Macbeth

"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." (V.V.25-27). The famous quote of Macbeth, 'life: a tale told by an idiot' indispensably proves how Macbeth has fallen into a psychopathic state of nihilism where even after his own wife is dead he feels that it does not signify anything; from a valiant man of prowess to fall and become such a petty pessimist is with no doubt a tragedy can be explained by: observing the beginning of story, inordinate ambition and its affects on Macbeth, and the ending of the story.

The initial description of Macbeth completely contrasts with how Shakespeare portrays him throughout the novel. At the beginning the captain returns from the battle and reports to Duncan about Macbeth's accomplishments in the battle, and Duncan bless Macbeth for his courageousness. "For Brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name- Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution, like valor's minion carved out his passage till he faced the slave; which never shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, till he unseamed him from the nave to the chops, and fixed his head upon our battlements/O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!" (I.II.15-24). After the battle Macbeth receives the prophecies and as the he becomes the Thane of Cawdor, his ambitions starts to gain confidence as he discusses the matter and resolving it by murdering Duncan. "My dearest love, Duncan comes here tonight/and when goes hence?/Tomorrow, as he purposes." (I.VI.58-61). Macbeth makes the decision to act on ambition initially at this point of the story. Before the incident, Macbeth deceives himself under the mask that contrasts his appearance versus reality; showing that he still keeps his humane qualities that make him worthy of compliments. What he does not realize is that slowly his appearance becomes his reality. "On which I must fall down, or else O'erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires: The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, to see." (I.IV.47-54)

Lady Macbeth becomes a significant catalysis for Macbeth's ambition. Macbeth seeks to murder Duncan but does not realize what kind of result this will bring to him. "Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent underneath it, he that's coming must be provided for: and you shall put this night's great business into my dispatch" (I.VI.65-69). Macbeth somehow finds Lady Macbeth's argument tolerable, and decides to murder Duncan. "Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle towards my hand? Come, let me clutch thee." (II.I.33-34). the famous quote where Macbeth sees a hallucination of a dagger floating is a significant proof of Macbeth's ambitious desire to become the king. A hallucination is a figment of one's imagination that cannot be perceived by others; meaning in which, although Lady Macbeth is catalysis to Macbeth's ambition, it is within himself and his desire. Not too long after Duncan's murder, Macbeth succeeds to the throne and decides to murder Banquo; for Macbeth realizes his kingship is foul, and does not want to yield his throne to an innocent seedling of Banquo's. "To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus-our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared. 'Tis much he dares; and to that dauntless temper of his mind, he hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor to act in safety. There is none but he whose being I do fear: and under him my genius in rebuked" (III.I.48-57). Macbeth carefully convinces himself that Banquo is an obstacle that he must use as a stepping stone to grow stronger. The murder of Banquo is an example of a degrading power of sin. Once Macbeth sins by killing Duncan, he abruptly starts