Macbeth And Justice Essay, Research Paper

Even though people in retributive justice feel satisfaction, the perpetrator can

also suffer. William Shakespeare?s powerful Macbeth shows the deterioration of

an honourable and respectable general, Macbeth, who becomes a tragic hero after

temptations from the witches and his wife to perform murders. Macbeth

soliloquies enable the audience to experience the conflict within Macbeth and

thus, gain an understanding of the reasons for his behavior and decisions. As a

result, the tremendous reversal of Macbeth?s fortunes in the end leaves the

audience filled not with pity, but also awe, at the realization that people can

suffer greatly. Macbeth?s soliloquies before the murder of Duncan shows the

vigorous internal struggle of himself, as his conscience is fighting against his

evil minds. Also, they shows Macbeth has brought his own downfall upon himself.

The audience will then feel pity about Macbeth?s deterioration brought by

himself when witnessing his choice of following the evil. Macbeth is a

courageous and honourable general in Scotland. His success in the battle against

the invaders of Scotland gains respect from the King Duncan and his fellow

soldiers. However, the demonic forces, symbolized by three witches, temptates

Macbeth. The witches hail Macbeth as the Thane of Glamis and Cawdor who will be

king and hail Banquo, who is a nobleman of Scotland and Macbeth?s friend, as

one who will become the father of a line of kings. Macbeth ambition deep in his

heart starts growing at that time. In Act I, scene iii, when Macbeth is thinking

about the fulfillment of the two prophecies given by the witches before,

"My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, shakes my single state of

man"(I, iii, 139- 140) In this soliloquy, Macbeth reflects his idea about

the "two truths" told by the witches. He is ambitious to become king,

as he reacts nervously when the witches mention his fate. The very idea of

murder "shakes his single state of man". However, at this! point, he

is loyal to the king, and he rejects the idea of murder, "If chance will

have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir."(I, iii, 143-144)

The predictions by the witches may have strengthened the criminal intentions

that he had probably never yet dared to express clearly, even to himself. He is

not alliance with crime, he is neutral, but obviously temptation is working upon

him. Yet, he might overcome the promptings of his evil ambition by an effort.

After the battle, Macbeth is greeted with effusive thanks by Duncan. Duncan then

announces that he will make Malcolm heir to the throne. In Act I, scene iv,

Macbeth in his aside states that this announcement is a bar to his ambition and

calls upon darkness to cover what he wishes to be done: 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, 49-54) As

Duncan makes the announcement, Macbeth starts wondering if murder is the only

way in which he can achieve the kingship. His ambition overcomes his finer

nature. He calls upon the stars to hide their light, indicating that his

"black" desires comes out, and he thinks it is too evil to be seen.

Macbeth?s image of the eyes? winking upon the work of the hand is expressive

both of his intense aversion to the deed and of his intense desire to get what

the deed will accomplish. At the same time his "let that be" marks the

point at which his fascinated contemplation of the thought of murdering Duncan

becomes a resolution, although he will waver from it. The opposition between eye

and hand is indicative of the civil war within him. In Act I, scene iv, shortly

after Duncan?s arrival to Macbeth?s castle, Macbeth gives voice to his

feeling concerning the rashness and the awfulness of the projected murder: If it

were done when ?tis done, then ?twere well it were done quickly. If th?

assassination could trammel up the consequence, and catch, with his surcease,

success; that but this blow might be the be-ball and the end-all — here. But

here, upon this bank and shoal of time, we?d jump the life to come. But in

these cases we still have judgment here. (I, vii, 1–8) At this point,

Macbeth?s character has fallen to the point where he has the desperate courage

to commit the murder, but is afraid of the consequences. He gives three reasons

for not performing the murder. First, it would be imprudent. Secondly, it would

violate the blood-tie of a kinsman, the allegiance of a subject, and the duty of

a host. Finally, he suggests that Duncan has been so blameless a king that to

kill him would be monstrous. He controls his ambition for the moment and

resolves not to kill the king. However, if he assures the safety during his

life, he would gladly "jump the life to come". Finally, Macbeth?s

wife, Lady Macbeth, reveals Macbeth?s weakness of his decision, by calling him

a coward without manhood and says that Macbeth does not really love her. Her

speech changes Macbeth?s mind, all his fears are vanished. He is then no

longer troubled by any sense of morality, and determines to proceed the murder.