Macbeth: Positive And Negative Change

Change is the way in which we process the world around us and ourselves in it. Change can occur over time or suddenly, reshaping our perspectives, forcing us to experience and consider different points of view. Change can either be positive or negative, as shown in the texts Macbeth, a play by William Shakespeare and the film About a Boy (2002) directed by Paul and Chris Weitz. Change can bring forth maturity and growth in oneself, though can also lead to a loss of humanity and morals that are typically held up by society, which usually causes the quality of life to dwindle, affecting all those around us.

Throughout the play Macbeth, one of the most evident concepts of change is the effects of negative change and its varying ramifications. …show more content…
Change can also be viewed when Macbeth goes through with the murder of Duncan, mentally aided by Lady Macbeth. Shakespeare presents Macbeth as someone who is conflicted by his moral character. The insulting imagery “I know how tender tis to love the babe that milks me” used by Lady Macbeth, questions Macbeth 's masculinity and manhood when he hesitates with Duncan 's murder. After the deed has been done, Shakespeare uses the symbolism of water and washing to convey to the audience that Macbeth has completely been altered on a psychological level “A little water cures us of this deed” showing how the negative change has led to a loss of humanity and morals within Macbeth. The unnaturalness of the situation is shown through the imagery “A falcon was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed” Shakespeare trajects to the audience that Macbeth has disrupted the natural order of the universe, leading to dire consequences. This creates a sense of condemnation and depreciation among Scotland citizens. Macbeth Comes to rule Scotland, which struggles under his rule due to the negative change of his emotional and psychological state that he brought forth upon himself and those around him. Macbeth changes mentally throughout the play, his own mind seeming to be an enemy, which is shown through his reaction to Banquo 's ghost, presented as a visual metaphor “Thou can not say I did it; never shake Thy gory locks at me!” Conveys to the audience Macbeth 's conflicting mental state. Shakespeare uses dark imagery of death and deprivation “each new more widows howl...new sorrows strike heaven “ indicating that Macbeth is the reason for Scotland 's downfall. That his conscious decisions to change in the negative way that he has been the reason for the downfall of the country he changed so much since. Shakespeare 's use of the varying techniques throughout the play allows the audience to see