Examples Of Villainy In Macbeth - 811 Words

Villainy in Macbeth: (Unseen in-class Exam) Shakespeare’s eponymous tragedy Macbeth explores the social mores of a Jacobean society by exploring ambition and villainy in the Scottish monarchy. Macbeth’s demise is perceived as inevitable and a direct consequence of being an iconoclast of the Jacobean attitudes, values and beliefs. Violating existing principles including the Divine Right of Kings and the Great Chain of Being – his transgressions cause the audience to deny Macbeth of sympathy, thus receiving harsh judgement. Despite this, Macbeth conforms to the role of a tragic hero by showing valour towards his demise, however, such acts were not inspired by virtue, thus were not substantial enough to re-evaluate his character. The Divine†¦show more content†¦Supernatural forces are also addressed throughout the play and are greatly relevant to the Jacobean attitudes, values and beliefs. Fatalism was a key concept the playwright intertwined with supernatural forces to mould the Macbeth’s character. Witchcraft and consorting with unnatural forces at the time of the play were perceived as reprehensible acts deserving conviction. Foretold by the witches, Macbeth is told that he shall become King, and is enchanted by the prophecy as clear when Banquo refers to Macbeth while speaking with the witches, â€Å"My noble partner you greet†¦ he seems rapt withal.†(I.iii. 53-55). Throughout the play, Banquo is a metaphorical representative of Jacobean dogmas, and when Macbeth disregards his statement, â€Å"Live you or are you aught†¦That man may question?† (I.iii. 40-41), he essentially alienates himself from the audience. Additionally, Macbeth describes the witches as â€Å"à ¢â‚¬ ¦they have more in them than mortal knowledge.† (I.v. 2-3), and soon after seeks the witches once again, thus it is corroborated that Macbeth willingly consorts with deviant forces. Overshadowed with greed, and believing the prophecy results in the ultimate act of treason by Macbeth, and complete denial from the audience. Macbeth however is seen to evolve throughout the play in order to become the ultimate villain perceived by the audience. Initially, Macbeth is portrayed by the playwright to be a valiant hero, as evident in the beginning â€Å"For brave Macbeth – well he deserves thatShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth Draft1040 Words   |  5 PagesStuart Wodzro Honours English 9, Block 2 Shakespeare Essay February 26, 2016 MacBeth Draft No. 3 The strive for power is a human impulse, perhaps even a primitive compulsion. And, in the case of human beings at least, the impulse is not restricted solely to the necessities of life. Beings are devoted to gaining raw power itself and, through it, they loses themselves. As one may know, the lust for power is a mode of selfishness, where at one attempts to gratify every passion, but alas pleonexiaRead MoreDepartment 19 Villains1170 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Essay English Through the study of the three texts; Department 19 by Will Hill, ‘Macbeth’ the play and The Social Network by David Fincher, it is evident that literary villains are archetypes that often represent the evil side of human nature. One may argue that each villain has certain traits that allow the reader to be drawn to the terror and horror of their deeds yet also allow readers to reflect upon the society that has created such individuals. Authors stray their villains from the stereotypeRead MoreMacbeth: Hero or Villain2592 Words   |  11 PagesMacbeth: Hero or Villain In this essay, I will be divulging into Macbeth written by William Shakespeare in 1603, to try and answer the question Was Macbeth a true hero or villain in the play?. Macbeth is a play of villainy, murder, deceit and oftenly described as a play fit for a king. In my personal opinion, the evidence from Shakespeares original text and Roland Polanskis video version strongly suggests that Macbeth was a true villain rather than a hero. AnRead MoreLady Macbeth Feminism Essay1257 Words   |  6 Pagesclassic, 1606 play, Macbeth, as did director Sam Mendes in one of the iconic James Bond films, 2012, Skyfall. Through classic pieces of literature and modern day film, women are forced to compete in a never-ending game; to compete against being depicted as emotionally unstable and as disposable objects of pleasure. Through classic pieces of literature, women are continuously represented as emotionally unstable and insecure. Throughout most of literary history, Lady Macbeth – the scheming spouseRead MoreLiterary Scholarship And Criticism Of Shakespeare s The Invention Of The Human 1309 Words   |  6 Pagesexpress himself more vividly and memorably than anyone else in the language† (p. 7). J.J.M. Tobin’s three components of Shakespeare’s artistry will serve as the anchors for exploring how four of Shakespeare’s prominent tragedies, Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear, demonstrate the faculty of Shakespeare’s expertise. Through the lens of Tobin’s analytical â€Å"ebullition† of Shakespeare’s work, this paper seeks to expand and qualify the magnetic aura that is Shakespeare; his ability to breath socialRead MoreMachiavelli ´s Principle in Macbeth by William Shakespeare Essay1648 Words   |  7 PagesTHESIS STATEMENT Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, applies the Machiavellian principles of how princes should properly conduct themselves which is directly applied through Duncan, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and Malcolm. PURPOSE STATMENT Through analytic research, this paper will examine, as well as, compare and contrast the Machiavellian principles to the characters in Macbeth. The focus will include the influence of his principles, how they affect the characters, behaviors, and if they fit the descriptionRead More The Absolute Evil of Iago in Shakespeares Othello Essay2029 Words   |  9 PagesThe Absolute Evil of Iago in Othello    What marks consummate villainy is the willingness to be absolutely evil-to have no qualms about being diabolical and no strains of human morality.   Because feeling for another leads one to experience guilt, even an iota of empathy is a character flaw that will lead to the downfall of a villain.   To succeed, the villain needs to emulate the character Iago in Othello, who consistently works his evil throughout the whole play and does not slip until the endRead MoreOthello Character Analysis1678 Words   |  7 Pageswas known, left a great legacy for humanity in the world of drama. Shakespeare’s masterpieces and tragedies such as Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, King Lear and Romeo and Juliet caused a remarkable turning point in English literature as whole, and English drama in particular.His play Othellois one of his unforgettable tragedies. The play of Othello is the finest example of Shakespeare’s poetic and narrative style. Thus, Shakespeare is known as the most influe ntial dramatist whose tragedies found the wayRead MoreTO WHAT EXTENT DOES SHAKESPEARE PRESENT MACBETH AS A VILLAIN?3966 Words   |  16 PagesEXTENT DOES SHAKESPEARE PRESENT MACBETH AS A VILLAIN? Shakespeare presents Macbeth more extensively as a villain using methods which would be more understood in the era the play was composed, which was the Jacobean period, but influenced by the reign of Elizabeth. During the Elizabethan period people were preoccupied with the supernatural, which is one of the main topics in Shakespeare’s play. In my opinion Shakespeare structures the play to make the audience see Macbeth transforming from a hero intoRead MoreEssay on Cyber-plagiarism1469 Words   |  6 Pagesat Bucknell, Dartmouth, and Yale. Terri Barbuto, secretary of the executive committee, Yales disciplinary body, insists, It really hasnt been a problem at Yale. My own sampling of student opinion suggests otherwise. One Yale student, for example, told me that, while researching an essay on Shakespeare, he inadvertently stumbled upon a term-paper site and, after asking around, realized that he wasnt the only student tempted by the ease of Internet plagiarism: Everyone was finding them and