Macbeth's Downfall
Jack Patton
Because of Lady Macbeth always nagging at Macbeth about how he is a wimp, Macbeth really started to go down hill after the murder of King Duncan. She was always harassing him about how he is not a man and that he is too nice. Also that he was a coward for not wanting to kill King Duncan. Lady Macbeth thinks Macbeth is too good "Yet do I fear thy nature. It is too full o' milk of the human kindness To catch the nearest way," (Shakespeare act 2 33). Lady Macbeth thinks that Macbeth lacks the wickedness he needs to gain power. She still is convinced that Macbeth wants to be king, so she drives out his fears.
Before the murder, when Macbeth is starting to second guess himself, Lady Macbeth talks him into not chickening out. Macbeth thinks more and more about how Duncan is a relative and that Duncan has never abused his royal powers. Lady Macbeth wants to be higher in society though and convinces him that the plan will go smoothly. She says she will drunken the guards so much that their memory will be messed up and they will be confused of their last events. Lady Macbeth calls him a coward, "And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting I dare not wait upon I would Like the poor cat 'i the adage" (Shakespeare act 1 43). Lady Macbeth calls him a coward and says he is like a cat that is afraid to kill a fish because he doesn't want to get his feet wet.
When Macbeth meets Lady Macbeth after killing Duncan, he is going crazy and talking to himself. Lady Macbeth tells him to not to think or talk of the deeds so the murder will not be revealed. Macbeth is frightened of the pictures in his head but Lady Macbeth tells him not to worry, "Are but as pictures. 'Tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil," (Shakespeare act 2 57). Lady Macbeth compares his fears to a child fearing a devil's picture. She is inferring he is a coward and does't have the guts to man up and not worry about the murder. Macbeth is so frightened that he can't go place the daggers by the guards to frame them of the crime.
Throughout the book Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are either planning a murder or murdering someone. The blood from the people they kill is symbolism. It shows how brutal Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were. When Macbeth came back with the daggers in his hands dripping in blood he was loosing his mind; talking about people that were yelling prayers at him. But the only thing Lady Macbeth said was, "Go get some water An wash this filthy witness from your hand," (Shakespeare 57). Lady Macbeth says to wash off the blood like nothing happened and all the guilt will wash away with the blood.
Although Lady Macbeth and Macbeth were planning on killing King Duncan, Lady Macbeth acted very pleased to see Duncan when he came to visit. Lady Macbeth's behavior is an example of dramatic irony because she is being very nice and excited to see Duncan when really she just wants to kill him. Lady Macbeth claims that her and Macbeth can do to match Duncan's generosity, "Were poor and single business to contend Against those honors deep and broad wherewith Your Majesty loads our house," (Shakespeare 39). Lady Macbeth tells Duncan that they can only repay him with their prayers and offers him to come in and have dinner.
Even though the book is kind of a gloomy story, there is some comic relief from the drunken Porter. A good example of comic relief was when the drunken Porter was talking going to hell. The drunken porter hears a knocking and staggers along to open the gate,"Here's a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of hell gate, he should have old turning the key," (Shakespeare 59). The Porter says Hell's porter would be too busy to open the gate because so many people were going there now.
Character Analysis
In the beginning of the book Macbeth is a warrior and is like a hero. The captain of the Scottish army even gave credit to Macbeth for his bravery. He was also named Thane of Cawdor, "No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death And with his former title greet Macbeth," (Shakespeare 13). Duncan named Macbeth Thane of Cawdor, but Macbeth wanted the throne. He used his ambition to be king to keep pushing him toward that direction until the only way to be king was to kill the king. Lady Macbeth was not happy that her husband was only named Thane of Cawdor and not given the throne. She tells Macbeth that the only way to take the throne was to kill Duncan,"O, never Shall sun that morrow see," (Shakespeare 35). Lady Macbeth wants to kill Duncan when he come to celebrate Macbeth's new title.She is very manipulative and calls Macbeth names when he gets scared of the deed. Macbeth is second guessing himself about the murder, "He's here in double trust: First, as I am his kinsman and his subject," (Shakespeare 41). Macbeth is related to Duncan and that the king has never abused his royal powers. Lady Macbeth was always making fun of Macbeth's toughness and how he was scared like a child. She even compared him to a child that was afraid of a picture of the devil.
Movie Connection
In the movie Gone Girl Amy frames her husband to make it look like he murdered her. They had to move from New York to Missouri because of the recession when they both lost their jobs. Amy didn't want to move to Missouri, and she got mad at Nick so she framed him of her murder. Nick's downfall was when he was convicted of murder and had to go to court. His downfall was caused by his wife just like in Macbeth. Also in the movie Nick's wife was a psychopath just like Lady Macbeth in the book.
Gone Girl Official Trailer #2 (2014) Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike HD