In today's society, men and women alike are often faced with difficult decisions that conflict with his or her morals. Whether it is a person's sense of right and wrong, or his or her ability to distinguish between social and nonsocial acceptable behavior; everyone faces these dilemmas at some point or another. In William Shakespeare’s world renowned play Macbeth, the characters, especially the protagonist Macbeth, struggle with maintaining moral integrities. This goes in part with the idea that Macbeth’s behavior throughout the play is affected by his anguish to become both the man the witches prophesied and remain a moral man. There are three main things which haunt Macbeth. First, Macbeth's vaulting ambition is one of the reasons why his
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Ever since Macbeth met with the witches for the second time, he has believed himself to be invincible and denies any other opinions. For example, when the three witches told Macbeth that no child born out of a woman can harm him, “his first reaction is relief” (Vince 23). Macbeth assumed that every child alive had to have come out of a woman naturally and that made him believe that no man could ever kill him. This assumption makes Macbeth a gullible character. As well, before the witches told Macbeth about the apparitions, the witches had told him to “... beware Macduff” (IV. i. 81). Macbeth thought little of this, as his new found knowledge told him that he could not be killed. As a result, Macbeth continued his wicked ways and believed that no one could take him down. This led Macbeth to be beheaded by Macduff, as Macduff is not of woman born, he is of cesarian section. Ironically, by feeling safe, Macbeth put himself in a path leading to destruction. He thought the witches were the ones who misled him, but in reality, it was Macbeth who mislead himself. Another time Macbeth’s sense of self influenced his behavior is when he accepts responsibility for his actions. after his wife dies, Macbeth feels as if “... [life] is a tale / told by an idiot /… / signifying nothing” (V. v. 29-31). At this point, Macbeth has a moment of realization that every effort he made to become king was in vain. Macbeth realizes that an individual's life has no lasting meaning for anyone else. He also realizes that his memory will die with him, as he has not had children yet and now he does not have a wife. His soliloquy in which he talks about many aspects of life is Macbeth's first moment of lucidity since the assassination of king Duncan occurred. this is the first time he is not in denial of how his actions have affected what is
Ever since Macbeth met with the witches for the second time, he has believed himself to be invincible and denies any other opinions. For example, when the three witches told Macbeth that no child born out of a woman can harm him, “his first reaction is relief” (Vince 23). Macbeth assumed that every child alive had to have come out of a woman naturally and that made him believe that no man could ever kill him. This assumption makes Macbeth a gullible character. As well, before the witches told Macbeth about the apparitions, the witches had told him to “... beware Macduff” (IV. i. 81). Macbeth thought little of this, as his new found knowledge told him that he could not be killed. As a result, Macbeth continued his wicked ways and believed that no one could take him down. This led Macbeth to be beheaded by Macduff, as Macduff is not of woman born, he is of cesarian section. Ironically, by feeling safe, Macbeth put himself in a path leading to destruction. He thought the witches were the ones who misled him, but in reality, it was Macbeth who mislead himself. Another time Macbeth’s sense of self influenced his behavior is when he accepts responsibility for his actions. after his wife dies, Macbeth feels as if “... [life] is a tale / told by an idiot /… / signifying nothing” (V. v. 29-31). At this point, Macbeth has a moment of realization that every effort he made to become king was in vain. Macbeth realizes that an individual's life has no lasting meaning for anyone else. He also realizes that his memory will die with him, as he has not had children yet and now he does not have a wife. His soliloquy in which he talks about many aspects of life is Macbeth's first moment of lucidity since the assassination of king Duncan occurred. this is the first time he is not in denial of how his actions have affected what is