The Characterization Of Macbeth In Relation To

The Development Of Scotland In William Shakespeare’s Essay, Research Paper

A German physicist named Wener Heisenberg made a revolutionary breakthrough while observing particles at an atomic level. His observation was, at the same time, revolutionary and somewhat disappointing. He concluded that he could never accurately observe the particles, due to the fact that whenever he attempted to observe the particles, he inevitably altered them in some minute way. His conclusion is reminiscent of the proverb, .You can.t have your cake and eat it too.. Historians and anthropologists both agree with this proverb. Historians have another proverb, which indirectly comes to the same conclusion as the original proverb does: .Power corrupts good men.. They use as examples, people like Cromwell and Robespierre. These rulers of England and France respectively, started their campaigns with seemingly good intentions. They were both ushered in under the name of Democracy. However, history shows a similarity in both cases: the power and ambition of ruling a nation clouded their intentions, and resulted in both their own corruption, and chaos for their countries. These conclusions create a paradox in both cases. With Mr. Heisenberg, the particles he was attempting to observe, are unobservable, a realization that came through intense observation! Some historians have concluded that at times, seemingly good leaders are corrupted by the same intense ambition that drove their good intentions! A clear example of how power and ambition corrupts is demonstrated in the fictional tragedy of the Scottish ruler, Macbeth. Macbeth starts out a wise and noble general. He is loyal to his king. He has integrity, and the respect of all. However, once the notion of royal power is introduced by the Witches, the dam is broken and a cascade of corruption follows. This corruption leads to the murder of Duncan and Banquo by Macbeth. Once the thrown is obtained by Macbeth, more corruption ensues leading to his fear and neuroses. This destructive combination of fear and corruption leads to a wake of destruction for Scotland. Debuting in the play with auspiciousness, Macbeth slowly becomes corrupted by his new-found power, ambition and, most importantly, his fear, leaving in his wake, a destructive path for Scotland.

The corruption of Macbeth.s character is a major theme in the tragedy of the play. Had Macbeth been corrupted from the beginning of the play, he would be perceived as a vicious cold-hearted man, thus leaving the reader feeling no pity towards him by the end of the play. The fact that .Macbeth. recounts the story of a benevolent individual corrupted by his ambition and fear, creates the theme of a .good boy gone bad.. This style of drama has remained popular, and has inspired many plays and modern day motion pictures. There is no doubt that Macbeth debuted the play with auspiciousness. In only the second scene the reader is introduced to both the heroic deeds of Macbeth, and the respect people hold for him. This conversation summarizes the emotions felt for the once .valiant. Macbeth:

SERGEANT: Doubtful it stood,

As two spent swimmers that do cling together

And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald-

Worthy to be a rebel, for to that

The multiplying villainies of nature

Do swarm upon him -from the Western Isles

Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied;

And Fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling,

Show’d like a rebel’s whore. But all’s too weak;

For brave Macbeth -well he deserves that name-

Disdaining Fortune, with his brandish’d steel,

Which smoked with bloody execution,

Like Valor’s minion carved out his passage

Till he faced the slave,

Which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,

Till he unseam’d him from the nave to the chaps,

And fix’d his head upon our battlements.

DUNCAN: O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!

(I.II.7-24)

He is truly regarded with prestige! Later in the same act the respect shown to Macbeth, by a naive Duncan, is again overwhelming:

DUNCAN: True, worthy Banquo! He is full so valiant,

And in his commendations I am fed;

It is a banquet to me. Let’s after him,

Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome.

It is a peerless kinsman. Flourish. [Exeunt].

(I.IV.53-58)

This praise is not without merit. Although he finishes the play corrupted, Macbeth does debut with worthy intentions. Macbeth truly debuts the play with auspiciousness, which in a sense, makes his downfall so much more tragic.

Macbeth.s ambition takes control of his noble qualities however, and creates a destructive path for both himself and Scotland as a whole. The seeds of his ambition are planted even before the Witches.s first prophecy. While the Witches are predicting Macbeth.s future it is evident that the notion of Duncan.s murder has already crossed his mind:

MACBETH: [Aside.] This supernatural soliciting

Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill,

Why hath it given me earnest of success,

Commencing in a truth. I am Thane of Cawdor.

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,

Against the use o

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