Macbeth - Themes

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Violence

In Shakespeare's Jacobean play Macbeth, violence is a key theme as in the exposition of the play the audience is introduction to Macbeth's violence is admiable and a sign of his bravery. The Captain who delievers the message that Macbeth and Banquo lead the Scottish army to defeat the Norwegian invasion, and are described in a simile as "spent swimmers" to show the warring armies to a pair of of exhausted swimmers and the extent of violence that has led Macbeth to enervation and fatigue solely to defend his country and more importantly refers to Macbeth as a "valour's minion" who "carved out his passage" portraying him as the epitome of courage and chivalry. "Valour" refers to a demonstration of courage in the face of danger, while "minion" suggests a loyal follower which ironically later in the play makes him a tyrant. The verb "carved" could link to Macbeth perhaps mimicking the actions of a butcher as he is able to "carve" through the "swarming" and "multiplying villainies" at ease. 

As the play progresses on, the stark contrast between Macbeth murdering an enemy of the king (which would be seen as an enemy to God due to the Divine Right of Kings believed by the contemporary audience) and when he commits regicide through his cognitive dissonance as he says "is this a dagger before myself" and "come, let me cluch thee,". The regicide is the ultimate sin and highest form of treason which was the cascading event that ultimately led to Macbeth being a tyrannical, duplicitous. mudereous charchter. In addition, before Macbeth commits the regicide he delivers a sililloquy on the reasons he must not commit "the deed" . The usurption of the throne caused the downfall of Macbeth as he dirupted The Divine Chain Of Being, (which essentially stated that it was by God's composition the hierarchical links were constructed) and eventually would cause damnation. 

Finally, following the meet up of the witches and Macbeth, he is hubiristic and convinced no one can cause malevolance to him. However, the English army led my Malcolm and Macduff demand on prosecuting Macbeth as they call upon him "Tyrant, show thy face!". The use of a short sentence highlights the increase sense of urgency. Nevertheless, Macbeth's ambition doesn't let him surrender as he says "Why should I play the Roman fool?". The use of "Roman fool" which reveals how some roman generals had sommited suicide when they were defeated rather than surrendering. he is aware of the eqivocating prophesies of the witches gave him unreal hope and left him in dispair and despodent. Macduff replies that he was "untimely ripped" suggesting a caesarean section. Macbeth, suddendly alarmed now that the prophecy has turned against him, he refuses to fight him. Furthermore, he is beheaded which is cyclical to the fact that a traitor, Thane of Cawdor in Act 1, was also beheaded which could also allude to that status being cursed to the Jacobean audience. 

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