Alexandria Awadi
Mrs. Wood
English 11A
19 February 2016
Macbeth Characterization Essay
Some would have never thought a noble kings men would murder. Not being crowned Prince of Cumberland was a misfortune on his part that led up to his treason. He became ill with evil and committed crimes to earn power -that he thought he deserved-. Macbeth was courageous on paper, but he was in fact cowardice underneath. Lady Macbeth had shamed him for milksop actions and manipulated Macbeth to murder, therefore he never would have became evil.
Even though Macbeth kept the kingdom safe and the king looked up to him, he could keep himself together and was scared. “Whence is that knocking? How is’t with me, when every noise appals me? What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine eyes! Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red.” (2:2, 57-63) He doesn't know whose hands are in front of him, he doesn't know who he is anymore and cannot keep himself together. After killing Duncan, he became paranoid of Banquo, he knew he had to get rid of him because he is smart and Banquo is willing to take risks for the kingdom. “To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared. 'Tis much he dares, and to that dauntless temper of his mind he hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor to act in safety. There is none but he whose being I do fear, and under him.” (3:1, 50-58) Showing that he was a brave noble man, fighting for his king but truly, he can never keep calm or courages in any bad situation like this.
Lady Macbeth respects Macbeth, but he needs a more evil side to him. “O, never shall sun that morrow see! Your face, my thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters. To beguile the time, look like the time. Bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue. Look like th’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, which shall to all our nights and days to come give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.” Lady Macbeth tries convince Macbeth to kiss up to the king to give him second glance to King Duncan of Macbeth being king material. Macbeth doesn't really care for the idea, he wants to become king but cannot change fate. During dinner, Lady talks to Macbeth about how he needs to go after for what he wants, by killing the king. He thought she was crazy, a plan like that would never work but she shamed him by saying he was drunk, and has lost all hope to becoming king. But after the lecture from Lady, he was into the plan. “I am settled, and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Awady, and mock the time with fairest show. False face must hide what the false heart doth know.” (1:7, 79-81). He became powerless by her, he was influenced by her evil heart and ready to kill King Duncan.
Truly, Macbeth would have been never succumbed to his evil actions. Macbeth goes to the three witches to see his future, if he is crowned Prince of Cumberland by King Duncan. He finds out way more than what he intended. Macbeth is flustered with excitement but confusion when he finds that the king dies and he becomes the king of Cumberland. Macbeth is happy but scared at the same time; he is so conflicted and he doesn't know what to edure.“Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair. And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, against the use of nature? Present fears are less than horrible imaginings. My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, shakes my so single of man that function is smothered in surmise, and is nothing but what is not.” (1:3, 135-142) When Lady Macbeth gave him the plan about killing the king he was baffled. “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 their newest gloss, not cast aside so soon.” (1:7, 32-35) Macbeth knows the king respects him and that is good enough. He is beloved by everyone in the kingdom for protecting everyone. Killing the king with ruin the trust that they have for him. Macbeth had common sense to protect his reputation and a heart to the king until he was corrupted by his wife.
Macbeth had motive to kill the king, but he was afraid to do this treason because he didn't want to ruin his bond with people that respected. Lady Macbeth changed that by telling him he needs to go get what he wants or he isn't a man to her anymore. She shamed him, and corrupted his mind. He had a kind heart, but he was a pushover to follow his wife's plan, making him afraid.
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ReplyDeleteIt might be helpful to add more to your introduction. All though you do have the main sections of the story, it seems confusing to read from an outsider's standpoint who has not read the book. It may also be helpful if you use Macbeth's name before saying "he". Some parts of the story you may want to add is when Macbeth murders the King, Banquo, and Macduff's family. It may also be of help to go into more detail about your thesis, it is hard to tell whether the thesis is for Macbeth or Lady Macbeth and what your thesis is trying to prove. Your quotes in the first body paragraph are very nice, but I believe that your second quote could use more of an explanation and introduction. I also believe that there could be a more clear and thorough explanation. In your second body paragraph, I think clarification of what you are trying to prove is needed. It may be good to add more of a transition into a quote and more of an explanation on why you are using the quote. The third body paragraph's meaning is a little foggy, what is the main idea of the paragraph? I feel like it swaps from one subject to another, it goes from the crowning of Macbeth and the feelings that go with it, to Lady Macbeth's corruption, I feel one subject needs to be chosen or a smooth transition would be best. The conclusion is very clear and smooth, but I feel that more powerful words and descriptions could be used to add more of a lasting impact on the reader. Overall I loved the ideas presented in your essay, it just needs a little cleaning up and explanation to take it to the next level.
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