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Use Of Revenge In Macbeth

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Shakespeare and Revenge Revenge is often seen across literature as the center of motivation for a character’s actions and is used to drive the plot. Shakespeare’s work is no exception to this powerful use of revenge as he intertwines it with drama and tragedy in numerous of his pieces. Throughout his stories, Shakespeare utilizes revenge to avenge a character’s death, includes the aspect of afterlife to serve as revenge for those who have committed wrongful acts, and to add dramatic elements. Shakespeare employs the aspect of revenge in order to avenge a character’s death in his classic stories Macbeth and Hamlet. Revenge is seen in Macbeth after the protagonist murders King Duncan and the family of Macduff. Revenge is exemplified by Macduff who seeks revenge on Macbeth after learning of his family’s death. Malcolm encourages this revenge by saying, “Be comforted: Let’s make us medicines of our great revenge, to cure this deadly grief.” Macbeth (4.3 213-215) In saying this, Malcolm too is portrayed as revengeful for the death of …show more content…

In the play Macbeth, King Duncan’s spirit preys on the weakened Lady Macbeth in her dreams. She begins sleepwalking and sees blood on her hands. As stated in Lady Macbeth by Joseph Rosenblum, “Yet the memory of Duncan’s blood haunts her. She sees it. She smells it,” (Rosenblum 5). The haunting of King Duncan’s spirit proved to be pure torment for Lady Macbeth as it resulted in her taking her own life. The aspect of revenge by afterlife is not limited just to Lady Macbeth but rather includes her husband, Macbeth. The role of Banquo’s ghost is employed to remind Macbeth of his murderous acts. The appearance of Banquo drives Macbeth to insanity as he is sure the ghost is there to haunt him and serve as revenge for his sinful acts. Shakespeare uses the presence of afterlife to serve as revenge on those who have wronged in his

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