Disruption In The Natural Order In 'Macbeth'

Essay topic: “ Disruption in the natural order in the play Macbeth leads to chaos”

Macbeth by William Shakespeare is set in a society where the idea of loyalty to the superior is absolute. William Shakespeare portrayed that there was a danger in disturbing ‘the great chain of being’ which ranked all creations including human society. It ranked humans above animals, nobles above the poor and at the top of the hierarchy was the king. When Macbeth murders King Duncan the chain was violated resulting in chaos. Disorder and chaos is symbolized by the presence of ongoing corruption and disharmony in the land. Stormy weather and natural disasters further enhance the presence of evil and chaos. It is also important to note that at the end of the
play there is a restoration of order when the rightful king returns to the throne.

The first signs of disruption occur almost immediately after King Duncan’s death.
Macbeth’s murder is accompanied by a number of unnatural occurrences in the weather and in the behavior of animals. In Act II scene IV, Ross, a thane, and an old man discuss the strange happenings of the few days after King Duncan’s Death. It is daytime, but dark outside; “By th' clock ’tis day/And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp” (II,IV.6-7)the sun, as if the sky is “troubled with man’s act” (2.4.5). The land is shrouded in darkness, and is therefore barren, no longer fertile and healthy; nothing can grow without the light of the sun. A falcon was circling high in the sky, and it was caught and killed by an ordinary owl that usually goes after mice; “A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place/ was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed” (II,IV,13-14). And lastly Duncan’s well-trained horses behaved wildly and ate one another; “Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, /Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,/ Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would/ Make war with mankind” (II,IV,16-19). When Macbeth fights against nature and claims the throne, the land becomes `sick` as a result and the actions of the creatures are becoming as unnatural and twisted as his
deeds.

There is a disorder not only in nature, but also in society during the reign of Macbeth.
Once Macbeth takes the throne in Duncan’s place, he upsets the political and social order by taking a position that is not his by right. Macbeth is unable to be a good monarch because of his defiance of nature, and he commits crimes to keep himself on the throne: the murders of Banquo, Lady Macduff, and her son. When Macbeth’s faults are revealed, Scotland’s situation is immediately understood, because the crimes that Macbeth commits against Scotland have been predicted by the disturbances in nature. In Act III, Scene VI, a discussion takes place between Lennox and another Lord. They are discussing the fact that Scotland, under Macbeth's rule is
suffering:

“And that well might
Advise him to a caution, t' hold what distance
His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel
Fly to the court of England and unfold
His message ere he come, that a swift blessing
May soon return to this our suffering country
Under a hand accursed!” (III,VI,44-50).

We learn from this passage that Lennox is hopeful that Malcolm with the help of the English King can take the throne away from Macbeth and return it to its rightful heir, Malcolm, because the country is suffering under ‘a hand accursed’.

The restoration of the moral and the natural order in Macbeth happens through the killing of Macbeth. The divine king’s restoration to the throne begins Scotland’s return to order following Macbeth’s reign of terror. When Macbeth is killed, MacDuff says “Hail, king! For so thou art. Behold where stands/ the usurper’s cursèd head. The time is free.” (V,XI, 20-21) by the end of the play there's a sense of peace over the people of Scotland. The unnatural uprising of Macbeth now in the past, Macduff comments that "the time is free" (V, XI, 21) they are no longer under the rule of a tyrant and in this sense they are free from his oppression. And Macbeth's life proves to be a "tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing" (V,V, 27-29) no one will remember Macbeth because his life ‘signified nothing’ he will not be remembered as the noble man he was before he took the throne but instead as an unjust ruler . Banquo's family will give rise to the line of Stuart kings and Malcolm, the rightful king will regain the throne his father left him—all exactly as if Macbeth had never dared to kill Duncan.

Unnatural occurrences and disharmony in the land are the chaotic effects of the disruption of the natural order and ‘the great chain of being’ in Macbeth. There is a restoration of order in the land when the rightful king is returned to the throne and the transgressor, Macbeth, is killed. William Shakespeare portrays the great dangers of violating the great chain of being. By rebelling against the divine right which was established by god you are going against ‘god’s will’, this was considered to be sinful and as a result there will be chaos and destruction in the land. Macbeth's experiences bear testament to this.