Humanism In Macbeth

The Tragedy of Macbeth demonstrates the change of heart most people had during the time period of the English Renaissance; likewise, this time period also is known as the time of expansion. Specific values and beliefs shifted from just strictly religious to humanistic values. The time of expansion created new curriculum and a broader array of topics that people could study through universities while gaining an education. Humanism is “a system of thought that focuses on humans and their values, capacities, and worth” (American Heritage Dictionary of English Language). It can also be known as “(Philosophy) a philosophical position that stresses the autonomy of human reason in contradiction to the authority of the Church” (Collins English Dictionary).

This is an example of how people are no longer worried about a higher presence,but instead worried about themselves. In this case the two were worried about achieving a higher power in the society they were living in. Lady Macbeth presents the idea that King Duncan must be slaughtered in order for Macbeth to become king. Macbeth does not at first go along with her idea. He did not want to kill his loyal companion, “We will proceed no further in this business: He hath honored me of late, and I have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people, which would be worn now in their newest gloss, not cast aside so soon” (Shakespeare 1.7.31-35). Lady Macbeth does not seem to care about Macbeth’s heartly desires. Lady Macbeth insisted on making Macbeth king and herself queen. She convinces Macbeth to kill King Duncan. She does this by questioning Macbeth’s manhood, “It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way” (Shakespeare 1.5.15-16). She pushes him into killing King Duncan, “But screw your courage to the sticking-place, and we’ll not fail” (Shakespeare 1.7.60-61). This is a prime example of how humanism replaces religious values during the time of expansion in the Kingdom of England. Shakespeare wrote this play to demonstrate the shift in values and beliefs during this time period of which he was alive in