Death Of Lady Macbeth example essay topic

In every Shakespearean tragedy there is always something called the "fatal flaw". This flaw is seen in the main character or hero of the play. The hero always has the ability to overcome or control this flaw, however, if he can not control this flaw he reaches a point of doom. A point in the story where he has no choice but to continue downward through the spire of entropy. This leads to the tragedy. His or her end.

The flaw is usually a master passion. This passion controls the hero's thoughts and actions, and, if unable to control this passion it will lead to his doom. In Shakespeare "Macbeth", Macbeth is an anti hero. He is very ambitious and courageous. However, he is also a moral coward, this is Macbeths fatal flaw, which in the end leads to his doom. Shakespeare defines Macbeth as a hero very clearly.

His valor in defense of Scotland is significant in the opening scene. However, he is very ambitious to be king. At the beginning of the play, he was loyal to the king. While he did imagine the murder his mind rejects it and said, 'Why, if chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me,' (1.3. 12-13). Yet his ambition increasingly defeated his good nature.

In the play, everyone seems to want power. Usually, men are the ones who are outward and aggressive about it, and women are more subdued about it. Lady Macbeth has a great deal of power over Macbeth the power which she holds over him, is the fact that she possesses more of the 'manly' quality than Macbeth himself. Because of this, Macbeth is ashamed of himself. Macbeth constantly tries to disprove Lady Macbeths doubt of his manhood.

'When you durst do it, then you were a man, And, to be more than what you were, you would, Be so much more the man. ' (1.7. 22). As you can see in this quote, Lady Macbeth has her doubts. However, the three witches control the most power, or the "ultimate" power in the play. 'All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glam is!

All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Candor! All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter. ' (1.3. 8-9). If they had not informed Macbeth about this, Lady Macbeth would never of found out about it and would not has expected Macbeth to murder the king, ultimately leading to Macbeths doom. The three witches also led Macbeth to his downfall soon after Macbeth came into power. How they accomplished this, was they made Macbeth feel over-confident, 'Be lion- mettle d, proud, and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspire rs are: Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill.

Shall come against him. ' (4.1. 66). The three witches were able to bring Macbeth into power, ironically however, they were also able to bring him out of it. Macbeth changed from a man with high morales and values, 'We still have judgement here that we but teach. Bloody instructions, which being taught return. To plague the inventor. ' (1.7.

21), to the merciless and over-confident murderer which he now at the end, 'I will not be afraid of death and bane, Til Birnam forest come to Dunsinane. ' (5.3. 89-90). Shakespeare also uses the symbolism of "Light" and "Dark" as a way of meaning "Life" and "Death". This tone is expressed near the end of the play after having lost his queen, hearing about the death of Lady Macbeth, and seeing his hopes turn to ashes, the bitter Macbeth now comments on life in caustic words.

"Tomorrow creeps in this petty pace". (5.5. 92). The basic feel of this brings a negative connotation to tomorrow. It keeps coming slowly and slyly as if to attack. Macbeth realizes he has no place left to hide and no one left he can fight.

His only end is death. "Out, out brief candle!" (5.5. 92). Lady Macbeth's candle has burnt out and soon his will also. Although he talks here about life being light (the candle flame), light is not desirable to him. He wants to extinguish it.

Macbeth is at the point in his life where he is now trapped by his fate. The consequences of his actions have caught up with him. This may very well be why he has such a dreary outlook on life. Life is associated with light but Macbeth is at a state where he sees no significance in having lived. "Life's but a walking shadow". (5.5. 92).

Macbeth is saying here that one's life is dark and dreary, and that the light of life only serves to cast a dark shadow. "A poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more". (5.5. 92). Macbeth lived his life like a bad actor.

He had his one chance on the stage and he failed. Macbeth also makes comments about life and death which contradict my own. Macbeth at this dismal point in his life insinuates that life is pain and he presents life with the imagery of darkness. The general connotation of death is one of darkness and sorrow. However, he now views it as an escape or an end to the darkness, possibly light. Macbeth proved that he could be a man by killing, but in the end he couldn't believe that he went through with all that.

All that he had done eventually lead to the death of his love, Lady Macbeth, which was the original reason he felt the need to prove himself. Love is a strange thing and people will do some crazy things when they are truly in love. Macbeths conscience eventually lead to his tragic end, but, can we not also blame it on his love?