Macbeth Essay Research Paper The tragic flaw

Macbeth Essay, Research Paper

The tragic flaw of Shakespeare s Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is ambition. Throughout the play ambition drives both characters to commit heinous acts. Their ambition also causes a change in their appearances, physically and mentally. Ambition turns Lady Macbeth from a ruthless, power hungry woman into a woman tortured by her own conscience. Ambition turns Macbeth, a loyal Anglo-Saxon warrior, into a man possessed by an overwhelming lust for power. This causes an inner struggle that nearly tears Macbeth apart. When Macbeth finally resolves this he is no longer concerned with morals and loyalty. Macbeth becomes an amoral man concerned only with himself. These physical and mental changes which are brought apon by ambition destroy both the lives of Macbeth and his wife.In Shakespeare s Macbeth, Mabeth is at first a soldier loyal to his king, Duncan. He has little ambition. Macbeth s ambition becomes more evident after his first meeting with the three evil sisters. The witches give Macbeth three prophecies: All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter! (I iii ll 48-50) Soon thereafter, a messenger comes and tells Macbeth; The King hath happily received, Macbeth, The news of thy success…We are sent to give thee from our royal master thanks;…he bade me…call thee thane of Cawdor. (I iii ll 89-104) Up until this point Macbeth has never even thought of changing his position in life. He is content with being the thane of Glamis and all having all the duties that come with it. Bloom wrote that there is no sign of Macbeth s dangerous ambition until after his first interview with the witches. (Bloom pg 117) Up until Macbeth steps into that charmed circle he has no visible ambition. But, as Bloom said, it did begin to appear slowly, but surely, sneaking up and taking Macbeth by surprise. This supernatural soliciting…given me earnest of success…If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs…murder yet is but fantastical…and nothing is but what is not. (I iii ll 127-140) It is at this point when Macbeth begins his slow transformation into an amoral man. But it is clear that at this point Macbeth is still apprehencious about what is to come. He cannot believe the witches prophecies will ever come true, but they are. Macbeth has mixed feelings about his possible future. This is when he begins to feel the strain of knowing ones own future. If chance will have me king…without my stir, (I iii l 142) Macbeth says, which shows he would welcome it if he does nothing. When Duncan makes Malcolm Prince of Cumberland, Macbeth sees a problem with the witches prophecy. In an aside Macbeth says; 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 48-53) This reveals the deep desire that Macbeth has for becoming king. He starts thinking about the possible murder of Malcolm and Duncan, the two men who stand in his path to the crown. Lady Macbeth is the foil of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth s power as a female temptress allies her…with the witches. (SFS pg 285) Unlike Macbeth, Lady Macbeth s ambition is clearly visible from her first entrance. Her discovery that Macbeth is the thane of Cawdor, along with her knowledge of the witches, sends her into a frenzy. Lady Macbeth s true evilness is shown when she learns of Duncan s visit to her castle. The raven himself is hoarse. That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan under my battlements. Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty! (I v ll 34-40) Lady Macbeth shows the audience her true and evil self. At this point, she is the one in control of Macbeth. Macbeth is absolutely against the murder of Duncan. We will proceed no further in this business. He hath honored me of late; and I have bought Golden opinions from all sorts of people which would be worn now in the newst gloss, Not cast aside so soon. (I vii ll 31-35) Lady Macbeth breaks her husbands will and she is able to influence him to cast aside his morals and loyalty. She turns her noble husband into a cold blooded killer. She is more concerned with power than Macbeth is. Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth s manhood in order to convince him to commit the murders. Lady Macbeth shows her strength and fearless nature when the murder of Duncan takes place. She takes total control of the situation. O never shall sun that morrow see…Look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under t. He that s coming Must be provided for; and you shall put This night s great business into my dispatch… (I v ll 56-64) Lady Macbeth acts as a man should, strong, in control, and feels no pressure under the crushing circumstances. Even though she tries, she still cannot break Macbeth. Macbeth, after murdering Duncan, looses his wits and regains his conscience. He refuses to complete the act. Once again, Lady Macbeth assumes the dominant position and completes the task. Her ambition is all for him, and she stands by his side, doing violence to her own nature until it breaks under the strain. (Bloom pg 120) Lady Macbeth also keeps Macbeth in line after