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Macbeth: A Good Man
A struggle is present in every tragedy, as a person tries to overcome their
flaws and fit the mold of their ideal. William Shakespeare plainly defined
a good man in the play "Macbeth". This goal by it's definition is a
difficult one for any man to achieve. Prudence and logic, temperance and
patients, as well as the vindication of honor are Shakespeare's defining
characteristics of a good man.
As with any well written tragedy, Macbeth's title character and hero had to
fall from his place of greatness to see his faults and begin his agonizing
climb back to his previous position. His position, that of a good man, was
one that demanded respect in the beginning of "Macbeth". The Sergeant
described Macbeth's honor and bravery to king Duncan in act I, scene 2.
"For brave Macbeth_well he deserves that name_ Disdaining fortune, with his
brandish'd steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valour's minion
carved out his passage Till he faced the slave;_"
Macbeth defended his king's honor as well as his own, as Shakespeare showed
a good man never backed down from a foe. In the later acts of the play,
Shakespeare furthered the definition of a good man by portraying what a bad
one was not. In Macbeth's darkest hours, he showed no sign of prudence and
logic as he slayed king Duncan, and hired assassins to murder his friend
Banquo. Macbeth displayed his temerity in act IV scene 1 saying, "_from
this moment The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my
hand. And even now, To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done;_
"
Macbeth was no longer the logical, thinking man whom many admired. He had
become reckless, acting with only his passion and not his mind. The
tragedy of the murders he brought on fair Scotland was a direct result of
this violation of the criterion of a good man.
The most apparent flaw, and perhaps the most tragic in Macbeth's character,
is his lack of patients and temperance. These shortcomings haunted Macbeth,
causing him to let his "overvaulting ambition" rush fate, and hasten his
doom. Macbeth could not wait for an appointment to a position of more
power. Instead, he murdered the king to take his place. Opting not to
wait to see if Banquo would be loyal to him, Macbeth had his companion
murdered. His impatience led Macbeth to listen to his wife, the witches,
and his darker side. He again informed people what a good man was not. In
the end, Macbeth did regain a shred of his previous distinction when he
faced his adversaries like a true warrior. Macbeth's last words are those
of a good man who faces his own problems. To Macduff he shouts his last
words, "Before my bodyI throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff,And damn'd
be him that first cries, `Hold, enough!" Like a bear, Macbeth regains his
seat of honor, and becomes in his last breath, a good man.
ADDITIONAL FEATURED ESSAYS
Macbeth - Power
There are many different types of power which a person may have. Some of the time, however, the person in that power is
Macbeth: Blood Will Have Blood
In Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, Macbeth says, "Blood will have blood…," is implying one of the main themes. Along with
Macbeth: A Shallow And Weak Man
In cliff notes character analysis of Macbeth they claim him to be a courageous man. But what is their definition of cour
Macbeth 10
CHOICE 2 - Compare the changes in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as a result of the murder of King Duncan. How are they before
Macbeth’s Tragic Flaw
Every tragedy has a tragic hero with a tragic flaw, and William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth is no exception. As expect
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