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Path Of Corruption In Macbeth

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The cracks in the Macbeth’s “false face” begin to show after the murder, focusing on the symbol of blood concerning which Macbeth exclaims “Will all great Neptune 's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas in incarnadine, Making the green one red.” (Pg. 183; 2.2.61). Macbeth recognizes the magnitude of his actions seeing that no matter how hard he may scrub there will always be a blood stain beneath the surface for having done such a terrible crime, something which will only build throughout the rest of the play. With this mindset, Macbeth becomes the one who takes the commanding role in the murder of Banquo, taking his own initiative by sending the murderers after his former friend and his son. It is no wonder then that after the confirmation of the murder of Banquo, the bloody apparition of his former friend coalesces upon his throne. Each time the ghost …show more content…

It is once this “true face” is revealed which brings him to his ultimate downfall since all men have mothers and Birnam wood cannot actually move to Dunsinane hill, Macbeth assumed that he is in no danger and therefore set out on his unconflicted path of destruction. In the final conflict, where Macduff calls out Macbeth for the “hellhound” and “villain” he is, Macbeth discovers that his foe Macduff was a C-section baby and not “born of woman”, and while the Birnam wood did not actually move themselves it did appear that way. Once both of these things occurred, his first thought was to how the witches had lied: “And be these juggling fiends no more believed, That palter with us in a double sense, That keep the word of promise to our ear, And break it to our hope.” (Pg. 295; 5.8.18). The tyrant Macbeth comes to the realization that the hopes raised within him have become no more than broken promises and dreams. In his death he is remembered by Malcolm to be nothing more than a “cruel minister” and “dead

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Macbeth" delves into the destructive consequences of unchecked ambition, culminating in a cycle of violence perpetuated by the pursuit of power. Through these works, we are reminded of the devastating impact of violence and revenge on individuals and society as a whole. These themes serve as cautionary reminders of the destructive forces

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With Macbeth being a general in the Scottish military, he had major influences on people and their daily lives. After the murder of King Duncan, Banquo’s suspicion of who committed the murders arose around a single suspect, Macbeth. Knowing that Banquo most likely knew the truth that Macbeth killed King Duncan, Macbeth went back to his evil ways with ease. Through his attendant, Macbeth summons three murderers. Shakespeare introduces the murders with stage direction “[Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers]” (Shakespeare, 363), in which Macbeth he uses Banquo as bait in order to gain their graces and loyalty “That it was he in the times past which held you so under fortune, which you thought had been our innocent self: this I made good to you in our last conference, pass'd in probation with you, how you were borne in hand, how cross'd, the instruments, who wrought with them, and all things else that might, so half a soul and to a notion crazed, Say 'Thus did Banquo.'”

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With the news of his father’s murder and the threat of Macbeth taking over the throne, Malcolm becomes directly affected by Macbeth’s decisions, and is forced to take an internal journey to get rid of his timid nature and become confident when faced with trying times. Malcolm,

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After murdering Duncan, the blood that is figuratively left with Macbeth causes him to trap himself in guilt. After he commits the crime, to Lady Macbeth he says, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/ Clean from my hand?” (II.ii. 57-58) This quote illustrates that blood has figuratively stained Macbeth’s hands, as he believes that even the oceans don’t contain enough water to wash off the blood spilled from his crime. This shows that he is aware that what he did was wrong, and therefore the blood he has on his hands symbolize his guilt and remorse.

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771 Words | 4 Pages

Proceeding with the crime, Macbeth later receives the news that only Banquo has been killed. Macbeth’s paranoia, guilt, and shame manifest into an envisionment of Banquo’s ghost at Inverness. Upon Macbeth seeing the ghost, Lady Macbeth attempts to calm him down, to which he

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Macbeth is a tyrant during his rule, manipulating the minds of the people and using murders to clear out anyone that stood in his way, so that he can stay in power. Malcolm worries about the state of Scotland as he exclaims, “I think our country sinks beneath the yoke./ It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash/ Is added to her wounds. I think withal…” (Shakespeare 4.3.49-51). Malcolm notices the true state of Scotland under the rule of Macbeth, as he has forcefully gained his

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Surprisingly they agree to Macbeth's terms. The witches give Macbeth apparitions to answer his questions. The first apparition was to beware Macduff. The second apparition was for Macbeth to be bold because no one born from a woman will harm him. The final apparition was to be brave because Macbeth won’t fail unless Birnam Wood marches to fight you at Dunsinane Hill.

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Additionally, it also accentuates the unjust nature of Banquo’s murder later on. This is due to the fact that unlike Macbeth, he remained true to his reputation until his death. The night that King Duncan is scheduled to visit Macbeth’s, Lady Macbeth warns him to act normal to avoid suspicion and

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This scene shows Macbeth's guilt and his conscience coming into action once again as a vision as it was Macbeth who ordered Banquo to death, after him having suspicions of Macbeth killing Duncan. We see now that, funnily enough, Macbeth's guilt from a previous scene has led to another scene emphasising his guilt. We see this throughout the play quite evidently this pool of guilt getting larger and larger until it has reached its highest point. As soon as Macbeth comes into contact with the ghost of Banquo, corruption is brought to his mind and his conscience is flattened and destroyed and overridden with guilt causing the conscience of Macbeth to what was a feeling of ambition to the feelings of guilt and anxiety. During the Elizabethan and Jacobean period, religion had a heavy influence in society with many believing the living and dead were able to communicate.

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Because of his wife’s pressuring, Macbeth has now taken his first step down a dark road, killing his king. The guilt from this horrific act nearly breaks him. His hands are dripping with the blood of a king he loved and

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Because Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s decision to murder Duncan, Both face the guilt of the power they abused portrays on the shadows that reflect on them as well as the natural consequences they will face. During the first half of the play, Lady Macbeth expresses her unnatural feelings and this is demonstrated through the corruption of power when she want’s to hire people to kill Duncan because she thinks that Macbeth is too scared. At first, when Lady Macbeth hinted “Their drenchèd natures lies as in a death”(1.7.78). This demonstrates that Lady Macbeth is characterizing corruption of power due to the fact that she want's to kill Duncan, therefore she can be queen of cawdor while Macbeth is king.

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Although a decorated war-hero, Macbeth paradoxically embodies a man with a loosely defined moral compass- the adoption of self-preservation sustains the perpetual deficit of his moral values. Additionally, his rationale to act is influenced by his repressed emotions of guilt and anxiety. In order to protect himself, Macbeth transcends his pre-conceived moral convictions, drowning himself in a cesspool of blood. By virtue of Macbeth’s incessant utilization of self-preservation, he commits the obstruction of justice to prevent himself from becoming the center of public scrutiny. In an attempt to cover his tracks, Macbeth stipulates the assassination of Banquo and his son, Fleance; he is mentally agonized by the fact that Banquo was present with

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842 Words | 4 Pages

She serves as the brains behind this operation, while Macbeth’s hands serve as the tools of the crime. The regicide that Macbeth perpetrates institutes him on a path of terrible sins. The ghost of Banquo, Macbeth’s friend whom he murdered, appears to Macbeth and marks

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760 Words | 4 Pages

Macbeth’s impatience for power leads to drastic actions. He murders the king in the belief that “this blow might be the be-all and end-all” (1.7.5). This assassination could never “trammel up the consequence” (1.7.2-3), as Macbeth believes, but only leads to more trouble. Although Macbeth seizes the throne, Macbeth had to betray his loyalty to the king whose “virtues will plead like angels” (1.7.18-19), and his morality has paid the price. Macbeth has now lost all sense of what honor is by using such dishonest ways to become king.

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Macbeth’s Moral Deterioration Throughout the years where ruling and power took place everyone has always wanted to feel powerful and wouldn't stop at any lengths to have it even if it means hurting others along the way and choosing the wrong path . For others not so much, but some will choose anything to have power for instance in the tragedy of Macbeth. This is a story of an unsuccessful ruler who became king by murdering and manipulation. He chose to kill and lie in order to have power. His immoral decisions eventually lead him into extreme feelings of guilt and remorse later on in the tragedy.

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