从性格角度分析麦克白悲剧的必然性
从性格角度分析麦克白悲剧的必然性
摘要：威廉·莎士比亚（1564—1616），英国诗人和剧作家，一个文学界泰斗级文学巨匠，他的作品，比如四大悲剧，不仅对于后来的作家产生了直接或者间接的影响，也给东西方社会和文化产生了不可估量的深远意义。同时，他的戏剧作品对于后来文学戏剧的发展留下了不可磨灭的印记。值得一提的是，他的戏剧在戏剧的人物塑造，剧情发展，戏剧流派等方面对后世产生了重大影响。
1589年到1613年被认为是莎士比亚杰出作品最多的时期，尤其是从1608年开始，莎士比亚的戏剧改变了以喜剧为中心的风格。因此产生了著名的四大悲剧，即《哈姆雷特》，《李尔王》，《奥赛罗》，《麦克白》。
《麦克白》，作为四大悲剧之一，在文学领域有着深远影响。它一直被认为是一部关于对与错，正义与邪恶斗争的悲剧。主人公麦克白，从一个光荣的大将军堕落成一个谋朝篡位的叛臣，最后变为一个暴君，最后落得凄惨的下场。本文将对麦克白从一个大将军到最后的暴君这中间身份变化过程中其人物的性格进行分析，因此来揭露其悲剧的必然性。
本文除引言和结尾部分外共有三章：
引言部分，首先该部分会对本文的理论框架有一个简要的介绍，其中包括悲剧的定义以及莎士比亚对于悲剧的一些看法。然后，会介绍《麦克白》的文学地位，最后会介绍本文的结构以及话题。
第一章是对麦克白性格的一个鸟瞰。本章主要想要证明麦克白性格中确实存在一些缺陷，例如他面对事情时内心的惊慌，他的优柔寡断，他意志的薄弱等。
第二章主要探讨他性格中的弱点如何影响其身份的变化。起初，麦克白是一个勇敢而又成功的英雄，享有各种殊荣。然而，他内心的欲望被女巫的语言引发，又因为他个人意志的薄弱，让他的内心产生了强烈的斗争。在这时，麦克白夫人对其的影响成为了他心理斗争停止的直接原因。因此他犯了一系列的错误，比如谋杀国王，弑君夺位。从此成为了一个叛臣。最后，他因为面对国王的鬼魂而无法停息内心的恐惧，杀死了自己的家人，变得残忍，成为了一个暴君，并最终以悲剧收场。
第三章主要是探讨他的性格在他整个身份变化中如何让他的悲惨结局变得不可避免。首先要强调的是，正因为他有如此性格，所以他的悲剧是早已注定，然后该章还会探究其悲剧
的根源；比如麦克白对权力的贪婪和渴望，他内心蛰伏已久的欲望和他性格中本身带有的凶暴。
结尾部分将会对全文进行一个总结，并且会强调尽管在麦克白的整个悲剧中，有许多客观因素或多或少地影响了他，但是，他性格的缺陷，始终才是导致他悲剧不可避免的主要原因。
关键词：麦克白；性格缺陷；身份转换；不可避免的悲剧
An Analysis on the Inevitability of Macbeth’s Tragic Ending
from the Perspective of Personal Traits
Abstract
William Shakespeare (baptized 26 April 1564-died 23 April 1616), an English poet and playwright, has been widely acknowledged as the greatest writer in the English literature and world’s preeminent dramatist. His surviving works, especially his famous Four Great Tragedies have exerted profound influence upon the cultures of both western and eastern societies. Also, Shakespeare’s work has made a lasting impression on later theatre and literature. In particular, he expanded the dramatic potential of plot, characterization, language , and genre.
Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613. His early plays revolved around mainly comedies until about 1608,including Hamlet King Lear, Othello and Macbeth, considered some of the finest pieces of work in the English literature.
Macbeth, as one of the four tragedies, has exerted a profound influence on the field of the literature. It has always been regarded as a great tragedy about the choice between right and wrong, and the fight between good and evil. The Protagonist—Macbeth changes from a glorious general to an evil usurper and conspirator, and to a tyrant but end with tragedy through the whole process of the play. This thesis mainly analyses the transformation of Macbeth’s identities which from a loyal general to a tyrant , by analysing the traits in this process, thus to reveal his tragic destiny.
This thesis is divided into three chapters besides the introduction and the conclusion.
The introduction part will firstly gives a brief view on the theoretical framework which includes the definition of tragedy and Shakespeare’s idea towards tragedy, and a brief view is
given on the position of Macbeth. Lastly, it will introduce the structure of the thesis and the significance of the study.
Chapter one provides an over view on the Macbeth’s personal traits. This chapter tries to prove that there do exsit some defects in his traits,like his panic to the external stimulation, his irresolution before his decision .
Chapter two of this thesis tries to discuss how the defeats in his personal traits had influenced his identities. Firstly, Macbeth is a hero, he is brave and successful, loaded with honors and enjoying every prospect of praises. The desire hid in his deep heart is triggered by the witches’ prophecies, additionally, his weak volition caused hard struggle in his heart. Then at this moment Lady Macbeth’s influence becomes the decisive factor to end this struggle in his heart. So his desire come into his consciousness, and he committed a series of mistakes: murder of King Duncan and Banquo thus made him a murderer. Lastly, when Macbeth cannot stand the image of Banquo’s ghost appearing in front of his eyes ,he revisit the witches who prophesy his destiny. The witches’ ambivalent words again made Macbeth’s subconsciousness float to the consciousness. He deeply obsessed with the prophecies. Believing the witches’ prophecies ,and became cruel, he killed Macduff and his family thus made him a evil.
Chapter three mainly analyses how his traits made his tragic ending inevitable. It will emphasize how the defects in his traits cause his doomed tragedy. It will foucus on three key defects: his fear and timidity in his traits; his weak volition and his strong desires.
The part of conclusion gives a summary to the whole thesis. It mainly argues that, through the whole tragedy of Macbeth , though there were many objective factors, his defects in his traits are the key factor which led his tragedy cannot be avoided.
Key Words: Macbeth; Identities; Defects ; Personal Traits; Inevitable Tragedy
Acknowledgements
Many people have given me support in the course of my study for bachelor’s degree and assisted me in writing this thesis. I really appreciate their contributions.
First and foremost, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Zhou Tingting, without her guidance and assistance, the completion of this thesis would have been impossible. It was she who constantly instructed me with much patience in the writing of the present thesis. I’m grateful to her for reading this paper with great care and offering valuable advice and encouragement during the stages of its development.
In addition, my special gratitude also goes to all the teachers, who imparted me so much knowledge during my study and gave me a lot of helpful advice. Besides, I’m grateful to my school which creates a stage for my academic development.
Still, my particular thanks also go to my friends and my classmates, who have all the way gave me mental support and helpful materials.
This work stands as a testament to the tremendous love, faith, and encouragement from all the afore-mentioned people, which I will cherish at the bottom of my heart forever. It is my luck having them by my side and I would like to share happiness of accomplishment with them all.
Contents
中文摘要 (i)
Abstract (ii)
Acknowledgements (iv)
Introduction (1)
Ⅰ. An Overview of Macbeth’s Traits (4)
A.Macbeth’s Overconfidence (4)
B.Macbeth’s Irresolution (5)
C.Macbeth’s Panic (6)
Ⅱ.Macbeth’s Identities’ Change Influenced by His Traits…………………………...
A.Macbeth as a Hero (8)
B.Macbeth’s First Indentity Change Duo to His Traits (10)
1.The Impact of Lady Macbeth (10)
2.Macbeth as a Murderer (12)
C.Macbeth’s Second Indentity Change Due to His Traits (18)
1.The Witches’ Prediction (19)
2.Macbeth as a Devil (21)
Ⅲ. Macbeth’s Doomed Tragedy Caused by His Traits (25)
A.Macbeth’s Timidity and Fear in the Play (25)
B.Macbeth’s Weak V olition (27)
C.Macbeth’s Deep Desires in His Traits (29)
Conclusion (31)
Bibliography& Notes (33)
Introduction
William Shakespeare (1564-1616)is an English poet and dramatist, widely regarded as the greatest writer in English language and the world’s most prestigious playwright. Also, he is often called England’s national poet and the “Bard of Avon”. His now existing works, including some collaborations, consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language, which is still unparalleled in the literary world.
In his prime time from about 1600 to about 1608, he wrote mainly tragedies, including Hamlet, King Lear,and Macbeth, considered some of the greatest masterpieces in English language. These aforementioned three tragedies ,altogether with Othello, constitute the so-called “Four Great Tragedies”.
So, what is tragedy? In order to define it, it is inevitable to take a look at origins and history related to it and then the definition given. Semantically speaking, the word “tragedy” has always been employed to depict different phenomena at different times and from different angles. Scholars believe that this word may come from a time when a goat was either the prize in a competition or a sort of animal ritual sacrifice in a chorus dance, which, of course, can be taken as a spontaneous or natural definition of tragedy.
Writing in 335 BC, Aristotle presents the earliest-surviving explanation for the origin of this kind of art form in his Poetics, in which he contends, quite bluntly, that tragedy “is then, an imitation of a noble and complete action, having the proper magnitude; it employs language that has been artistically enhanced by each of the kinds of linguistic adornment, applied separately in the various parts of the play; it is presented in dramatic, not narrative form, and achieves, through the representation of pitiable and fearful incidents, the catharsis of such pitiable and fearful incidents.(Aristotle: Poetics)”
For Shakespeare, he wrote tragedies from the beginning of his career. One of his earliest plays was the Roman tragedy Titus Andronicus, which he followed a few
years later with Romeo and Juliet. However, his most admired tragedies were written in a seven-year period between 1601 and 1608. These include his four major tragedies Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth, along with Antony & Cleopatra, Coriolanus.
William Shakespeare started writing tragedies because he thought the tragic plots and devices employed by other English writers were lacking artistic purposes and functions. So as to make a difference and to write his own style, he used the rise and fall of a notable person as main focus in his tragedies. Suspense and climax were also an added attraction for the audience. His work was extraordinary in that it was not of the norm for the time. A reader with even little knowledge of his work would recognize one of the tragedies as a work of Shakespeare, which apparently shows his unique way to put lines together in his tragedies and which can be said that his own view on tragedies not in the exact form but knitted unnoticed between each lines.
Back to this thesis, Macbeth has been described as “Shakespeare’s most profound and mature vision of evil” and has long been regarded as one of the greatest achievements of Shakespeare, but it has certain peculiarities which set it apart from other tragedies. Early in the 19th century romantic critic William Hazlitt gave his ideas about the characteristics of Shakespeare’s tragedies in Characters of Shakespeare’s Plays.He pointed out: “ King Lear stands first for the profound intensity of the passion, Macbeth for the wildness of the imagination and the rapidity of the action ,Othello for the progressive interest and powerful alternations of feeling, Hamlet for the refine development of thought and sentiment.” Besides, it is one of the shortest of Shakespeare’s plays, having no sub-plots and no episodes. Though Macbeth is short and its length is two thirds of King Lear, its deep theme, preciseness, structure and exquisite skill win several critics’ agreements: it is one of the best tragedies of Shakespeare’s. Among all the Shakespeare’s tragedies, Macbeth may be the most breathtaking one and its protagonist always interests critics.
Therefore, we can simply understand that Shakespeare’s view upon tragedy is radical and unconventional in his time. It is a kind of breaking-away with the old way of living and sublimation of one’s spirit after his finding an outbreak of feeling or
solution to a dilemma. It starts to care about the common people. The people in his works are filled with emotion and passion, true to real life, which constitutes his own unique view upon tragedies.
Back to this thesis, Macbeth has been described as “Shakespeare’s most profound and mature vision of evil” and has long been regarded as one of the greatest achievements of Shakespeare, but it has certain peculiarities which set it apart from other tragedies. Early in the 19th century romantic critic William Hazlitt gave his ideas about the characteristics of Shakespeare’s tragedies in Characters of Shakespeare’s Plays.He pointed out: “ King Lear stands first for the profound intensity of the passion, Macbeth for the wildness of the imagination and the rapidity of the action ,Othello for the progressive interest and powerful alternations of feeling, Hamlet for the refine development of thought and sentiment.” Besides, it is one of the shortest of Shakespeare’s plays, having no sub-plots and no episodes. Though Macbeth is short and its length is two thirds of King Lear, its deep theme, preciseness, structure and exquisite skill win several critics’ agreements: it is one of the best tragedies of Shakespeare’s. Among all the Shakespeare’s tragedies, Macbeth may be the most breathtaking one and its protagonist always interests critics.
Macbeth was written between 1603 and 1606, and it was about a story of the temptation of a good man. The theme of the play is Macbeth’s crime and its consequences. It is the condition of Macbeth’s mind—what he is thinking and feeling, why he acts the way he does, and what consequences his own evil brings about upon himself—that constitutes the center of the interests in the play. The emphasis is on the process of turning evil.
This thesis discuss how Macbeth, once a hero, gradually turns into a tyrant and why his tragic ending cannot be avoided. This thesis contains five parts, the first part is the introductive part which in order to understand this thesis and Macbeth well. The following three parts are chapter one to chapter three, in these parts, they tries to reveal the roots how Macbeth turns to be an evil eventually and why his tragedy is inevitable. The last part is the conclusion which gives a summary to the whole thesis.
Chapter 1 An Overview of Macbeth’s Traits Macbeth experiences a lot of evil doings in his life, he is sometimes considered as villain in the eyes of audience, and at last he swallows the evil pills. However, when we take a look at his personalities, it is undoubtedly his destiny.
1.1Macbeth’s Overconfidence
In the play, Macbeth could be seen as a man who is overconfident sometimes, and in one case, this kind of overconfidence, combined with his lack of self-determination, or with his hesitation more exactly, pushes him closer and closer to his destruction. Not yet recovers from the fright of Banquo’s ghost, Macbeth mentions his suspicion to his wife:
How sayst thou that Macduff denies his person
At our great bidding?
…
I hear it by the way, but I will send. (Macbeth act3 scene 4)
This means he has already been suspicious of Macduff, who is so influential in the thanes. Yet his overconfidence and his hesitation just drive him to send a messenger to declare his order, to overawe Macduff with the power of King. He even decides to ask for the guidance of the Weird Sister at first, yet does not wipe out Macduff right away. Maybe Macbeth thinks that to know the future from the mouth of other one is more important than to fulfill the future with his own hands, and after he learns from the Weird Sister that Macduff should not be neglected, he is a little late for this evil game. This slowness of his action which drags his feet, is caused by some defects in his traits, and the failure of this action causes some other evil doings, which leads Macbeth alone the way of outward conflicts without one moment’s rest. After he wakes up to his lateness, he is ashamed into anger, which could only be cleared up through some meaningless impulse. So he decides:
The castle of Macduff I will surprise,
Seize upon Fify, give to th’edge o’th’sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace his in his line. No boasting like fool;
This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool.
But no more sights! （Macbeth, act 4 scene 4）
But what is the use of killing those persons who has some connection with Macduff, yet who himself plays the only decisive role. Macbeth is got into his own spider trap, which is knitted by the defects of his traits—his overconfidence (sometimes overconfidence is another saying of diffidence, just like pride is another saying of self-contempt), his hesitation, and his easy anger caused by shame, and this trap causes him to go on with his evil way, without any possible rest, neither in his heart, nor in his body. As
There is always someone who escapes the murderer’s net, someone who poses a threat or seeks to redress an injury or simply remembers what it like to be free and unafraid. It is impossible to trammel up the consequence, to break the chain of action and reaction, to reach a stable resting place. There are no clean murders. One crime leads to another and then to another, without bringing the criminal any closer to the security or contentment that each desperate act is meant to achieve. Macbeth cannot stop the bloody acts; instead he must multiply and extend them1.
Macbeth’s tragedy goes along, and his role as a tragic hero is being played by him in this way, with the defects in his traits as his stage properties. And with these stage properties, Macbeth gives the audience a marvelous performance.
1.2Macbeth’s Irresolution
Every time when Macbeth faces decisions, the irresolution in his traits must come out. For example, while his own mind is full chaos, he is informing his wife through a letter with the whole of this strange experience. Here it can be understood that he is not born a steady-going person. If he is not sure about the whole thing, if he is full of doubt and amazement, and if he is still irresolute, he should have buried the intelligence of the Weird Sisters deeply in his own heart, without being known by anyone. Not even his dear wife. He should have understood his wife so much, since
they are not just married for one night. It could be certain in his mind what his wife really wants, or is crazy for. Macbeth writes that letter to his wife, actually is inclined to let his wife decide the entire thing for him, as he himself is totally unable to make up his mind. To a military solider, to general who experiences so many battles, to a real man ,this act is unbearable. Maybe someone will say this is all because he has that kind of mild love to his wife, which makes him regard the family so much, and impels him to ask for opinion from his wife, however, as is discussed just now, if he is already sure what is the favor of his wife, he should never give his wife the liberty to decide for him, or at least to give him some persuasion. While the fact is , he does write the letter, and the letter is like a current of billow, surges through that ambitious and wild lady, and every thing change from then on. Although Macbeth has considerable energy and manliness of character, the embarrassing side is “but then he is subject to all the skyey influences. He is sure of nothing but the present moment.” This is so clear to the audience right now. At the beginning of the whole thing, before he writes that letter to his wife, his lack of self-determination, which directly leads him to his tragic end, is greatly surprising.
1.3 Macbeth’s Panic
In the play, Macbeth always easy to be panic instead of staying in calm, and it is another obvious defects in his traits.
At the very beginning of this play, in scene1 , and 2 of act 1, Macbeth does not have a chance to show himself in front of the audience. But his impression to us is gorgeous. The wounded captain sustains himself to depict a heroic picture of Macbeth and Banquo in full charge, in the court of King Duncan. From this picture, it could be learned that Macbeth, as a great general of Scotland, should just be a military soldier, who has not any sly talents. He is like a lion, fierce and valorous, but not an annoying fox. He was thought “ honest,” or honorable; he was trusted , apparently, by everyone; as Macduff, a man of the highest integrity, “love him well.”2So when he and Banquo
meet those three Weird Sisters, when the three hail him “ that shalt be king hereafter!”, he is startled. He has no choice, a man like him, the cousin, servant and general to King Duncan, meets some strange and visional witches call him this name, he must be very funky at first. In this situation, he urgently congratulates Banquo with this: “ Your children shall be kings.” In fear and trembling. Since there are just five words in this congratulation, and they are only a repetition of the mad talk of the Weird Sisters. Macbeth is too terrified to deal with this kind of situation, the only way out is some joke which is not funny. Here an impression of a rough and manly military soldier is in front of everyone.
However, when another two thanes come to them, and when Ross, in the name of King Duncan, declare Macbeth as “ Thane of Cawdor”(Macbeth,act1 scene3) something changes in the heart of Macbeth. As the nonsense of the second Weird Sister comes into truth, and so soon, then how about the words of the third one? Macbeth here expresses a special defect of his trait. His desire to power, or maybe more accurately, his ambition bursts out a little. He murmurs to himself, “ Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor! The greatest is behind.” (Macbeth,act1 scene3) He then takes sounding with Banquo, “Do you not hope your children shall be kings,” (Macbeth,act1 scene3), and this is not a cautious congratulation or a tedious joke anymore. This is the self-revealing ambition of Macbeth. In fact, as a loyal general to his King, Macbeth should never talk about these hypersensitive topics with another general, especially without the knowledge of his King. From these proofs, Macbeth could never be as a person who is calm, cautious. He is a short fuse, and a short fuse very fond of the seditious fire which is good at stirring up trouble. He could not restrain his own ambition to the power, or the throne, although the outward temptation is some preternatural things seemed easy to trust. Once his ambition bursts out, it would never get back again.
When he and Banquo go back to the court, after King Duncan gives him thanks, declaring Malcolm, the Prince of Cumberland, his ambition increasingly expands and he becomes discomposed. It might be supposed if Macbeth does not meet the three Weird Sisters, he may not have that intense feeling about Malcolm’s being the Prince
of Cumberland . He would nor murmur himself:
The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step
On which I must fall down , or else o’erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. (scene 4 act1) At the same time, Duncan is complimenting his cousin. Whether Duncan is sincere or not, no one knows. It is just not very morally proper for Macbeth to think about too much of the prophecies of the Weird Sisters. Here , his panic has fully showed to the readers.
Chapter 2 Macbeth’s Identities’ Change Influenced by His
Traits
Macbeth, a once glory hero with a strong desires for powers and some weakness in his traits. When he meets the witches, they tell Macbeth that he will be the king of Scotland, which is like a seed planted in his heart. It is this that leads to his two times’ identity change and guides him into abyss in the future.
2.1 Macbeth as a Hero
At the beginning of the play Macbeth is a very successful and highly esteemed member of a social group, loaded with honors and enjoying every aspect of praises. He has a lovely wife and a secure home in his castle at Inverness. It is evident that he is a heroic warrior who has almost single-handedly repelled the Norwegian invaders and their conspirators from Scottish shores. His sergeant also commends on Macbeth’s fighting, he says “ yes; as sparrow eagles, or the hare the lion. If I say sooth, I must report they were as cannons overcharged with double cracks?” (Macbeth, act1 scene2). Macbeth is likened hero to an eagle, a lion and an overcharged cannon, which shows his power and how great he is on the battle field. He has a high status in
Scotland : he is the thane of Glamis and cousin to King Duncan.
In act one scene two, further understanding of Macbeth can be seen from the dialogue of the sergeant and Ross. Their narratives show Macbeth’s character, ‘For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name……Till he unseamed him from the nave to the chaps, and fix’d his head upon our battlements.”(Macbeth, act 1 scene2) says the sergeant. Macbeth is a brave warrior in battle and Ross used an allusion—Bellona’s bridegroom—to praise him. Bellona was the Roman goddess of war. Here the thane of Ross praises Macbeth’s unsurpassed skill on the battlefield, referring to him as “ Bellona’s bridegroom”. Not only the sergeant and Ross confirm Macbeth but also Duncan, king of the England, praises him highly. Duncan welcomes the victorious hero Macbeth with great hospitality, and calls him: “worthiest cousin” (Macbeth, act1 scene4) when Macbeth enters. By doing so, he indicates a family kinship later confirmed by Macbeth. Then Duncan continues to talks of how much he owes Macbeth: “ That swiftest wing of recompense is slow to overtake thee.”. “More is thy due than more than all can pay.” (Macbeth, act1 scene2). Such praises and honors further represent Macbeth’s bravery and he is absolutely a hero. As we all know, all people have the desire for esteem and self-actualization. In the hierarchy society in which Macbeth lives, high status brings higher self-evaluation, better self-respect, more strength and a sense of achievement as well as great reputation. Thus, with power in hand, one can gratify his desire for what he wants. As a successful medieval general, Macbeth proves his capability in battlefield. So it is quite natural for Macbeth to dream more in the future. At this moment, Macbeth is nearly at very point of supreme greatness. It is the great thing that Macbeth has that conjures other desires, which are to destroy him, for the great thing has the great temptation. As a successful medieval general, Macbeth proves his capability in battlefield. So it is quite natural for Macbeth to dream more in the future. At this moment, Macbeth is nearly at the very point of greatnss. It is the great thing that Macbeth has that desire, which are to destrory him, for the great thing has the great temptation.As a result, the desire like a seed grows easily in his heart. Therefore, the emergence of the witches can be understood as the emergence of the desire onto the surface of consciousness.
2.2 Macbeth’s First Identity Transformation Due to His Traits
Macbeth, a general of Scotland, is a great warrior. He is masterful, and rough. He puts down the rebellion and repels the invasion of a foreign army. He is beloved and honorable and trusted by everyone. At the same time, he is exceedingly ambitious. His passion for power and self-assertion comes into consciousness after Lady Macbeth lures him which becomes an important reason for Macbeth’s first identity change in his life.
But Lady Macbeth is not the most important factor in Macbeth’s transformation. The sole responsibility for Macbeth’s transformation is himself. He determines his own future by exercising wrongly the freedom of choice and addicted deeeper and deeper to his defects in his traits. It is his inner desire that makes him murder King Duncan and Banquo.
After murdering King Duncan and Banquo, he is tortured between his identity and his desire. The image of dagger, blood and Banquo’s ghost are the representatives of his fear and timidity in his personality. In the development of his character, he is thrown into the dilemma of decision and hesitation, or rather, moral judgement. However the the murder of King Duncan and Banquo leads him into downfall.
2.2.1The Impact of Lady Macbeth
Many scholars ascribed Macbeth’s degeneration to Lady Macbeth and they think if Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth not to do evil things, then he will not become a devil. Actually Lady Macbeth gives a push in murdering Banquo and Duncan. Shakepeare compared her as “serpent under the innocent flower” (Macbeth, act1 scene5). She is not only ambitious but also cruel and brute, it is her incitment and push that makes Macbeth make up his decision “I am settled, and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat.”(Macbeth, act1 scene1). When Macbeth hesitates to do the murder, she laughs at her husband’s timidity and incites him to take up the murder, she is the fourth witch and breaks the balance of Macbeth’s conscience and ambition and pushes her husband to make series of mistakes. Lady Macbeth is just a
catalyst which catalyses Macbeth’s inner desire.
Lady Macbeth appeared in scene5. She acts as a great push for Macbeth’s tragedy. Indeed, she functions as “ not as just another witch but as the sole substantial reality behind the shadow play of stage convention, hallucination, and delusion represented by the weird sisters of Hecate”3. She knows exactly Macbeth’s qualities. His nature, in the words of hers, may indeed be “ too full o’the milk of human kindness, to catch the nearest way” (Macbeth, act1 scene5). Macbeth tells the witches’ prediction to Lady Macbeth immediately and at this moment Lady Macbeth becomes the decisive factor that incites the conflict between his id and ego. Before the murder, Macbeth has a good reason to fear the assassination. He realizes that an act is never “done when’tis done,” and although he would “jump the life to come”, he must still face the temporal punishment in this life:
But in these cases
We still have judgement here, that we but teach
Bloody instructions which being taught, return
To plague th’ inventor. This even –hnded justice
Commends th’ingredience of our poison’d chalice
To our own lips. (Macbeth, act 1 scene 7)
The phrase “poison’d chalice” suggests that Macbeth’s mind is drifting into a consideration of spiritual retribution. His id is hid and his ego comes firstly. “The ego comprises that organized part of the personality structure which includes defensive perceptual, intellectual-cognitive, and executive functions. Conscious awareness resides in the ego, although not all of the operation of the ego is conscious.”4. All Macbeth needs now is a more powerful push, and that is supplied by his wife. With the back-up of his wife, Macbeth’s burning desire further intensified. King Duncan’s visit to Macbeth’s castle provides an excellent chance for Macbeth to gratify his needs for esteem and power. Macbeth makes the decision to murder the king, and it is the result of his own choice and under the influence of his interaction with other people, especially Lady Macbeth.
Before Macbeth returns to his castle, he has sent to his wife a letter to inform
her of what greatness is promised. As for Lady Macbeth, she arouses the same desire as that of Macbeth. With the courage of his wife, Macbeth’s burning desire further intensifies. But before murdering King Duncan, Macbeth also experiences a hard struggle in his mind which reflects his irresolution and panic in traits. On one hand he wants to do it, on the other hand he fears about the failure and cannot make a decision instantly. As he enters and informs his wife that Duncan is to spend his final night on earth in their castle, Lady Macbeth exposes the real nature of their partnership; it is not the relationship of spouses, but the bond of a master and apprentice. To persuade her husband, she animates his by describing the deed as heroic, “ this night’s great business” or “ our great quell” he gives her husband the follwing directive:
Your face, my Thane, is as a book where men
My read strange matters. To beguile the time,
Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue; look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under’t (Macbeth, act 1 scene 5)
Macbeth now is just like a vessel swaying unsteadily. His identity and his desire fights violently. However,at this time, the weak volition and strong desirs in Macbeth traits overcomes his hesitation and panic especially his identity as a loyal general. When King Duncan appraised Macbeth’s achievement and he said “The service and the loyalty I owe, in doing it, pay itself. Your highness’s part is to receive our duties; and our duties are to your throne and state,children and servants, which do but what they should, by doing everything safe toward your love and honor.”(Macbeth,act1 scene4) which is true. However, Macbeth’s ego or desire is always to strong to his volition ,his consciouness and his identity. As the result, he becomes a murderer which leads his first identity change.
2.2.2Macbeth as a Murderer
As Duncan arrives at Inverness, Macbeth retreats to reconsider the plot which is advanced by his wife. He realizes that Duncan’s visit of his castle has double meaning: one is that, he is the king’s kinsman and subject. It is disloyal to kill king. The other is
that, Duncan is a kind, old and virtuous king. And he knows the result of murdering him:
“His virtues
Will plead like angels trumpet tongued against
The deep damnation of his taking-off;
And pity, like….heaven’s cherubim,
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye”. (Macbeth, act1 scene7) So after reflecting on Duncan’s virtues and his own bond of kinship with him, he informs his wife of his change of heart: “ We will proceed no further in this business.” But Lady Macbeth repeatedly hammers away at her husband. If he loves her, he wil behave like a man:
Macbeth: Prithee peace
I dare to do all that may become a man.
Who dares do more is none.
Lady Macbeth: What beast was’t then
That made you break this enterprise to me?
When you durst do it , then you were a man;
And to be more than what you were, you would
Be so much more the man. (Macbeth, act 1 scene7)
In order to show her determination, she says clearly to Macbeth “ I have given suck, and know how tender’tis to love the babe that milks me; I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my my nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this,”(Macbeth, act1 scene7). As Macbeth swears to murder Duncan, he asks “ If we should fail?”, “We fail?” she repeats. “But screw your courage to the sticking place,/ And we’ll not fail” (Macbeth, act1 scene 7).
Apparently it is Lady Macbeth’s advocacy that makes Macbeth decide to murder Duncan. Actually Macbeth’s ambition for crown is the decisive factor in killing Duncan. Macbeth hankers after the crown and he knows that only through murder he could get it immediately, though he shrinks from the possibility of losing good
opinion of “ all sort of people” and this kind of evil thing, he receives it as gifts for gratitude. On one hand Macbeth said：“I won’t do it, for it is morally wrong”. On the other hand his reason is not so fundamental, so Lady Macbeth would doubtless have accepted the position. Macbeth’s reasons seem only to proceed from his timidity or sentimentality or fear of failure.
Lady Macbeth knows Macbeth’s character completely, hence she thinks that it is her duty as a wife to help him to overcome his timidity, pick up his courage and drive away his sentimental fancies. She is no more moral than Macbeth, neither is she the main villain. Macbeth is alone responsible for the murder. Neither the werid women’s prophecies nor the elevation of Malcolm, neither the temptation offered by “ opportunity” nor the over-power force of Lady Macbeth’s advocacy was the determinate factor in Macbeth’s killing Duncan.
With a feeling of desperation, he did it. He was willing to take the risk. Before the murder, in his soliloquy, he seems to fear the vision of a dagger—first the dagger, then the dagger with blood on the blade. He seems to see the image of dagger hovering in the air. When he decides to murder, this dagger is so real that he clutches for it and wonders that it is not as “sensible to feeling as to sight”.(Macbeth, act2 scene1). Certainly Macbeth at this time is not fully able to distinguish the image of his imagination from real things. It seems that the terrible image of temptation lures him forward. It is as if the weird sisters hold the dagger toward his hand and make him forward. However , the dagger that Macbeth sees is not ghostly or supernatural, but his representation of the inner sruggle. In other words it is his inner passion that leads him toward the bloody deed. He himself certainly knows that what he is about to do is a rebellion against nature and sense, he decides to do it and his id just like a signal from the hell saying “ go ahead”. This is the sound that grips him and pushes him into Duncan’s chamber. He is just like a man possessed, because his id dominates his mind. Though some thoughts linger in his mind, he finally yields to his id. The witches’ prophecies, the force of Lady Macbeth’s advocacy, the vision of blood and dagger all build up a terrible atmosphere that serves as a catalyst making Macbeth take the final decision and he kills Duncan eventually.
Macbeth, now he is a murderer drived by his wife, actually to be more precise drived by the strong desire and weak volition in his traits. He at once regrets what he has done , he says, when he hears someone knocking at the outer gate , “Wake Duncan with thy knocking: I would thou cloud”.(Macbeth, act2 scene2). However, no matter how Macbeth is regretful, the murder of the king has pushed him into an abyss.
Returning from Duncan’s room, Macbeth says in a hoarse whisper: “I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a voice?” Lady Macbeth asks, “ Did you speak?” “When”, “Now”, “As I descended?”(Macbeth, act2 scene2). After the murder Macbeth experiences what has been called a state of fear and anxiety compared with the calmness of his wife. He tells her of a voice that cried “ God bless us”. He fears that “ the innocent sleep”, the “sleep that knit up the ravell’d sleeve of care” will no longer be his.
The voice in the chamber dooms him, and it cried “sleep no more!” to the entire house, “Glamis hath murther’d sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more!”Macbeth shall sleep no more!”(Macbeth, act 2 scene2).
Normally, in such a dark night, it is unlikely for people to shout like that. Macbeth is the only person who is awake. This kind of shout is his morals. He is afraid of thinking of what he has done. He laments “ To know my deed,’twere best not know myself”. He seems detached from his own body, and he will not go back to Duncan’s chamber. His bloody hands “pluck out” his eyes.
What hands are here?Ha! They pluck out mine eyes!
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.( Macbeth, act2 scene 2)
But in Lady Macbeth’s eyes, there is no such serious thing, and she has no patience with one who thinks “ so brainsicking of thing.” She tells him, “ go get some water, and wash this filthy witness from your hand…A little water clears us of this deed…Get on your nightgown…Be not lost/ So poorly in your thoughts” (Macbeth,act2 scene2)