Blindness in Macbeth
Blindness Has Consequences
MACBETH – FINAL ESSAY
ENG 3U
When a character in a tragedy fails to see what they really are, or who other people around them really are, tragedy, normally consisting of death results. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare many characters fail to see the truth that is themselves, or another person. The play reads,
“I think not of them:
Yet when we can entreat an hour to serve,
We would spend it in some words upon that business
If you would grant me the time.”
(Act II, I, 25-28)
This quote stated by Macbeth shows blindness in a simple way. He like most of the other characters in this play is blind to his character which is expressed in this statement. Macbeth attempts to say he has no interest in the supernatural, and then he says to Banquo that they will discuss the weird sisters afterwards. Macbeth is blind to his eager and growing interest in the prophecies of the witches, which like many of the other characters leads to his fatal fall. Other characters within the play underwent losses based on the fact they believe others think and behave as they themselves do. The three other characters whom portrayed blindness throughout the book were Duncan, Lady Macbeth and Macduff. In the book Macbeth, Duncan may have arguably had one of the more obvious blindness’. It is easy to support the fact that Duncan had blind trust in Macbeth’s character, because he truly believed that Macbeth’s inner thoughts and personality were expressed fully through his outer actions. Since Macbeth appeared loyal, by slaying Macdonwell Duncan believed he was honourable and loyal, Macbeth single handily stopped the rebellion led by the former Thane against Duncan, which caused him to rethink his choice of Thane, and re-assign the title to Macbeth. The play reads, “No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive / Our bosom interest: go, pronounce his death/ And with his former title greet Macbeth.” (Act I, ii, 73-75) These lines in the play express
MACBETH – FINAL ESSAY
ENG 3U
When a character in a tragedy fails to see what they really are, or who other people around them really are, tragedy, normally consisting of death results. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare many characters fail to see the truth that is themselves, or another person. The play reads,
“I think not of them:
Yet when we can entreat an hour to serve,
We would spend it in some words upon that business
If you would grant me the time.”
(Act II, I, 25-28)
This quote stated by Macbeth shows blindness in a simple way. He like most of the other characters in this play is blind to his character which is expressed in this statement. Macbeth attempts to say he has no interest in the supernatural, and then he says to Banquo that they will discuss the weird sisters afterwards. Macbeth is blind to his eager and growing interest in the prophecies of the witches, which like many of the other characters leads to his fatal fall. Other characters within the play underwent losses based on the fact they believe others think and behave as they themselves do. The three other characters whom portrayed blindness throughout the book were Duncan, Lady Macbeth and Macduff. In the book Macbeth, Duncan may have arguably had one of the more obvious blindness’. It is easy to support the fact that Duncan had blind trust in Macbeth’s character, because he truly believed that Macbeth’s inner thoughts and personality were expressed fully through his outer actions. Since Macbeth appeared loyal, by slaying Macdonwell Duncan believed he was honourable and loyal, Macbeth single handily stopped the rebellion led by the former Thane against Duncan, which caused him to rethink his choice of Thane, and re-assign the title to Macbeth. The play reads, “No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive / Our bosom interest: go, pronounce his death/ And with his former title greet Macbeth.” (Act I, ii, 73-75) These lines in the play express