William Shakespeare s Macbeth As A Butcher - 828 Words

At the end of the play, Malcolm describes Macbeth as a â€Å"butcher†. Do you think that Macbeth is merely portrayed as a â€Å"butcher†? Malcolm’s description of Macbeth as a â€Å"butcher† is appropriate at face value due to Shakespeare’s portrayal of excessive violence, it seems as though Macbeth possesses this â€Å"vaulting ambition† which allows him to endure the tendencies of a â€Å"butcher†. The connotations of a â€Å"butcher† implies a de-sensitised individual capable of slaughtering animals or in this case humans in a routine and conventional manner. However, when delving deeper into the character of Macbeth we realise there is more to his character as there is evidence of emotions, for example, guilt and repentance as well as the fact the only person he physically kills is King Duncan. Macbeth’s actions are also barbaric, prior to the three witches and the betrayal of King Duncan, Macbeth’s killing of Macdonwald is described as he unseam’d him from the nave to the chops. this imagery depicts a kind of butchery and resonates with the gothic implications of the word ‘butcher’. The idea that Macbeth is inherently morally corrupted from the outset is supported by the fact that after the witches recite the prophecy, Macbeth’s initial thought is one of regicide, betrayal of his closest friend; â€Å"My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man that function†. Many would argue that it was the taunting behaviour of Lady Macbeth that directly caused Macbeth toShow MoreRelatedMacbeth As A Butcher Essay1681 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"For the play Macbeth to work as a tragedy, Shakespeare had to maintain our sympathy with a character whose actions become increasingly ‘’those of a butcher†. Discuss.† The play Macbeth, composed by William Shakespeare in 1606, can be considered as a tragedy when feelings of sympathy for a character who becomes increasingly ambitious and when a character is affected by another’s increase in ambition is evoked upon the audience. Through the distress that the audience feels for Macbeth as he suffersRead MoreThe Start of Evil: Lady Macbeth by William Shakespeare1009 Words   |  5 PagesThe Start of Evil Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare in the 1600 century. It is one of Shakespeare’s most well known tragedies, and continues to be studied to this day. It is a dark and gloomy play, as the main character, Macbeth, gets a taste for evil and kills the king of Scotland, King Duncan, in order to become king himself. After this moment there is a rapid increase of evil in him, as he starts to kill more and more people who upset him or are a threat to the throne. One ofRead MoreEssay The Fault of the Character Macbeth in Shakespeares Macbeth1220 Words   |  5 PagesCharacter Macbeth in Shakespeares Macbeth Macbeth by William Shakespeare is the story of a brave, honourable soldier who ruins his life due to his own greed for power, respect and wealth. The story starts with Macbeth as the kings favorite soldier, a very respectful, honorable man. Macbeth then is told by the witches his life will change for the better - All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!. In a desperate effort to obtain this promised position of King, Macbeth takes hisRead MoreShakespeare s Macbeth : Importance Of Secondary Characters1374 Words   |  6 PagesMacbeth: Importance of Secondary Characters Dramatic literature during the Elizabethan era included the illustrious works of the remarkable William Shakespeare. As Shakespeare composes his theatric spectacles, he brings the characters to life. 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Shakespeare’s influence on the British culture in the 21st century remains unwavering. â€Å"Although William Shakespeare is viewed as the quintessential English writer, Shakespeare’s poems and plays have altered the course of European and World literature. The shadow that William Shakespeare has cast over the world has influenced artists, poets, philosophers and thinkers.’ (William Shakespeare- Biography, n.d.). Because of himRead MoreEssay on Biography of William Shakespeare2736 Words   |  11 PagesBiography of William Shakespeare William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564. He was baptized on April 24, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. He was the third of eight children born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden, three of whom died in childhood. John was a well-known merchant and Mary was the daughter of a Roman Catholic member of the gentry, or high social position. The house where Shakespeare spent his childhood stood adjacent to he wool shop in which his father plied a successfulRead MorePlay Macbeth11985 Words   |  48 PagesAt the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a respected general, a devoted husband, and a loyal subject of the king. The first of the witches prophecies bring out his ambitious nature, but he struggles with killing the king. By attacking his manhood, Lady Macbeth convinces him to committ the first of his evil deeds. Macbeths evil deed causes him to suffer from fear and guilt, which leads to even more evil crimes. Then Macbeth becomes paranoid, suffering from hallucinations an d sleeplessness. He becomesRead MorePlay Macbeth11979 Words   |  48 PagesAt the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a respected general, a devoted husband, and a loyal subject of the king. The first of the witches prophecies bring out his ambitious nature, but he struggles with killing the king. By attacking his manhood, Lady Macbeth convinces him to committ the first of his evil deeds. Macbeths evil deed causes him to suffer from fear and guilt, which leads to even more evil crimes. Then Macbeth becomes paranoid, suffering from hallucinations and sleeplessness. He becomes