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Examples Of Coveting In Macbeth

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In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the author reprimands the power of coveting. Shakespeare illustrates that the mere thought of coveting leads to the downfall of the mind through the delusions experienced by the characters. Secondly, Shakespeare warns the Elizabethan audience about the dangers of covetousness through the depiction of delirium, fear, paranoia and insomnia. However Shakespeare embellishes those who are virtuous and restore the natural order by ending those who covet. From a feminist reading of the book, the readers are positioned to discern a flavour of misogyny. Shakespeare communicates that women are too weak to covet. In the book Lady Macbeth ends up killing herself because of her overwhelming guilt, this can be …show more content…

Throughout the book Shakespeare depicts Macbeth's sanity as deteriorating after he commits the heinous crime of plotting a usurpation. This can be seen through the quote ‘’ Is this a dagger?’’ This shows Macbeth's mind slowly declining with guilt and paranoia from coveting from the throne. It also foreshadows Macbeth’s resultant downfall. The readers are positioned to question the sanity of Macbeth and his mental status. This further supports the idea of Shakespeare condemning the act of coveting. The book also castigates Lady Macbeth for coveting. This can be seen through the quote ‘’Out damned spot.’’ Shakespeare highlights Lady Macbeth’s paranoia and guilt through the hallucinations of Lady Macbeth’s bloody hands, while suffering from insomnia. Which was as a result of acting on a covetous goal. ‘’Thy bones are marrowless,’’ further highlights the hallucinations faced by Macbeth when ordering the death of Banquo. Shakespeare indicates the unravelling of the mind will lead for those who …show more content…

Through the quote ‘’ Black and deep desires,’’ Shakespeare conveys guilt and paranoia to those who covet by showing such dark desires will lead to abominable situations. Symbolism and juxtaposition is used in this quote by showing light and dark as Macbeth and Duncan Shakespeare and also represents the battle between good and evil. This idea is further developed through the quote ‘’ Seated heart knock at my ribs,’’ showing the severe guilt in Macbeth when coveting for the throne. This quote clearly depicts the agonising pain that Macbeth faces when coveting for the throne. This is to demonstrate to the Elizabethan audience, the imminent internal downfall that results from a covetous life. ‘’Unsex me here,’’ highlights the raging passion and covetous thoughts that filled Lady Macbeth's head. Through this quote the readers are positioned to feel an urge of wickedness as well as incommodious feelings. This allows the Elizabethan audience to reassess the worthiness of such wicked covetous thoughts. ‘’Dash’d the brains out,” is used by Shakespeare to further convince the audience about the dangers of coveting. The readers are positioned to feel a sense of horror and unpleasantness through Lady Macbeth’s words. The humanity in Lady macbeth seems to have been sucked out, depicting

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