CHARACTER OF MACBETH:
William Shakespeare is an immortal poet whose works have survived to posterity. His poems
and plays are fresh even today and appear relevant. Macbeth is among the four great tragedies of Shakespeare and it deals with the tragedy of ambition. Macbeth the protagonist of the play is a tragic hero who has all the virtues of an Aristotelian Hero but because of his tragic flaw “vaulting ambition” falls from glorious heights of virtue to degradation and death. Macbeth portrays the human drama of emotions – both external and internal. Shakespeare appears to be an expert at ‘psycho-analysis’ and his play enacts somnambulism, hallucination and ‘mind- sickness’
Macbeth and Banquo are the army generals of King Duncan of Scotland. Macbeth is a great hero and is described as ‘valour’s minion’ and ‘Bellona’s Bridegroom’. At the beginning of the play Macbeth and Banquo are returning from a bitter war and it is amply made clear that it was the heroism and untiring strength that has won the war. Macbeth represents the aged, meek king Duncan.
Macbeth meets the three weird sisters- the witches, who profess the title of thane of Glamis on Macbeth. The witches also promise that the fate holds royalty for him. The prophecy of the witches provides an opportunity for Macbeth to look into himself and his ambition. Macbeth admits:
“I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which O’ver leaps itself
And falls on the other.”
Duncan awards the ‘thane of Glamis’ on Macbeth and he hopes that the other part of the prophecy may also come true. After a prolonged psychological inner battle, Macbeth succumbs to the temptation and yields to the provocation of Lady Macbeth and decides to murder Duncan. Initially Macbeth is shocked at the gruesome murder and becomes wayward, but soon graduates into an expert in cold-blooded murders and plans the murder of Banquo and Fleance. He falls from nobility and valour to wretchedness and villainy. He becomes a murderer and a butcher with the inhuman butchery of the wife, children and all the relatives of Macduff-the thane of Fife. Macbeth never enjoys peace and rest. He becomes a slave to his own ambition and unfounded fears. He becomes uncontrollable aided by the powers bestowed on him by the witches that he need not fear till the Birnam forest moves towards Dunsiane castle and that no man born of a woman can vanquish him.
Macbeth distances himself from his wife, peace, and nobility. He becomes an autocrat and a butcher who is feared by one and all. All his deputies flee Scotland. Lady Macbeth suffers from somnambulism and kills herself violently. Macbeth is attacked by Malcolm with the support of the British and the prophecy of the witches becomes true when the trees of the Birnam forest are used by the forces to disguise and Macduff admits that he is not born of a woman. Macbeth fights like a hero but is killed by Macduff.
Macbeth undoubtedly possesses all the virtues but because of his ambition and unfounded fears moves towards doom and destruction.
Md. Jamil Hossain Sujon
2nd year 2nd semester
Department of English
Jagannath University
Dhaka.
Cell. 01737434727
CHARACTER OF LADY MACBETH:
William Shakespeare is an immortal poet whose works have survived to posterity. His poems and plays are fresh even today and appear relevant. Macbeth is among the four great tragedies of Shakespeare and it deals with the tragedy of ambition. Macbeth the protagonist of the play is a tragic hero who has all the virtues of an Aristotelian Hero but because of his tragic flaw “vaulting ambition” falls from glorious heights of virtue to degradation and death. Macbeth portrays the human drama of emotions – both external and internal. Shakespeare appears to be an expert at ‘psycho-analysis’ and his play enacts somnambulism, hallucination and ‘mind- sickness’
Lady Macbeth is one of the extraordinary female characters created by Shakespeare. She presents herself as a lady of strong will and determination. Her provocation is selfless and she aspires to see her husband prosper. Though she is described as the fourth witch in the play, one can see that she is full of humane feelings and she is against the series of murders perpetrated by her husband. When she reads the letter written by Macbeth from the battlefield, she realises the ambition in Macbeth and promises him all that is promised by the witches. “ . . . thou would be great. Are not without ambition.” She prepares to use the ‘valour’ of her tongue and pursues
Macbeth to murder king Duncan. Even after the murder she appears calm and composed and advises Macbeth to hide his feelings and put up a manly posture. Even during the Banquet scene, Lady Macbeth comes to the rescue of Macbeth and presents herself as a matured and devoted wife. Though attempts to murder Duncan, she fails because the motherly feelings prevent her from doing so. The malignity of Lady Macbeth ends with the murder of Duncan but her husband continues to kill people.
Sleepwalking scene is a classic example of Shakespeare’s psychoanalytical abilities. Lady
Macbeth suffers from somnambulism and the words uttered during the night, portray the inner agony and trauma experienced by her. Her condition is prompted by remorse and repentance. Her words portray the discussion between the Lady and Macbeth and her persuasions to put an end the series of murders committed by him. Though the death of Lady Macbeth is reported to Macbeth, later one comes to know that the ‘fiend-like’ queen killed herself with violent hands. Lady Macbeth is not beyond remorse and regeneration. She encourages her husband out of her love for him but once the ambition is realised she aspires for a peaceful life. She does not believe in mindless murders, but she is a conscious woman who could not avoid the burden of guilt on her shoulder for a long time. Once the burden of guilt becomes too heavy for her, she commits suicide.
The character of Lady Macbeth is unique in the sense that she exhibits iron will and unflinching courage, but inwardly she is soft, humane and motherly. The ‘witch-like’ qualities in her can ascribed to her interest in her husband’s ambition and furtherance of his interest. She is mellow and motherly for she fails to murder Duncan, and after passage of some time, she gives herself unto remorse and finally kills herself.
Md. Jamil Hossain Sujon
2nd year 2nd semester
Department of English
Jagannath University
Dhaka.
Cell. 01737434727
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