macbeth is seen as crazy saying “tear to pieces”, hoping that once the night falls Banquo and his son will be dead. While Lady Macbeth is seen worried: wondering what she has done, knowing that this is her fault. She has seen Macbeth spiral time and time again about the murder of Duncan but she has never seen him spiral with such violent thoughts. The whole kingdom seems to be slowly falling apart.

Macbeth is talking to the witches again, trying to get more information about what he needs to do next to protect his position: I conjure you by that which you profess—

Howe'er you come to know it—answer me.

Though you untie the winds and let them fight

Against the churches, though the yeasty waves

Confound and swallow navigation up,

Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown

down,

Though castles topple on their warders' heads,

Though palaces and pyramids do slope

Their heads to their foundations, though the

treasure Of nature’s germens tumble all together,

Even till destruction sicken, answer me

To what I ask you. (Shakespeare 4.1.4-16) Macbeth is indifferent to his new kingdom. He cares about what will happen to him, and how he can keep his position as king, not showing any mind to seeing his people being killed, “topple on their warders' heads”. What Macbeth doesn't understand is that if the kingdom falls and kills the one he loves, he will have committed a mass massacre; being his fault for the death of the kingdom. The witches already decided they will tell him what he needs to know. Although disturbing, Macbeth forms a new plan with what to do next: "Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff./Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough" (Shakespeare 4.1.6-7). The play is telling the reader what might happen next; the next to suffer will be Macduff. At the start of the play, Macduff and Malcolm run away, creating great suspicion that they were in on the killing. Although Macduff knew both Malcolm and himself had nothing to do with the murder, he immediately lost all trust in Macbeth, knowing he had to have done something to his father as he was the one to find the body. His rage grew to vengeance against Macbeth: What I believe I’ll wail;

What know believe, and what I can redress,

As I shall find the time to friend, I will.

What you have spoke, it may be so perchance.

This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues,

Was once thought honest. You have loved him well.

He hath not touched you yet. I am young, but

something

You may deserve of him through me, and wisdom

To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb

T' appease an angry god. (Shakespeare 4.3.10-20) From the beginning of the play, Macbeth was known as an “honest” and trusted man, slowly losing all trusting people. Later Macduff and Malcolm also started to lose trust in each other; Malcolm says, “You may deserve of him through me”. Malcolm knows Macduff will go to one end to avenge his father, the king, even if that means hurting a friend. This story has always led to the inevitable beheading of Macbeth, allowing Malcolm to his rightful spot as king: Hail, king! For so thou art. Behold where stands

The usurper’s cursèd head. The time is free. I

see thee compassed with thy kingdom’s pearl,

That speak my salutation in their minds,

Whose voices I desire aloud with mine. Hail,

King of Scotland! (Shakespeare 5.8.17-22) Everyone who had fought against Macbeth had won a great battle, just as Macbeth had. Although after this battle, instead of seeing corruption flooding the kingdom, there is a reunion. There is “compassed” throughout Scotland for the first time since the rain of Macbeth. Scotland had started a new era for better or worse: everyone reunited, ready to help lead the kingdom to succeed under their new ruler, Malcolm.

Corruption is seen through this whole play, hurting everyone it affects. It led to the death of many people, and the loss of trusted friends. Dishonesty had overtaken Macbeth causing him to do horrible things, Losing everyone and everything he loved. The play shows that the corruption of one man can lead to the downfall of a whole kingdom.