This Dead Butcher, How Far Do You Agree Essay Example

facing eagles or a hare confronting a lion.

The use of animal and predatory imagery in Macbeth's character highlights his resolute nature and exceptional prowess as a warrior. It also demonstrates the admiration and high regard his fellow countrymen hold for him, recognizing his immense value on the battlefield. However, the presence of this predatory lion imagery foreshadows Macbeth's potential to become a ruthless murderer. Despite committing numerous killings, Macbeth initially requires persuading from his wife because he initially possessed an excessive amount of compassion and reluctance to perpetrate such acts on his own.

Initially, Macbeth is reluctant to commit regicide because he considers himself as Duncan's "Kingsman and his subject." Therefore, he pays no attention to the witches' prophecy, which greatly disturbs him and makes his heart beat rapidly. Shakespeare portrays Macbeth's internal struggle by describing his previously settled heart as now "unfixed." Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, manipulates her husband by questioning his masculinity. She suggests that Macbeth would become more of a man if he were to kill Duncan. In response, Macbeth asserts that he is willing to do everything that is expected of a man.

The text demonstrates Macbeth's vulnerability to manipulation by Lady Macbeth and his desire for her admiration and respect. Lady Macbeth, influenced by "spirits" and the darkness of night, encourages Macbeth to come closer so she can share her thoughts with him. This emphasizes Lady Macbeth's intention to manipulate Macbeth by imposing her distorted view of the world on him. Shakespeare's portrayal of Lady Macbeth's influence on Macbeth implies that he is unable to carry out such acts solely based on his own willpower and cannot be categorically labeled

as a heartless murderer.

However, the utilization of the term "pour" implies a sense of fluidity and suggests that Macbeth could be easily influenced. Despite Macbeth becoming more impulsive, remnants of his humanity remain. He experiences immense regret over Duncan's murder and also harbors some guilt regarding Banquo's death. Following the killing of Duncan, Macbeth voices, "this is a sorry sight," and Lady Macbeth swiftly retorts with "a foolish thought." This further highlights Lady Macbeth's manipulation in preventing Macbeth from feeling remorse.

A key characteristic that distinguishes Macbeth from a butcher is his remorse, as he expresses, "Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red." Shakespeare suggests that the sea possesses purity, and if Macbeth were to cleanse his hands in it, it would become tainted. Moreover, the transition from using longer words to shorter ones intensifies the horror of Macbeth's actions by demonstrating that his once sharp intellect and thoughtful nature have vanished.

Macbeth is filled with a constant fear that nature will reveal his actions and whereabouts to the world. Shakespeare personifies nature to illustrate how Macbeth's terrible deed will be exposed for everyone to see. Macbeth grapples with the moral implications of Lady Macbeth's manipulation, fearing the repercussions of his actions. This suggests that he is not simply a heartless murderer.

Macbeth expresses worry about facing the repercussions of his murder and fears that his actions will ultimately result in his own downfall. Despite this, he proceeds to unjustly kill multiple people, establishing him as a heartless murderer.

Shakespeare's depiction of Macbeth's descent into savagery is evident in

his merciless actions. This is demonstrated through his ruthless massacre of Macduff's entire family, including his wife and children. The rapid progression of victims on Shakespeare's list portrays Macbeth as a savage, highlighting his disintegration into chaos and irrationality. Initially intending to kill only Macduff, Macbeth's deteriorating mental state leads him to suppress any hesitation or remorse, causing him to desire the deaths of more innocent individuals such as "his babes". Furthermore, Macbeth becomes unfazed by the consequences of his bloodshed, stating that he is so deeply immersed in it that the thought of stopping is as burdensome as continuing.

The word "tedious" in this context can also mean boring, suggesting that Macbeth is so emotionally disconnected that it would be uninteresting for him to stop killing people. In the scene where Macbeth orders the murderers to kill Lady Macduff and her son, one of the murderers refers to the son as an "egg", which implies fragility. Macbeth's arrogance and impulsiveness continue to escalate as he declares that his first desires will immediately become actions.

In this passage, it is evident that Macbeth undergoes a transformation that alters his character. He transitions from someone who previously contemplated the moral implications of his actions to someone who acts impulsively and without hesitation. This change is what ultimately makes him resemble a butcher more than ever before. Macbeth's behavior can be seen as a manifestation of the Freudian concept of the 'id', or the subconscious mind, rather than the reasonable and thoughtful nature he displayed in earlier acts, which may have even included the influence of the 'super ego'. Throughout the play, Macbeth becomes increasingly deceitful, and this becomes

evident in the banquet scene as his true inner self is revealed.

Macbeth's statement indicates his intention to feign humility as a host. Shakespeare's use of the term "play" suggests that Macbeth is putting on an act, implying that he may not truly possess the innocence and humbleness he portrays. This instance exemplifies Lady Macbeth's manipulation intertwined with Macbeth's tragic flaw, excessive pride. Lady Macbeth instructed him to project purity and innocence outwardly while concealing the underlying evil within. When confronted by Banquo's ghost, one of Macbeth's initial responses is defensively stating, "thou canst say I did it." This defensiveness signifies his attempt to hide a wrongdoing.

Macbeth's duplicity is what defines him as a butcher. Despite appearing as a "humble host", his true nature is that of a butcher. Upon discovering his wife's death, Macbeth plunges into nihilistic despair. He loses faith in his army's capability to defeat the English and instead believes that each day passes slowly and meaninglessly: "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, / Creeps in this petty pace from day to day". The repetition of the word "tomorrow" emphasizes Macbeth's perception of life's never-ending duration.

According to Macbeth, "life's but a walking shadow, a poor player / that struts and frets his hour upon the stage". However, this contradictory nature of Macbeth does not portray him as a butcher but rather as a grieving husband mourning the loss of his wife. Ultimately, while Macbeth initially possesses characteristics that distinguish him from a butcher, his transformation under the influence of the witches and Lady Macbeth causes him to modify his demeanor and lose some of his redeeming qualities. Consequently, he becomes the very butcher that

Malcom depicts.