Fear In Macbeth Essay

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The tragedy Macbeth, by Shakespeare introduces fear and the effect it can have on people. Fear can motivate people to do things that are immoral to their human nature. In Macbeth fear takes control of many characters imaginations and actions, causing them to commit violent acts. Fear causes Lady Macbeth to hallucinate. It also causes Macbeth and Macduff to commit murderous acts. So much evil is created from fear. Fear control our minds, leading us to hallucinate. In the article Macbeth's Rites of Violence by Derek Cohen, it supports the idea that violence is everywhere in the play and it effects our imagination, “ Violence is the heart and soul of Macbeth. It permeates the actions and the narrative; it clings to the characters; it infects and controls the imagination of each of the personae”(Cohen 55).When Lady Macbeth sleep walks, her imagination is taking over due to her fearful thoughts. Lady Macbeth fears that she has turned Macbeth into a stone cold killer:
LADY MACBETH. The thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?—What, will these hands ne'er be clean?—No more o' that, my lord, no more o' that. You mar all with this starting.
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In the journal article it states, “There is a dreadful logic to Macbeth’s actions. Banquo and Fleance, suspected because they know too much, must be killed because killing is the way to solve problems. Together they threaten his presence and future” (Cohen 58). This supports the idea that fear causes evil because Macbeth fears he will lose his position. Leaving him with no choice but to end Banquo’s life. In the play, Macbeth fears that Banquo will expose him of the crimes that he has committed. If Banquo tells on Macbeth for killing Duncan, then it will ruin Macbeth's chances of being king. The fear of someone else knowing what he did leads him to plot Banquo's death. Fear motivates Macbeth to set up a violent act to end Banquo’s

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