Throughout history, citizens have hailed leaders to demonstrate their loyalty and approval. Likewise, in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, the word “hail” is used twelve times when referring to Macbeth, the protagonist. However, Macbeth is only hailed before he commits the sinful acts of murder mentioned in the play. Shakespeare’s intentional deletion of the word “hail” in regards to Macbeth reveals how human instinct causes individuals to become alienated from society as consequence for their immoral actions. Shakespeare exposes this quality of the human condition through the lack of praising for Macbeth as well as his self imposed isolation stemming from his guilt. During the play the characters of the witches, Ross, and Lady Macbeth hail Macbeth,
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The lack of the word “hail” in reference to Macbeth indicates he has lost the loyalty of his subjects. He lost their loyalty once he committed the heinous acts of killing Duncan and other characters from the play, for at that point Macbeth was no longer fit to be a king. Through this disappearance of the word “hail”, Shakespeare silently pronounces the lack of support for Macbeth. This lack of support stemming from his immoral actions illustrates Macbeth’s alienation from the other characters in the play. From the end of scene one to the end of scene five the word “hail” is absent from the dialoged. However, after Macduff kills Macbeth all the characters declare, “hail, king of Scotland” (5.8.71). This unison marks the first use of the word “hail” after Macbeth murdered Duncan. The image of the whole company hailing Macbeth’s bloody head shows the overall approval of his death. This approval proves how consequential one’s actions are, for Macbeth’s decision to kill Duncan lead him to isolation and eventually death. However, decision it self was not the mark of Macbeth’s downfall. While Macbeth’s peers turned against him, Macbeth guilt instigated his …show more content…
Shakespeare alienates Macbeth by only allowing him to see things such as Banquo’s ghost and the witches. After Macbeth kills Duncan he becomes haunted by his actions. His guilt separates himself from his wife as well as his subordinates. Macbeth’s separation from those around him is clearly seen during the banquet scene directly after Banquo’s death. During the feast Macbeth is disturbed by the sight of Banquo’s ghost sitting in his chair, for Lady Macbeth explains it as a “fit” to the other lords at dinner. This fit shows that Macbeth is the only one who can see the ghost, further isolating him from others. Additionally, Macbeth begins to argue with the ghost and forgets about his guests demonstrating that he has separated himself from the rest of the world around him. Furthermore, after seeing the witches Macbeth asks Lennox if he had seen them. However, Lennox replies, “no, indeed, my lord” (4.1.156) signifying that Macbeth is the only one who can see the witches. Macbeth’s sighting of these bizarre, supernatural creatures separates him from those around him. These sightings demonstrate his mind’s self-punishment, for his mind creates these hallucinations to punish him for his sins of murder. Macbeth’s isolation combined with the lack of support and approval from the other characters leads Macbeth to his
The lack of the word “hail” in reference to Macbeth indicates he has lost the loyalty of his subjects. He lost their loyalty once he committed the heinous acts of killing Duncan and other characters from the play, for at that point Macbeth was no longer fit to be a king. Through this disappearance of the word “hail”, Shakespeare silently pronounces the lack of support for Macbeth. This lack of support stemming from his immoral actions illustrates Macbeth’s alienation from the other characters in the play. From the end of scene one to the end of scene five the word “hail” is absent from the dialoged. However, after Macduff kills Macbeth all the characters declare, “hail, king of Scotland” (5.8.71). This unison marks the first use of the word “hail” after Macbeth murdered Duncan. The image of the whole company hailing Macbeth’s bloody head shows the overall approval of his death. This approval proves how consequential one’s actions are, for Macbeth’s decision to kill Duncan lead him to isolation and eventually death. However, decision it self was not the mark of Macbeth’s downfall. While Macbeth’s peers turned against him, Macbeth guilt instigated his …show more content…
Shakespeare alienates Macbeth by only allowing him to see things such as Banquo’s ghost and the witches. After Macbeth kills Duncan he becomes haunted by his actions. His guilt separates himself from his wife as well as his subordinates. Macbeth’s separation from those around him is clearly seen during the banquet scene directly after Banquo’s death. During the feast Macbeth is disturbed by the sight of Banquo’s ghost sitting in his chair, for Lady Macbeth explains it as a “fit” to the other lords at dinner. This fit shows that Macbeth is the only one who can see the ghost, further isolating him from others. Additionally, Macbeth begins to argue with the ghost and forgets about his guests demonstrating that he has separated himself from the rest of the world around him. Furthermore, after seeing the witches Macbeth asks Lennox if he had seen them. However, Lennox replies, “no, indeed, my lord” (4.1.156) signifying that Macbeth is the only one who can see the witches. Macbeth’s sighting of these bizarre, supernatural creatures separates him from those around him. These sightings demonstrate his mind’s self-punishment, for his mind creates these hallucinations to punish him for his sins of murder. Macbeth’s isolation combined with the lack of support and approval from the other characters leads Macbeth to his