Fear and Cowardice in Shakespeares Macbeth :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Macbeth Fear and Cowardice William Shakespeares great tragedy, Macbeth is a play found more on character than deed. The play is a journey on the life of Macbeth, beginning at the apex of his career and following him to his demise. The dress of this sudden deterioration has been debated for centuries. Some attribute Macbeths quick degeneration to ambition. Although Macbeth is non lacking in ambition, this is not the essential element that causes his demise. It is fear that permeates Macbeth--utter cowardliness drives his will into sinful acts resulting in regression. Cowardice, not ambition, is the main and underlying instrument which causes Macbeth to kill Duncan, to murder Banquo and to seek the aid of the witches. The murder of Duncan is roused more by fearful confusion than by Macbeths vaulting ambition (I.vii.27). After tryout the witches prophetic greeting, Macbeth is lulled into a fantastical state of thought (I.iii.139). He ponders regicide, which shakes his single(a ) state of man that function / Is smotherd in surmise (I.iii.140-41). During the events heralding Duncans murder, Macbeth undergoes five compounds of mind before deciding that they shall proceed no further in that tune (I.vii.31). The hesitation to kill Duncan is the first symptom of Macbeths fearful confusion. What causes Macbeth to suddenly change his mind and kill Duncan? Macbeth is a weak man whose dearest abetter _or_ abettor in greatness is his wife (I.v.10). He values her opinion higher up all else. After rejecting the murder plan, Macbeth is the victim of a storm of insults from lady Macbeth Art thou afeard/ to be the same in thine avow act and valour/ as thou art in want? Wouldst thou swallow that/ which thou esteemst the ornament of life,/ And live a coward in thine own esteem. (I.vii.39-43) His fear of her scorn augments the confusion in spite of appearance his heat-oppressed brain, create him to hesitantly agree to the conspiracy (II.i.39). (Review MLA forma t and citations.) Macbeth, too rapt within his own fear to maintain rational reasoning, becomes a pawn of his fear-born confusion, going away his mind no other option than killing Duncan. Had the murder been caused by ambition, Macbeth would not have been so hesitant in his actions. He would have had a clear goal and could have seen a crown sooner of the air-drawn dagger which was the very painting of his fear (III.iv.62-63). Therefore, Macbeths regression is spurred by a fearful frenzy, not the over-ambitious plotting of a rational man.