Examples Of Cruelty In Macbeth

Cruelty: A Double-Edged Sword Renowned author, William Shakespeare, created his masterpiece Macbeth in 1606 which depicts a celebrated war hero and his wife who lose themselves in a lust for power. Throughout this play, Shakespeare masterfully conveys how acts against ethics slowly chip away at one’s identity. Themes can commonly stem from a powerful recurring action, in this case, acts of violence against certain protagonists in the story to establish power. Lady Macbeth changes from merciless to guilt-ridden, whereas Macbeth switches from remorseful to ruthless, exemplifying how committing acts of cruelty changes a person in different ways. Macbeth shows many acts of cruelty that strengthen the theme including, the murder of Duncan, the

In Act I of Macbeth Duncan’s ultimate demise, the first act of cruelty committed, leads Lady Macbeth’s ruthlessness to shine in her and Macbeth’s lust for power. Lady Macbeth says to Macbeth, “How tender ’is to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this” (Shakespeare I.vii. 63-69). Lady Macbeth shows no mercy in her argument with Macbeth. She depicts how ruthless she could be with a baby, and she can do the same to Duncan. Technically, no act of cruelty is committed at this point in time, but Lady Macbeth’s disregard for sympathy shows the lengths she would go for this power. When

Just after murdering the King of Scotland, Macbeth shares with Lady Macbeth that he heard a voice say, “Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more" (Shakespeare II.ii. 55-57). Macbeth feels that he will never be able to sleep again due to the guilt that will consume him, already feeling the effects. Before this life-altering experience, Macbeth was a war hero, very well respected and known as a good man, loyal to the king. After this, Macbeth is burdened with the weight of Duncan’s death and understands how his name is tarnished, even if it is for his own consciousness. Macbeth is unable to live with the gravity of the situation and starts to spiral after his first act of cruelty. Author Richard Whalen foreshadows the effects of Macbeth’s actions by including, “As you say, in this case "royal murder corrupts absolutely" but the honorable warrior Macbeth, brave in battle, shrinks from corrupting himself by royal murder. He has neither the experience nor temperament for it” (Whalen). Macbeth’s first act of cruelty, Duncan’s murder, sets him down a path of corruption for the rest of the play. Once a just and respected man, has now turned to alternative motives to serve himself rather than his country. It is