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Consequences Of Wrongdoing In Shakespeare's Macbeth

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Consequences of Wrongdoing in Shakespeare’s Macbeth
An Essay by Ikko
Macbeth, the main character in Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ is a classic example of a tragic hero. There are many aspects in the play which contribute towards Macbeth’s degeneration, and his change in personality and his view of the world. These factors are guilt, ambition and temptation, and metaphorical blindness. Macbeth goes from being a noble man to a violent, savage human. Along with his wife, Lady Macbeth and these fatal flaws, Macbeth loses his identity and perishes in the cruel reality of the world.

Guilt is a consequence of Macbeth’s wrongdoing, and it is shown throughout the play how guilt has affected him, and how it has made his sanity questionable. It makes him question his loyalty, and his actions towards the people around him. “Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake thy gory locks at me.” The previous line is spoken by Macbeth, upon seeing the late Banquo’s ghost and it means – You can’t say that I did anything. Don’t shake your head at me. This shows the audience that Macbeth is trying to lay the blame off of himself because he cannot face his guilt. Shakespeare wrote this line so that only Macbeth could see Banquo’s ghost, as if he has gone insane. This increases the feeling of isolation, as guilt takes him further and further away from humanity. When Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking, she says the following: “Come out, damned spot! Out, I command you! But who would have thought the old man would have had so much blood in him?” This is an example of a dramatic technique, symbolism, that Shakespeare has used in this play. Obviously, she is not talking about blood that cannot be cleaned, but she is talking about the guilt that has built up in her body from the murder of Duncan. She says that she cannot wipe the guilt away, and most likely regrets her choice to kill the King. It also shows the audience her pathetic greed.

Ambition and temptation both play a part in the cause of Macbeth’s wrongdoing, and ultimately, their downfall. It is probably his most fatal flaw. Macbeth himself knows that the dangers of being too ambitious as seen from the following: “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition

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