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The emotion of fear is so powerful that it can motivate an individual to do the unimaginable. In William Shakespearean Macbeth, fear is the driving force for murder, escape, and madness. There are three types of fear that are exhibited in this tragic Shakespearean play. They are the fears based on morals, the fears based on physical harm, and the fears based on selfishness. The purpose of this essay is to give evidence of the various types of fears that certain characters In Macbeth have acted One of the major types of fears In Shakespearean Macbeth was based on morals.
Throughout this tragedy, Macbeth, the main character, is in conflict with his knowledge of good and evil. Therefore, his personal battle deals with his emotions. By doing many evil deeds, Macbeth compromised his morals to become king. Machete’s fear on his moral Is shown when the conflict on whether he should kill King Duncan was arousing inside of him. Machete’s doubt in killing King Duncan is decided for him when he sees the bloody dagger in front of him. Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee: I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but a dagger of the mind, a false creation. (Act 2, scene l, nun 33-38) The dagger of his mind convinces Macbeth to slay King Duncan. The above quote makes the move urging Macbeth to kill the king. Macbeth makes his decision to kill King Duncan; “l go, and It is done; the bell Invites me hear It not, Duncan; for It Is a knell that summons thee to heaven, or to hell. ” (Act 2, Scene l, Line 62-??64) Macbeth quoting to himself right before entering King’s door.
This is also visible when Macbeth becomes fearful, for he knows that King Duncan has been good to him by inuring him with the title of Thane of Castor, and showing the appreciation toward Macbeth. HIS fear comes from his consciousness of knowing right from wrong; He also believes he must follow his fate, and the bloody dagger was a sign for him to do just that. Lady Macbeth made big influence on her husband, Macbeth, by encouraging him to kill the king, the reader discovers after the crime has been committed, that In fact, Lady Macbeth knew right from wrong, for her consciousness would not allow her to escape her lad In the murder.
The fear that came from her weak mind is shown in this quote; O proper stuff This Is the very painting of your fear; This Is the air-drawn dagger which, you said, Led you to Duncan. O these flaws and starts–lampposts to true fear– would well become A woman’s story at a winter’s fire, Authorized by her grandma. 1 OFF This is shown when she hallucinates, seeing her bloody hands that cannot be washed off. The fear based on morals eventually wins as it takes over Lady Machete’s mind and, thus, she kills herself. The fear based on physical harm made this play seem so realistic because the scenes on them links to the upcoming plot.
The killing of Macadam’s wife and his son and the escape of Malcolm and Donaldson are the examples of fear for their safety. The fear for life provoked Macbeth to kill Macadam’s wife. Macbeth would have preferred to kill Macadam himself after hearing the first apparition’s prophesy, warning him to beware of Macadam. Right before Macbeth sent his murderer, a messenger who is against Macbeth, told Lady Macadam to run away; If you will take a homely man’s advice, Be not found here; hence, with your little ones. To fright you thus, methinks, I am too savage; To do worse to you were fell cruelty,
Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you! I dare abide no longer. (Act 4, scene 2, Line 66-71) However, Lady Macadam was very angry at this, not knowing what is happening, she decides to stay inside the house. Since Macadam ran away to England before Macbeth could get to him, Macbeth decided to murder the wife and son–this was purely based on fear as well as a message to Macadam, not to mess with him. Malcolm and Donaldson also feared for their lives. After King Duncan was killed, this caused fear in both king’s sons, Malcolm and Donaldson, to run away, and seek refuge in England ND Ireland.
Both the sons feared for their lives because they thought that since their father was murdered. In that case, Malcolm quotes that they have a high chance of themselves being the next target. This is stated as follow; This murderous shaft that’s shot Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way Is to avoid the aim: therefore, to horse; And let us not be dainty of leave-taking, Buy shift away: there’s warrant in that theft Which steals itself when there’s no mercy left (Act 2, scene 3, Line 143-147) Therefore, Malcolm and Donaldson knew they would be in great danger if they stayed n Scotland.
The fear on the characters’ selfishness made a big role in this play. The selfishness on some characters became darker, which caused the tragic incident. After Macbeth met with the three witches, he developed ideas of grandeur. The witches prophesied that he would be King of Scotland. However, when he witnessed King Duncan giving his one of sons, Malcolm, the title of Prince of Cumberland, while giving him the status of Thane of Castor, Macbeth feared that the witches’ prophesy The Prince of Cumberland!
That is a step On which I must fall down, or else over-leap, For in my way it lies. Stars hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires; The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. (Act l, Scene 4, Line 48-??53) Thus, this fear based on selfishness motivated Macbeth to plot out King Dunce’s death. Prior to Machete’s crime of killing the king, he had doubts whether or not he should go forth with his plan. Ultimately, it was the persuasion of his wife, Lady Macbeth, that convinced Macbeth to do the deed.
Her argument from doing away with the king stemmed from her desire to become the Queen. Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know how tender ‘its to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, And dash’s the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this. (Act l, scene 7, Line 54-54) Here, she is not Just convincing, but forcing Macbeth to do the deed. She was so encapsulated by the notion of being the Queen, that her selfishness transforms into the fear of not being the Queen.