Macbeth essay on good behavior
Macbeth essay on good behaviorIn Macbeth, a dramatic tragedy by William Shakespeare, The heroic characters are rewarded and the evil, punished. Lady Macbeth, from her appearance in the play, is an evil woman and causes her husband's change of role. She goes insane with guilt and kills herself. Lady Macbeth receives her punishment in full. Malcolm, King Duncan's son, is a heroic and honourable person throughout the play. He is crowned King of Scotland in the last act and finally gets what he deserves. Macbeth is on both sides of this debate. He wins the battle in the first scene and is granted the title of Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth lies and cheats his fellow men in the following scenes and is killed in a heated battle with Macduff. He receives both his reward and punishment in the five-act play.
Lady Macbeth first enters the book right after Macbeth receives his first predictions from the three Witches. She does not think twice about her actions and starts planning Duncan's murder without consulting her husband first. Lady Macbeth, however, does not feel that her husband has the heart to kill the King for the crown:
Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be
What thou art promise'd: yet do I fear thy nature,
It is too full o' the milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great,
Art not without ambition…(I.V.15-19)
This shows how little Lady Macbeth cares about her husband's wishes. This is very ironic since normally it is the man who does not ask for approval. Even when Macbeth disagrees to her plan, Lady Macbeth starts taunting her husband and calls him a coward: "…Art thou afeared/To be the same in thine own act and valour/As thou art in desire?…"(I.VII.39-41) This decision is Lady Macbeth's downfall as she goes crazy with guilt for the murder of Duncan and Banquo. "You see her eyes are open./Ay, but their sense is shut./…Out damned spot! out I say!"(V.I.25-26, 35) Lady Macbeth gives the punishment to herself. She is so guilt stricken; she kills herself in Dunsinane. The evil is punished.
Malcolm is almost a complete opposite to Lady Macbeth. After his father's murder, he flees to England and starts to unravel Macbeth's lie about his father. He feels uneasy about his company: "Let's not consort with them:/To show an unfelt sorrow is an office/Which the false man does easy." (II.IV.136-138) by running away, Malcolm shows his pride for the country by wanting to save his families title. Had Malcolm stayed in Scotland, he would have run a great risk for the welfare of the country. Malcolm does not appear again until Act 4 and speaks about nothing but Macbeth's treachery. "This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues/Was once thought honest…" (IV.III.12-13) Malcolm is rewarded with the crown of Scotland in the...
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