Macbeth Divided Man Essay Research Paper The

Macbeth: Divided Man Essay, Research Paper

The tragedy of Macbeth is an excellent example of a divided man and a divided kingdom. As we follow Macbeth through the course of this play we realize that he is a wealth of indecision and as a result of this lack of confidence suffers a bloody demise fitting for the butcher he was. This indecision leads him to do many things that would be considered very impulsive and erroneous on his part. He has a unique case of duplicity, and this is what destroys him in the end. He is glad that he is king but he is upset that he has killed Duncan, and continues to regret his actions through the entire play.

Macbeth, before temptation was a man that was admired and honorable. What caused him to begin to question himself morally was the prophesy by the three witches that he would one day be king. Leading up to his actions to become king is the most acrobatic set of self examinations and second guessing. This is probably the most climatic time in the play, where Macbeth is deciding within himself whether he should take the prophesy into his own hands, or whether he should just continue living his life the way he always has.

Macbeth is still undecided in what he should do, even though he almost seems to be pulled by fate towards what he perceives as his destiny, and as Macbeth imagines what will have to be done in order for him to become king, he is almost mortified. My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, / Shakes so my single state of man that function / Is smother’d in surmise, and nothing is / But what is not. (I, iii, ll. 139-142)

Macbeth realizes that in order to become king he is going to have to kill Duncan. This unnerves him somewhat, for Duncan has just recently honored him and made his name great in Scotland as an honorable warrior.

As Macbeth begins to realize the desires within him to become king there is almost a resignation on his part to his evil side.

The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step/

On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap,/

For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;/

Let not light see my black and deep desires:/

The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be,/

Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. / (I, iv, ll.49-55)

In this quote Macbeth realizes that not only will he need to kill Duncan in order to fulfill the prophesy, but he may have to kill the heir to the throne, Malcom, the Prince of Cumberland. This scene further demonstrates his duplicity because on the exterior he is receiving Duncan and his family warmly, but he realizes that inside of him burns the fire of envy and greed.

Lady Macbeth realizes that her husband may be too timid and merciful to commit the evil deed and she admonishes him for this, encouraging him even further that to become king is his destiny.

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: what thou wouldst highly, / (I, v, ll.16-21)

Lady Macbeth is a great influence on her husband from the standpoint that she helps him to overcome his good nature in the end to kill Duncan. If it weren t for her, Macbeth would surely be wallowing even further in his indecision regarding the murder at hand. As it is, he is breaking apart inside as a result of his indecision.

The evil all around Macbeth begins to take a toll on his goodness and allows his evil side to influence him. Macbeth seems finally committed to completing his task. He resigns himself to the evil of killing Duncan eventually, but even leading up to the murder doubts are expressed. He never can seem to fully commit to anything. Macbeth expresses his concern over killing the king.

Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return/ To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice/ Commends the ingredients of our poison’d chalice/ To our own lips. He’s here in double trust;/ First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,/ Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, / (I, vii, ll.9-14)

Again, even closer to the killing he questions himself. He almost seems committed to not committing the crime now that he has agreed to it.

We will proceed no further in this business:/

He hath honour’d me of late; and I have bought/ Golden opinions from all sorts of people,/ Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,/ Not cast aside so soon. / (I, vii, ll.31-34)

He reason, in this quote for not killing Duncan are, the king has honored him recently, and he doesn t believe that so soon after honor has been bestowed upon him, he should commit this dishonorable deed.

Macbeth tells himself that he must complete the deed, and in spite of his doubts and fears he is resigned to committing the task at hand. He finally commits to what he feels is his destiny, as self-made as it is.

I am settled, and bend up/

Each corporal agent to this terrible feat./

Away, and mock the time with fairest show:/

False face must hide what the false heart doth know. / (I, vii, ll.79-82)

After the deed of killing Duncan has taken place Macbeth is still not at peace in his spirit that he has done the right thing.

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