Macbeth: Shakespeares Comparisons And Contrasts :: essays research papers

Macbeth Shakespeares Comparisons and ContrastsThroughout Macbeth Shakespeare uses comparison and contrast to induce outcharacteristics of his main character, Macbeth. Shakespeare uses comparisonwith Duncan, Lady Macbeth, and Banquo to bring out aspects of Macbethscharacter. afterwards hearing of Macbeths courageousness on the battlefield, Duncan, agood and honest king, bestows the tag end of Cawdor on Macbeth. The king thenproclaims his son Malcom to be Prince of Cumberland, in magnetic core designating himas replacement to the throne of Scotland. This dramatic announcement of Duncanschosen successor marks the beginning of an ironic story. It is at this point inthe work that we, the audience, become fully aware of Macbeths intentions tomurder the king. Duncan hails Macbeth as his "worthiest cousin" and blindlyentrusts his fate to one whom he considers his "peerless kinsman." Shakespeareconcentrates on Macbeths courage so that he can contrast it later on with the terror and panic of Macbeths psychological anguish.Lady Macbeth will stop at nothing -not counterbalance murder- to satisfy her drivingambition. She worries that Macbeth is "too full of the milk of human beneficence"to go after the throne. She wants to be tough and begs the spirits to "unsex mehere." Macbeth, on the other hand, hesitates to murder Duncan for severalreasons. Among these reasons the earthly consequences frighten him the most.How would his unused subjects respond? Would the kingdom disrupt in chaos?Furthermore Macbeth cannot escape turn over punishment if he fails. We catch out LadyMacbeths persuasiveness producing a new courage in her husband and that courageis manly enough to serve murder. Therefore, Macbeth has no reasons formurdering Duncan except for his "vaulting ambition," his lust for power.Throughout the play we see Lady Macbeths and Macbeths conscience, or lack of,change places. Macbeth transformed from having a iniquity ridden conscience tohaving no conscience what so ever. However, Lady Macbeth changes from having noconscience at all to becoming so guilt ridden that she took her own life. alike Macbeth, Banquo is courageous.