Throughout our lives, we are constantly faced with myriad choices, and the ones we make are the ones which can remarkably affect our future whilst some scarcely make a fractional change. Many people endeavour to circumvent these choices, nevertheless it becomes inevitable for us to avoid. This explanation was significantly depicted by Shakespeare’s acclaimed play, ‘Macbeth’. Written in the 16th century, Shakespeare dwells into a story about a warrior hero named ‘Macbeth’. Macbeth is an intense character who is neither hero nor a villain. When given the reward of a higher position, he becomes the “Thane of Cawdor”. However, with his newly gained power, he is given choices which he decides to make with the guidance of many contributing factors. Evidently, Shakespeare competently exploits Macbeth’s character as a vehicle which is driven in order to convey the central themes of failing to make virtuous choices due to the manifestation of temptation resulting in overwhelming guilt and irrational violence. Ultimately these central themes led to the downfall of Macbeth’s reign. From Shakespeare’s play, the theme of unbridled temptation is profoundly prominent and plays a major role in the choices that Macbeth makes. From the encouragement of his wife, Macbeth is seamlessly lured into committing regicide. The notion of having the crown evidently becomes enticing to Macbeth as his perception is flooded with his deepest desire. He is strongly compelled to take the throne, but his morals interrupt his actions, as he states there is no reason to kill the king. He also includes why he wants to, this is displayed by his soliloquy: “I have no spur, to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on th' other.” (Act I, scene VII) Accordingly, Macbeth’s soliloquy is a technique device that allows the audience to have an insight of his thoughts; an unspoken reflection of his temptation which eventually engulfs him as a whole. Consequently, his temptation caused his ambition to overlook his true conscious and resulted in wicked decisions. When Macbeth’s consuming desire for the throne is fulfilled by regicide, his wife and he spiral downward in psychological toll of guilt.
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Once the treasonous act happens, the partners in crime feel immense guilt towards their actions as this leads to the enhancement of their evocative repercussions. From Lady Macbeth’s urges to make Macbeth commit the killing, she suffers deeply from the overpowering sense of guilt leading to a psychological disorder where she repeats fragments of the murder. Lady Macbeth is able to clearly express this by, “Come out, damned spot! Out, I command you! Why should we be scared, when no one can lay the guilt upon us?” (Act V, scene I) Lady Macbeth states this as she frantically washes her hands in her sleep. It is apparent that her guilt is symbolised by a “spot” of blood, which she relentlessly wants to clean but is tainted. Therefore, this symbolises the guilt that she carries. This scene also adds to the dramatic irony of how no one can lay the guilt on the couple, but yet this feeling has been subjected upon her. From the avidity of wanting the throne, characters such as Lady Macbeth have faced the consequences of guilt which steered her to overcome this through a climatic suicide. Violence is a central theme that many of the characters within ‘Macbeth’
Once the treasonous act happens, the partners in crime feel immense guilt towards their actions as this leads to the enhancement of their evocative repercussions. From Lady Macbeth’s urges to make Macbeth commit the killing, she suffers deeply from the overpowering sense of guilt leading to a psychological disorder where she repeats fragments of the murder. Lady Macbeth is able to clearly express this by, “Come out, damned spot! Out, I command you! Why should we be scared, when no one can lay the guilt upon us?” (Act V, scene I) Lady Macbeth states this as she frantically washes her hands in her sleep. It is apparent that her guilt is symbolised by a “spot” of blood, which she relentlessly wants to clean but is tainted. Therefore, this symbolises the guilt that she carries. This scene also adds to the dramatic irony of how no one can lay the guilt on the couple, but yet this feeling has been subjected upon her. From the avidity of wanting the throne, characters such as Lady Macbeth have faced the consequences of guilt which steered her to overcome this through a climatic suicide. Violence is a central theme that many of the characters within ‘Macbeth’