Macbeth Essay, Research Paper

Everyone has a flaw, but some are more serious than others are. Some people have an addiction to gambling, while others have a flaw in their memory where they can t remember to take out the garbage. However, in the more serious cases, these flaws can come back to haunt a person, just as it did in Shakespeare s Macbeth. This play was based around the flaws a person s character can hold, and how that can eventually lead to the demise of that person.

Macbeth is a very complex, interesting play, which depicts the fall of a character s morality due to a tragic flaw or error in their character. This play focuses around a basic theme, showing how a person s character can deteriorate as they feel they become more powerful and important than everyone else around them. This theme is shown well in Macbeth, who was once a brave, well respected individual fighting in the English army under King Duncan, and one who had earned his respect honestly in battle.

For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name-

Disdaining fortune, with his brandish d steel,

Which smoked with bloody execution (Act 1, Scene 2, 18-20)

However, he lost his respect as the gain of power took over him and controlled his actions due to his flaw, ambition. Once Macbeth earned a taste of power after capturing the Thane of Cawdor as well as the Thane of Glamis, he felt he could do better, and let the gain of power affect his life, his actions, and his treatment, not only of others, but himself as well. The ambition Macbeth held was a serious problem in his character in the play, and was the main idea for the basis of the play.

The main conflict in this play is the exploitation of the tragic flaws of the many characters throughout the play. Because of his flaw, his ambition, many other characters died because of their flaws as well.

Art not without ambition, but without

The illness should attend it; what thou wouldst highly,

That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false,

And yet wouldst wrongly win (Act 1, Scene 5, 18-21)

For example, the past Thane of Cawdor had a villianish quality to himself, which lead him into becoming a traitor and then being killed by Macbeth. King Duncan was too trusting in people, and he felt that none of his friends could be his enemies, and didn t realize the plans Macbeth was planning to carry out. Lady Macbeth, although she had great plans for her and her husbands success, did not have enough confidence and courage to do the deed herself, and forced Macbeth into the dreaded situation. The revealing of the flaws in each of these characters had a great impact on the lives that these characters lived.

Macbeth also has several serious ideas and principles one should leave the play with. Firstly, people should be aware that everyone has some type of a flaw within their character, and that someone could exploit that quality to their own advantage. For example, Macbeth used the flaws in King Duncan and the Thane of Cawdor to succeed over them and continue on his quest for the throne. Lady Macbeth also reveals another interesting idea that could be taken from this play; a guilty conscious is a heavy load to bear.

Here s the smell of blood still: all the

perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.

Oh, oh, oh! (Act 5, Scene 1, 46-48)

After assisting in the assassination of King Duncan, her character was overwhelmed by the guilt, thus driving her insane. These ideas and concerns are important and should be carried away from this play.

In our world, we all have flaws in our character that can lead to a decrease in our morality and respect, as was the case of Lord Macbeth, among others, from Shakespeare s Macbeth. However, it is the quality in a person s character, their ability to deal with their flaws, that sets them among the elite people in our society. It is crucial to develop this quality in order for a person to maintain a good character and a high level of respect among others. Be not like Macbeth; do not let your emotions run away from you.