Macbeth Critical Analysis

Macbeth Critical Analytical In life, there are things that are certain. It is certain that an individual will die. It is inevitable; it is futile to resist against. Happiness, however, is uncertain. As such, individuals pursue happiness. But, Macbeth portrays a different view of happiness. Shakespeare asks the reader to imagine a world in which we have no control over our happiness. Through the Tragedy of Macbeth, he develops the idea that when an individual is faced with the certainty of being unhappy, they will act in defiance to fate. They will create the illusion that happiness is achievable through action. However, Shakespeare highlights the idea that action against fate is futile. Throughout the play, Macbeth is seen to be fated. When

Macbeth believes that Banquo, and his son, Fleance, are the reasons for his discontent. This is because the witches prophecy stated that Banquo’s sons would become kings. He believes that if Banquo, and his son, were gone, he would be satisfied: “To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus.” Through this line, it is clear that Macbeth believes that in getting rid of Banquo and Fleance, he will achieve something that he did not have before, happiness. The unhappiness is later reiterated by Lady Macbeth: “Naught’s had, all’s spent, where our desire is without content.” Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are shown to be unhappy. The reason for Macbeth’s unhappiness was that he was fated to be unhappy. Yet, he believes that action will prevent this prophecy from coming

He mentions that instead of virtues, he has “curses, not loud, but deep.” Macbeth’s curse is his fate of unhappiness. The curses are deep, as they emotional afflict him. Through these lines, Macbeth has come to terms that he is destined to be unhappy. He understands that he has no virtues. He understands that happiness is not achievable for him. He understands that he is fated to be unhappy. In his confrontation with reality, Macbeth delivers a very powerful soliloquy. He describes life as, “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Macbeth has lost all hope and meaning in his life. He realizes that it is futile to act against his