Hands are a part of the body that a large number of both contemporary and older literary works use to represent an overarching theme, each in a slightly different way. The two hands can represent balance between good and evil, authority and power, or a plethora of other themes. In the play, Macbeth, Shakespeare often uses this motif of hands to enhance the clarity of one of his overarching messages. At first impression, Macbeth seems to be a loyal and righteous character, however the coercing of his wife, Lady Macbeth, and his own desire for power, each lead him to commit a relentless chain of unprincipled acts. Along with creating an overwhelming chain reaction of subsequent events, simply performing one unethical act proves to illicit a
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Through the motif of hands, Shakespeare demonstrates that the negative repercussions of an immoral action cannot be repressed and will ultimately corrupt a person’s character. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s hands originally display an undeniable source of their power and surety, however as they begin to commit unforgivable crimes, their hands become a seemingly malicious and uncontrollable part of their body. In the beginning of the first act, Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a valiant soldier who fights for the benefit of his country. While fighting against the Thane of Cawdor, Macdonwald, Macbeth, “like a valour’s minion carved out his passage till he faced the slave, which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops” (Shakespeare 1.2.19-22). Using his own hands, Macbeth crushes evil and becomes the hero of the battle, and furthermore, Macdonwald does not even have time to shake Macbeth’s hand. With these two instances of the motif of hands, Shakespeare demonstrates Macbeth’s overwhelming power and confidence in his actions. Later in act one, Macbeth hears from …show more content…
King Edward of England is quickly established as the antithesis of Macbeth. There are many in England who suffer, however “at [the king’s] touch-- such sanctity hath heaven given his hand-- they presently amend” (4.3.142-146). Shakespeare emphasizes that the touch of King Edward is powerful enough to heal. He is a benevolent king who works for the good of his people, and is void of malintentions. Macbeth, on the other hand, eventually proves himself to be king who is unlike King Edward in multiple ways. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth uses his power for the benefit of others by fearlessly killing Macdonwald in battle; however, once he succumbs to the idea of murder, he quickly becomes a tyrannical ruler that inflicts ruin onto Scotland. Lennox tells another lord that he hopes “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” ( 3.6.46-50). Lennox is calling out for someone to help free Scotland from the control of Macbeth, whose lust for power has made him a ravaging tyrant. Through the comparison of Macbeth’s accused hand Edward’s healing touch, Shakespeare demonstrates how the lust for that stems from an immoral act, not only corrupts a
Through the motif of hands, Shakespeare demonstrates that the negative repercussions of an immoral action cannot be repressed and will ultimately corrupt a person’s character. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s hands originally display an undeniable source of their power and surety, however as they begin to commit unforgivable crimes, their hands become a seemingly malicious and uncontrollable part of their body. In the beginning of the first act, Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a valiant soldier who fights for the benefit of his country. While fighting against the Thane of Cawdor, Macdonwald, Macbeth, “like a valour’s minion carved out his passage till he faced the slave, which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops” (Shakespeare 1.2.19-22). Using his own hands, Macbeth crushes evil and becomes the hero of the battle, and furthermore, Macdonwald does not even have time to shake Macbeth’s hand. With these two instances of the motif of hands, Shakespeare demonstrates Macbeth’s overwhelming power and confidence in his actions. Later in act one, Macbeth hears from …show more content…
King Edward of England is quickly established as the antithesis of Macbeth. There are many in England who suffer, however “at [the king’s] touch-- such sanctity hath heaven given his hand-- they presently amend” (4.3.142-146). Shakespeare emphasizes that the touch of King Edward is powerful enough to heal. He is a benevolent king who works for the good of his people, and is void of malintentions. Macbeth, on the other hand, eventually proves himself to be king who is unlike King Edward in multiple ways. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth uses his power for the benefit of others by fearlessly killing Macdonwald in battle; however, once he succumbs to the idea of murder, he quickly becomes a tyrannical ruler that inflicts ruin onto Scotland. Lennox tells another lord that he hopes “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” ( 3.6.46-50). Lennox is calling out for someone to help free Scotland from the control of Macbeth, whose lust for power has made him a ravaging tyrant. Through the comparison of Macbeth’s accused hand Edward’s healing touch, Shakespeare demonstrates how the lust for that stems from an immoral act, not only corrupts a