An Analysis Of Macbeth's 'Fair But Doing Foul'

In the play, Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses the theme of the corrupting power of ambition, Macbeth’s character flaws, and the theme of cruelty versus masculinity to show Macbeth’s misdeeds were a direct result of external influences. Throughout the play, Macbeth commits several wrongdoings including, killing King Duncan, his friend Banquo and manipulating others into carrying out his wishes. By appealing to Macbeth’s strong desires to become king, the witches’ prophecies leads Macbeth to commit several murders. Through fueling Macbeth’s inner insecurities, Malcolm prompts Macbeth to irrationally continue wrongdoings. Similarly, Lady Macbeth’s manipulative persona, encourages Macbeth to commit wicked actions.

Lady Macbeth persuades and manipulates Macbeth by pointing out his insecurities successfully and pressuring him into murdering the king. Along with this, Lady Macbeth also questions Macbeth’s manhood and masculinity when he does not want to carry out the plan when she says “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” (Shakespeare 1.7.49-51). By saying these things, Lady Macbeth persuades her husband to believe that murdering the king will be his redemption from being a

Macbeth’s ambition is what is causing him to intervene with his prophecy and pursue his goal (rather than leave it to chance). In a way, it is Macbeth’s own “black and deep desires” that make him kill in the first place as the witches never tell him to do so. Furthermore, apart from ambition, it is Macbeth’s own weak will and moral system that causes him to do the actions that result in his downfall. Macbeth’s weak will is undeniable and is illustrated before killing Duncan. “I have of spur/To prick the sides of my intent, but only/Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself/And falls on the other” (I, VII, 25-28).

Macbeth, Crime and Punishment Macbeth, a warrior, earns the title of Thane of Cawdor early in the play. His wife, Lady Macbeth, wants him to become king like the witches prophesied. They make a plan to kill Duncan while Macbeth starts to kill other people. All this murder begins to weigh heavily on the Macbeth’s and they start going crazy with guilt.

In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, Shakespeare introduces us to a man on a mission to assassinate the reigning king of Scotland, King Duncan. Through King Duncan, Shakespeare reveals Macbeth’s crude and unfiltered nature while capturing every second of Macbeth’s sadistic plan. With the use of paradox, internal character struggles, and the idea of fate, Shakespeare provides insight on what madness Macbeth created and the effect his madness has on other characters. Through the use of paradox in the play, minor details guide the path of the story to the very end.

Whereas the actual murderer commonly retains the characteristics needed to commit murder in cold blood, in Macbeth, that idea is twisted. Macbeth physically murders King Duncan, but maintains misgivings over doing so, while Lady Macbeth orchestrates the murder plot, yet maintains only determination to continue. She sheds the mantle of the stereotypically submissive and innocent wife whose role is restricted to mainly observing her husband’s exploits, and takes on the role of a controlling and ruthless mastermind in arranging an elaborate plot to dethrone Duncan and install Macbeth as king. Ultimately, she is to blame for the murder because, while Macbeth does physically murder the king, it is she who orchestrates the murder and influences Macbeth to follow through with it.

A key reason for why Macbeth killed King Duncan is because of the manipulation and control from Lady Macbeth, ‘that I may pour my spirits in thine ear and chastise with the valour of my tongue ‘. This quotation influences the reader and shows us that that Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to get back, so she can ‘pour’ all her ideas and thoughts into his mind. Lady Macbeth is encouraging her husband to disregard his chivalric code of honour. The code of chivalry was a moral system that went beyond rules of combat and made qualities like bravery, courtesy and honour more idealised, but because she knows Macbeth is so honourable she, like the witches, tempts Macbeth with power. At the beginning of the play, we believe that Lady Macbeth is strong and very masculine, but by the end of the play, her guilt has taken over her, a quotation that conveys this is, ‘Out, damned spot!

Lady Macbeth proceeds with a badgering of Macbeth in his mental anguish over whether or not to murder the king, accusing him of being a coward. Macbeth’s response directly cites manhood:

In William Shakespeare story, the Tragic story of Macbeth, the author creates a sense of havoc and dread through his uses of characters struggle, paradox, and fate, this creates a sense of tragedy in the story, so that reader can understand the story. To begin with there is a understanding that this story will have a tragic plot either from the end of the story or middle. When there is a tragic in the story there must be details of develops traits in a character, especially the characters struggles in the story. A great example of a character struggles is the main character in the story Macbeth, he was once a noble men who serve his king and his country. However, that all changes once the three witches presented Macbeth future.

There is a saying that says: “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” But in the case of Macbeth, this does not apply. The worst enemy of Macbeth was in fact, himself. A great example of this is when he kills the noble King Duncan. But instead of sticking to the plan made by Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, he kills the guards out of fear that they would find out about him.

It is the impression of responsibility for this poor action that has been committed. In this play, there are many ideas, but guilt is one of the most significant ones. It teaches important lessons to the readers, with everlasting morals. In Act 2, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth chose to commit a sin, killing King Duncan, at his stay at Macbeth’s kingdom.

Whether because of the constraints of her society or because she is not fearless enough to kill, Lady Macbeth relies on deception and manipulation rather than violence to achieve her ends. Ultimately, the play does put forth a revised and less destructive definition of manhood. In the scene where Macduff learns of the murders of his wife and child, Malcolm consoles him by encouraging him to take the news in “manly” fashion, by seeking revenge upon Macbeth. Macduff shows the young heir apparent that he has a mistaken understanding of masculinity. To Malcolm’s suggestion, “Dispute it like a man,” Macduff replies, “I shall do so.

Lady Macbeth accuses her husband saying “Art thou afeard/ To be the same in thine own act and valour… And live a coward in thine own esteem” (1.7.40-41, 46) at which Macbeth takes great insult. To prove to Lady Macbeth wrong, Macbeth finally agrees on the murder of Duncan. Macbeth wants to prove to Lady Macbeth that he has the courage to kill Duncan and he is very manly and will not stop until Duncan is dead. Once he kills Duncan Macbeth begins to change mentally and emotionally.

When she hears that Macbeth is contemplating the murder and deciding whether to follow through with it or not, she attacks him verbally. She questions his manhood when she says, “What beast was’t, then, that made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man” (I.vii.). Lady Macbeth is explaining how Macbeth’s masculinity is in question because he is wavering in his decision to follow through with the plan of killing Duncan. Macbeth is offended when she humiliates him.

Though the encouragements of the three witches and Lady Macbeth, Macbeth is entirely accountable for his downfall. Throughout the play Macbeth, Macbeth is a tragic hero who abolishes himself by his own wicked and selfish determinations. During the start of the play, Macbeth is shown as a brave, noble hero of Scotland who has fearlessly won the war. As the story progresses, Macbeth soon transforms into a dictator who is willing to kill anyone that becomes a danger to his monarchy. Although Macbeth is influenced by a number of factors that lead him to his downfall, his deep desire and character persuades his ambition in the end.