Macbeth: The True Nature of Man :: essays research papers

In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the author tries to show the true nature of gentlemans gentleman by using the plays main character, Macbeth, as an example. He is overly ambitious, courageous, and self-doubting. Throughout the play, Shakespeare displays these characteristics to the audience through Macbeth to show the true nature of man. At the end of the play, these characteristics ultimately lead to Macbeths downfall. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is described as being valiant. He is a skilled warrior, who is loyal to his mightiness and his country. Almost single-handedly, he wins the war for Scotland. He defeats many of the enemy soldiers, including a traitor, all in the name of his king. But, when three witches encounter Macbeth and his friend Banquo, Macbeths breathing in begins to grow. They tell Macbeth that he will be Thane of Cawdor and King. Soon after, Macbeth meets with King Dun undersurface. He informs Macbeth that he is the new Thane of Cawdor. Mac beth is astonished, and from then on he is obsessed with being king. His want begins to become ruthless when Duncan proclaims that his son Malcolm is the Prince of Cumberland, and therefore, the heir to the throne The Prince of Cumberland That is a step/On which I must fall down, or else oerleap, /For in my bearing it lies. Stars, hide your fires/Let not light see my black and deep desires/The inwardness wink at the hand yet let that be/Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. (I,iv,48-53) At this moment, Macbeth, realizing that they stand in the way of the witches prophecies, decides that both Duncan and Malcolm need to die for him to be king. As soon as Macbeth kills Duncan, he enters into a world of evil. later in the play, Macbeths ambition becomes increasingly ruthless. He kills his best friend Banquo, and almost kills Banquos son, Fleance, because he believes they would stand in the way of his reign. The witches told Banquo Thou shall ticktack kings, though thou be n one. (I,iii,67) This means that Banquo himself would not be a king, but that his successors would be. Macbeth tries to prevent this by killing Banquo and his son Fleance. Even though Macbeth can be called a tyrant and a murderer, he is nonetheless, very courageous. In the beginning of the play, he fights very bravely for his king and country.