Loss Of Power In Macbeth
Macbeth, a 16th century play written by William Shakespeare tackles many relevant issues from the time, including: the role of a monarch, political violence, and the nature of power. Shakespeare uses the Macbeths’ turbulent relationship with power to express his own views on the topic of illegitimate monarchy. Illegitimate monarchy is when the throne is obtained through uncalled for regicide, specifically if the murdered King or Queen was considered to be a benevolent ruler. Shakespeare uses the graphic image of deceased infants to underscore the lengths the Macbeths will go to for power. The image often appears in the play when a significant event relating to the Macbeths’ attainment, preservation, or loss of power occurs. This is because
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the juxtaposition between power and helpless babies is a strong ironic tool. Exploring this irony ultimately helps prove that Shakespeare believed illegitimate power to be nothing but a frail and fleeting affectation of true power.
Of the Macbeths Lady Macbeth is arguably the most morally repugnant, as she will do and say anything to achieve power. Macbeth, though ambitious as well, struggles with the moral implications of killing King Duncan and at one point in the play even decides to forgo the endeavor. This turn of events infuriates Lady Macbeth as she can see her potential power slipping away, so, she berates him by saying:
I have given suck, and know
How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me;
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums
And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn…(1.7.55-58)
Lady Macbeth feels that her husband has gone back on his word to her; this monologue is her attempt to emotionally manipulate him. She is trivializing regicide by comparing it to infanticide, killing one’s own children is perhaps the greatest and most unnatural crime possible. Lady Macbeth admits she would coldly smash in the head of a defenseless infant for the sake of power. Suffice to say, Macbeth’s paltry morals fold quickly under the pressure of such a statement. After she brings him around he exclaims, “[b]ring forth men-children only!” (1.7.73). This is because her strength and temerity would suit only male children.
Macbeth’s vicious attack on Macduff’s family, specifically his innocent child is a desperate and futile attempt to maintain his power.
It is around Act 4 that Macbeth begins to loose his grip on reality and become paranoid; he believes that he is on the precipice of losing all of the power he has illegitimately gained. So, in a brutal ploy to reassert his power and to send a clear warning to his enemies, Macbeth decides to kill Macduff’s, “…wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls//That trace him in his line” (4.2.152-153). This is harsh punishment for a crime that has not yet been perpetrated. Unfortunately for Macbeth his plan backfires. Instead of proving his authority Macbeth undermines it by implying he was too weak to face a qualified opponent like Macduff and instead has to take his fury out on Macduff’s vulnerable wife and child. This is not the only result of the action, when the harsh news reaches Macduff he says, “[h]e has no children” (4.3.217). At face value this quotation means that Macbeth cannot be a father, because no father could commit such an act. And though this is true, there is also a deeper meaning. Part of being a king with absolute power is adopting a paternal role in society. The king rules over the people like a head over the body and a father over his children. So, when the king kills an innocent subject it is as if a father is killing his child or a man cutting off his foot to punish it. It is unnatural and counterproductive. In essence what …show more content…
Macduff is saying is that Macbeth is not a real King.
Ironically, it is children who predict Macbeth’s downfall.
In Act 4 Scene 1 Macbeth’s fate is proclaimed by two childlike apparitions. The first is a bloody child who says, “…none of woman born//Shall harm Macbeth” (4.1.80-81). The second is a crowned child with a tree in his hands who says, “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until//Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill//Shall come against him” (4.1.92-94). The bloody child symbolizes Macduff who was born via Caesarean section, and is the man who will end Macbeth’s unsanctioned reign. The crowned child however, symbolizes Malcolm; the rightful heir to the throne. The tree the crowned child is holding foreshadows the movement of Birnam Wood. There is a lot to delve into with this evidence. To start, both apparitions are equivocating, for though what they are saying is indeed true they are interpreting these statements in a very different way from Macbeth. Where the apparitions see an ineludible fate in which Macbeth loses everything he has gained, Macbeth sees a validation of his power. It is also significant that the apparitions themselves are children, for the first time children are not displayed as weak beings to be controlled or crushed. It signifies the beginning of the end, the positions have reversed, Macbeth is now weak and the children-or rather the things they symbolize like Scotland, his subjects, Malcolm, true power, and Macduff-are
strong.
the juxtaposition between power and helpless babies is a strong ironic tool. Exploring this irony ultimately helps prove that Shakespeare believed illegitimate power to be nothing but a frail and fleeting affectation of true power.
Of the Macbeths Lady Macbeth is arguably the most morally repugnant, as she will do and say anything to achieve power. Macbeth, though ambitious as well, struggles with the moral implications of killing King Duncan and at one point in the play even decides to forgo the endeavor. This turn of events infuriates Lady Macbeth as she can see her potential power slipping away, so, she berates him by saying:
I have given suck, and know
How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me;
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums
And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn…(1.7.55-58)
Lady Macbeth feels that her husband has gone back on his word to her; this monologue is her attempt to emotionally manipulate him. She is trivializing regicide by comparing it to infanticide, killing one’s own children is perhaps the greatest and most unnatural crime possible. Lady Macbeth admits she would coldly smash in the head of a defenseless infant for the sake of power. Suffice to say, Macbeth’s paltry morals fold quickly under the pressure of such a statement. After she brings him around he exclaims, “[b]ring forth men-children only!” (1.7.73). This is because her strength and temerity would suit only male children.
Macbeth’s vicious attack on Macduff’s family, specifically his innocent child is a desperate and futile attempt to maintain his power.
It is around Act 4 that Macbeth begins to loose his grip on reality and become paranoid; he believes that he is on the precipice of losing all of the power he has illegitimately gained. So, in a brutal ploy to reassert his power and to send a clear warning to his enemies, Macbeth decides to kill Macduff’s, “…wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls//That trace him in his line” (4.2.152-153). This is harsh punishment for a crime that has not yet been perpetrated. Unfortunately for Macbeth his plan backfires. Instead of proving his authority Macbeth undermines it by implying he was too weak to face a qualified opponent like Macduff and instead has to take his fury out on Macduff’s vulnerable wife and child. This is not the only result of the action, when the harsh news reaches Macduff he says, “[h]e has no children” (4.3.217). At face value this quotation means that Macbeth cannot be a father, because no father could commit such an act. And though this is true, there is also a deeper meaning. Part of being a king with absolute power is adopting a paternal role in society. The king rules over the people like a head over the body and a father over his children. So, when the king kills an innocent subject it is as if a father is killing his child or a man cutting off his foot to punish it. It is unnatural and counterproductive. In essence what …show more content…
Macduff is saying is that Macbeth is not a real King.
Ironically, it is children who predict Macbeth’s downfall.
In Act 4 Scene 1 Macbeth’s fate is proclaimed by two childlike apparitions. The first is a bloody child who says, “…none of woman born//Shall harm Macbeth” (4.1.80-81). The second is a crowned child with a tree in his hands who says, “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until//Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill//Shall come against him” (4.1.92-94). The bloody child symbolizes Macduff who was born via Caesarean section, and is the man who will end Macbeth’s unsanctioned reign. The crowned child however, symbolizes Malcolm; the rightful heir to the throne. The tree the crowned child is holding foreshadows the movement of Birnam Wood. There is a lot to delve into with this evidence. To start, both apparitions are equivocating, for though what they are saying is indeed true they are interpreting these statements in a very different way from Macbeth. Where the apparitions see an ineludible fate in which Macbeth loses everything he has gained, Macbeth sees a validation of his power. It is also significant that the apparitions themselves are children, for the first time children are not displayed as weak beings to be controlled or crushed. It signifies the beginning of the end, the positions have reversed, Macbeth is now weak and the children-or rather the things they symbolize like Scotland, his subjects, Malcolm, true power, and Macduff-are
strong.