Macbeth's 'Dead Butcher And His Fiend-Like Queen'
This dead butcher and his fiend-like queen'
At the end of the play, Malcolm refers to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as: ' this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen ', but how much of truth is there to this statement? If we carefully look at their actions and even more so their reactions throughout the play, we still seem to feel a sense of sympathy for them; even though they have committed such dreadful deeds. This is the mastery of Shakespeare So is Macbeth a butcher; and Lady Macbeth a fiend-like queen? Let us consider how much truth there really is to this very poignant depiction
All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.' This is perhaps the line that lays siege to Macbeths mind, and the start of a downward spiral of mental deterioration. This scene is the first time in the play that we see Macbeth's ambition (which very quickly becomes vaulting ambition') he …show more content…
already has contemplated murder, but he is utterly horrified by his thoughts. When Lady Macbeth here's about the weird sister's' prophecies, she is profoundly affected by them, and she immediately realizes that she is has to convince Macbeth to kill Duncan (for he is to fill of the milk of human kindness)'; so that they may rule Scotland. At this point many would perceive her to have fiendish qualities, but the she calls on the spirits to unsex' her, and make her strong. Now we have to consider, that if she was naturally such a wicked women, why would she have to do this?
In Act 2, scene 1 the horrid deed is done. Macbeth and His Lady are both on edge; Macbeth however is deeply affected by the vicious deed that he has just committed, and he is in a state of absolute shock, he is already regretting his actions, certainly not a trait of a cold blooded butcher. We learn also that Lady Macbeth could not herself kill Duncan, as he reminded her of her father as he slept. Again we ask whether this would be a contemplation of an evil woman.
When Macbeth orders Banquo's and his son, Fleance's, execution; has mind is still in turmoil- he orders the murders to set his mind at rest, not only because Banquo had knowledge of the witches prophecies, but also because the witches had said that Banquo will give rise to a line of kings, but as for Macbeth, a fruitless crown' was placed upon his head.
He thinks that this murder will serve as a Panado for his aches and pains; however these are all of the mind- and will not give in so easily. Then when he sees Banquo's ghost at the banquet, he is deeply distressed, and we see a rapid deterioration in his state of mind.
We are never directly told how Macbeth feels about the murder (he ordered) of Macduff's family. Their murders in retrospect gain him nothing, even though he has good reason to fear Macduff. We can see it as Macbeth ordering the murders out of spite and anger as Macduff has fled to England to help Malcolm destroy him and his empire. Because Macbeth cannot get to Macduff, he lets loose this senseless fate upon those closest to him- clearly the thoughts of a man gone
mad.
While we see Macbeth's mental deterioration throughout the play, we only see Lady Macbeth's plight to its full extent towards the end, during the sleep walking scenes. She is clearly consumed with remorse, and is on course to a severe breakdown. When she sleepwalks; she rein acts the dreadful deeds that she and her husband have committed, in particular she desperately tries to get Duncan's blood of her hands, which is ironic considering her words earlier in the play. She is extremely guilt ridden- definitely not a trait of a truly wicked women.
At the end, Lady Macbeth commits suicide and Macbeth is killed by Macduff, both their demises products of their ambition. But in retrospect can we honestly say that they were a butcher and fiend-like queen? They are both profoundly tormented by their deeds, and at many stages show deep regret. They never enjoy the crown, but they are continuously driven by ambition. Ultimately, I do not think that we see a butcher, fiend-like queen and collectively cold blooded murderers, but what we do see is a couple who try to take fate into their own hands, and these actions bring them nothing but grief, suffering and torment
The End
At the end of the play, Malcolm refers to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as: ' this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen ', but how much of truth is there to this statement? If we carefully look at their actions and even more so their reactions throughout the play, we still seem to feel a sense of sympathy for them; even though they have committed such dreadful deeds. This is the mastery of Shakespeare So is Macbeth a butcher; and Lady Macbeth a fiend-like queen? Let us consider how much truth there really is to this very poignant depiction
All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.' This is perhaps the line that lays siege to Macbeths mind, and the start of a downward spiral of mental deterioration. This scene is the first time in the play that we see Macbeth's ambition (which very quickly becomes vaulting ambition') he …show more content…
already has contemplated murder, but he is utterly horrified by his thoughts. When Lady Macbeth here's about the weird sister's' prophecies, she is profoundly affected by them, and she immediately realizes that she is has to convince Macbeth to kill Duncan (for he is to fill of the milk of human kindness)'; so that they may rule Scotland. At this point many would perceive her to have fiendish qualities, but the she calls on the spirits to unsex' her, and make her strong. Now we have to consider, that if she was naturally such a wicked women, why would she have to do this?
In Act 2, scene 1 the horrid deed is done. Macbeth and His Lady are both on edge; Macbeth however is deeply affected by the vicious deed that he has just committed, and he is in a state of absolute shock, he is already regretting his actions, certainly not a trait of a cold blooded butcher. We learn also that Lady Macbeth could not herself kill Duncan, as he reminded her of her father as he slept. Again we ask whether this would be a contemplation of an evil woman.
When Macbeth orders Banquo's and his son, Fleance's, execution; has mind is still in turmoil- he orders the murders to set his mind at rest, not only because Banquo had knowledge of the witches prophecies, but also because the witches had said that Banquo will give rise to a line of kings, but as for Macbeth, a fruitless crown' was placed upon his head.
He thinks that this murder will serve as a Panado for his aches and pains; however these are all of the mind- and will not give in so easily. Then when he sees Banquo's ghost at the banquet, he is deeply distressed, and we see a rapid deterioration in his state of mind.
We are never directly told how Macbeth feels about the murder (he ordered) of Macduff's family. Their murders in retrospect gain him nothing, even though he has good reason to fear Macduff. We can see it as Macbeth ordering the murders out of spite and anger as Macduff has fled to England to help Malcolm destroy him and his empire. Because Macbeth cannot get to Macduff, he lets loose this senseless fate upon those closest to him- clearly the thoughts of a man gone
mad.
While we see Macbeth's mental deterioration throughout the play, we only see Lady Macbeth's plight to its full extent towards the end, during the sleep walking scenes. She is clearly consumed with remorse, and is on course to a severe breakdown. When she sleepwalks; she rein acts the dreadful deeds that she and her husband have committed, in particular she desperately tries to get Duncan's blood of her hands, which is ironic considering her words earlier in the play. She is extremely guilt ridden- definitely not a trait of a truly wicked women.
At the end, Lady Macbeth commits suicide and Macbeth is killed by Macduff, both their demises products of their ambition. But in retrospect can we honestly say that they were a butcher and fiend-like queen? They are both profoundly tormented by their deeds, and at many stages show deep regret. They never enjoy the crown, but they are continuously driven by ambition. Ultimately, I do not think that we see a butcher, fiend-like queen and collectively cold blooded murderers, but what we do see is a couple who try to take fate into their own hands, and these actions bring them nothing but grief, suffering and torment
The End