This paper will conduct a literary analysis of Macbeth. The main purpose of the research is to examine the moral and ethical issues present in the play. In particular, the research examines different aspects of characterization, setting, and imagery in order to provide an in-depth understanding of the ethical and moral issues that surround Macbeth’s plot. From the play, it is clear that Shakespeare uses characterization to depict moral and ethical dilemmas in the play. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are both unethical characters in the play since they are engaged in a number of murders and executions that haunt them throughout the play. It is also clear that both characters face numerous ethical and moral dilemmas between wrong and right and they choose to do the wrong thing. This leads to a transformation in both Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s character as the plot progresses.
The witch’s prophesies provides the setting and reveals the ethical and moral nature of the main characters in the play. Based on the plot of the play, in act 1 Macbeth and Banquo, both generals in King Duncan’s army receive prophesies from three witches on their way back to Scotland after victorious battles. The witches prophesy that Macbeth’s reward would be becoming the thane of Cadow and later becoming King of Scotland. On the other hand, the witches prophesied that Banquo’s kin would also end up being Kings. This prophesies from the witches created a moral and ethical dilemma that led to murder as the plot progressed. Initially, the two generals Macbeth and Banquo were doubtful of prophesies, however, Macbeth receives news that he is set to be the thane of Cadow because of the previous thane collaborating with the enemy (Bond, 2013). The news of his new title leads Macbeth to believing what the witches foretold. Macbeth then shared it with his wife Lady Macbeth upon arriving home. This news filled Lady Macbeth with a greed and desire for power for her husband and brought out her unethical nature (Cerezo, 2014). Lady Macbeth is unethical and acts without morals in the story since she tries to convince him to kill King Duncan. She is consumed with the idea that Macbeth would be King and strives to ensure that he assent to the throne even through the death of the King. She pushes Macbeth, plays on his ambition, greed, love, as well as, manliness in an effort to ensure that he Kills King Duncan, and takes the throne.
In the play, Macbeth’s ethical dilemma is also clear. Initially, Macbeth is not convinced by his wife to kill the King and provides a number of reasons in act 1 scene 7. First, he states, that he is the King’s relative and subject, hence he is supposed to be loyal to him. Secondly, he was his host and should protect him from danger. Furthermore, he argues that Duncan has always been a highly virtuous king. Macbeth argues that Duncan is not corrupt and leads his people excellently. Therefore, he is not interested in taking his life. However, Lady Macbeth places him in a moral dilemma by playing on his ambitions, manliness, and goals. She makes it clear that she will help with the killing and will ensure that Macbeth’s actions will remain a secret. This places Macbeth in a moral dilemma to choose either right or wrong. He decides to choose wrong and it brings to light the unethical nature of his character in the play.
Macbeth is unethical in his actions since he decides to kill King Duncan. Despite his words and admiration for King Duncan, he proceeds to kill him in his sleep. Macbeth acted unethically since Duncan trusted him. The king had just named him the thane of Cadow and had visited him in his home in celebration of his recent victories in battle. Macbeth’s words also reveal that he understood that it was wrong to murder a king who was not corrupt, noble, and meek in leading his people. By killing Duncan, Macbeth had denied his people the leadership of a good king who was noble and virtuous. According to Carr & Knapp (1981) in the play, sudden passion and greed for power motivate Macbeth towards killing King Duncan. Lynch (1988), also shares a similar view indicating that his ambition and willingness to kill become a corrupting cruelty on the part of Macbeth. This is mainly because his main intent is to take and maintain the throne as foretold by the witches he met. In turn, this leads to Macbeth becoming a highly corrupted leader who kills all individuals that he considers threats to his kingship. Additionally, this initial murder only leads to more murders and bloodshed as the plot of the story continues to unravel.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth also act unethically by covering up their crime. Both Macbeth and his wife were aware of the crime they had conspired and committed by killing King Duncan. In fact, Lady Macbeth had helped in convincing her husband to carry out the crime, which he vehemently opposed initially. According to Lynch (1988), Macbeth and his wife act unethically by covering up their crime. The author writes that they conceal their dirty hands with gestures of loyalty and affiliation (Lynch, 1988). This is clear from the play since they worked together in ensuring that the real perpetrators of the crime would be unknown. However, they planned to frame the King’s guards for the crime. Lady Macbeth achieved this by ensuring that they would be drunk and passed out during the crime. This would ensure that they would not stop Macbeth, as well as, providing an excellent leeway for blaming them for the death. They also plan on mourning on receiving the news that King Duncan was dead. This shows that they are both unethical individuals.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are both unethical characters since they seek to hide their crime. They achieve this by framing the king’s guards for the death of King Duncan. As mentioned earlier, Lady Macbeth drugs them in order to ensure they are asleep when Macbeth kills the king. However, after killing the King, Macbeth realizes the sinful nature of his crime when he returns to his wife with the bloody dagger in his hands. However, as she tries to convince his to return to the King’s chambers in what Carr & Knapp (1981) refer to as “The Choice of Hercules.” Lady Macbeth places Macbeth in an ethical and moral dilemma after the murder of Duncan had been completed. She convinces him to return the knife he had used to kill Duncan back to the scene. This is against Macbeth’s wishes since he is opposed to going back to Duncan’s chambers. He argues that he is afraid of his actions and does not want to go back. However, Lady Macbeth convinces him to go back in order to return the knife and frame the King’s guards for the crime committed. She explains that he must not think of what he had done since it would drive him mad. According to Carr & Knapp (1981), Macbeth is hesitant but Lady Macbeth is quick to reprimand him for not carrying out the plot as planned. Initially, Macbeth is not convinced that he wants to return to the King’s chambers. He is in fact unwilling to go back and his actions haunt him. However, once more, his wife plays on his character and he agrees to return to knife to the King’s chambers and frame the guards. Macbeth also chooses to kill the guards in the morning after the King is discovered dead. He pretends that it is a crime of passion; rather, it is a cover up for the crime committed. Once again, Macbeth’s character trait is revealed by his actions since he is placed in a position to choose right from wrong and decides to choose and act unethically.
The planning and facilitating of the murder of Banquo reveals the unethical nature of Macbeth’s character in the play. The main reason for this is that He considers Banquo a great to his rule in Scotland. According to Dean (1958), Banquo is considered as a foil to Macbeth. As mentioned earlier, both Macbeth and Banquo were great and loyal friends serving in King Duncan’s army. They both received prophesies from three witches that confirmed that Macbeth would be King, while Banquo’s heirs would also be king. Therefore, in his desire to ensure that he remained king after killing King Duncan and covering up his crime Macbeth organized and facilitated the murder of Banquo. The main purpose of this was to ensure that Banquo’s heirs would not take the crown and throne from him. His actions were guided by jealous rage and the desire to stay in power. Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, the killing of King Duncan had corrupted Macbeth and made him an unethical character that would go to great lengths to protect his throne by eliminating all individuals that he considers as threats. Dean (1958) also argues that Macbeth is no longer afraid of Banquo as a person but rather as the qualities that he represents. He argues that the death of Banquo is symbolic. This is mainly attributable to the fact that Banquo chose good over evil based on the witches’ prophesy. On the other hand, Macbeth chose evil. Therefore, he chooses to kill him since he possesses an inner beauty that makes him look ugly (Dean, 1958).
In act V, ethical and moral issues with regard to Macbeth’s character and rule as king are evident. This is mainly because of the murder of Lady Macduff and her children. In act IV, Macbeth receives prophesy to the effect that he should be aware of Macduff. Similar to Banquo he plans his murder and execution in order to protect his reign over Scotland. However, Macduff flees his castle but leaves behind his wife and child. Macbeth orders their execution as a means of eliminating any threats to his kingship. Once more, an additional murder shows the true nature of Macbeth’s unethical character. This is in line with Macbeth’s words indicating that it would be easier for him to continue killing his enemies instead of going back to confess all his crimes and wrongdoings.
Throughout the play, unethical actions haunt both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. At first, Macbeth is unable to come to terms with the fact that he killed King Duncan. The ghost of Banquo also haunts him and leads to him questioning his mental state. His wife also haunted by her unethical behavior since guilt over her actions starts consuming her. This leads her to sleepwalking and talking about the crimes that she and her husband had committed. The symbolic blood on their hands haunts both characters.
References
Boyle, R. R. (1955). The Imagery of Macbeth, I, vii, 21–28. Modern Language Quarterly, 16(2), 130-136.
Carr, S. L., & Knapp, P. A. (1981). Seeing through Macbeth. Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, 837-847.
Cerezo, M. M. (2014). Critical approaches to Shakespeare: Shakespeare for all time. Madrid : UNED Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
Bond, A. H. (2013). Lady macbeth: On the couch. New York: Bancroft Pr.
Dean, L. F. (1958). " Macbeth" and Modern Criticism. The English Journal, 47(2), 57-67.
Lynch, K. L. (1988). 'What Hands Are Here?'The Hand as Generative Symbol in Macbeth. The Review of English Studies, 39(153), 29-38.
