The Tragedy of Macbeth
By: Tammy Yang
Blame for Macbeth's downfall
Macbeth's wife, Lady Macbeth, is the person to blame Macbeth's downfall. In the play, Lady Macbeth persuaded and manipulated Macbeth numerous times to act unlike himself and murdered others to gain power. Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill Duncan by stating, "When you durst do it, then you were a man/ And to be more than what you were, you would/ Be so much more a man" (1.7.56-58.). She states that he isn't a man because he lacks the courage to kill Duncan. She also says the he will become a man once he does the deed. Lady Macbeth is trying to twist Macbeth's mind and his ideals to do something horrible. Additionally, she states, "Such I account thy love/ Art though afeard/ To be the same in thine own act and valor/ As thou art in desire?/ Wouldst though have that/ Which though esteem'st the ornament of life/ And live a coward in thine own esteem/ Letting "I dare not" wait upon "I would,"/ Like the poor cat i' the adage? (1.7.44-50). She criticizes Macbeth's weakened resolve to gain the crown and calls him a coward. She's trying to make Macbeth feel unworthy and a loser and convinced him that by killing Duncan, he can become him, be a man, and the king. Also, Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth by saying,"Be so much more the man/ Nor time nor place/ Did the adhere, and yet you would make both./ They have made themselves, and that their fitness now/ Does unmake you" (1.7.58-62). By conversing with Macbeth, stating that he isn't manly, courageous, and to afraid to do the deed, she convinces him to become a murderer. In all of these statements by Lady Macbeth, she is trying to hurt his ego. By hurting his ego, Macbeth wants to prove himself that he is a man that is courageous and not afraid, and thus murders others to gain power. This is what Lady Macbeth wanted. Macbeth becomes overconfident that he cannot be killed and believes that no one can stop him because he killed everyone who could possibly harm him. This resulted into the downfall of Macbeth.
Literary Devices in Macbeth
Allusion
"Til that Bellona's bridegroom, lapped in proof..." (1.2.62). Ross describes Macbeth's bravery and power in the battlefield by comparing him to the Roman Goddess of War, Bellona. Allusion is used to make a reference to the real world or to another book. By making a connection to a real person/goddess from the real world, readers can make a reference and understand how brave Macbeth actually is.
Simile
"With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design/ Moves like a ghost" (2.1.64-65). Macbeth compares the murder of Duncan to a ghost a person cannot see that moves swiftly at night like Tarquin, a Roman who attacked sleeping maiden. A simile is used to create a comparison one thing to another. This creates a vivid picture of the murdering of Duncan as the reader can compare how the murder moves in relation to a ghost.
Paradox
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair" (1.1.12). The three witches conjure up a prophecy that foreshadows what will happen to Macbeth. Since the paradox is used as part of a prophecy, it creates a question that can't really be answered. This statement is used to catch the reader's attention and convince them to read more of the play so they will know what the answer is to the prophecy.
Song Connection
"I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift is similar to the downfall of Macbeth. Macbeth resembles to Taylor Swift in the song. In the song it states, "I knew you were trouble when you walked in, So shame on me now" Swift blames the man he was in love with because he was trouble and dangerous. Lady Macbeth is similar to the man Swift is referring to. Although Macbeth didn't realize that Lady Macbeth causes harm to himself, she creates trouble for Macbeth and ruins his life. Swift also states, "Flew me to places I'd never never been, Now I'm lying on the cold hard ground." The consequences of Macbeth following Lady Macbeth's persuasion creates a negative effect on both of them. Macbeth's death was cause by MacDuff, which was a result of Lady Macbeth convincing him to do murderous deeds. MacDuff kills him in battle, and he now lies on the ground, dead. Taylor Swifts song resembles the characters and the downfall of Macbeth in The Tragedy of Macbeth.
Movie Connection
The Maze Runner, by James Dashner, resembles to The Tragedy of Macbeth. In the movie, teenagers, more specifically Thomas, are trapped in a maze are controlled by a group of people called Wicked. Wicked manipulates the teenagers to study and experiment on them. This is similar to how Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband for her own personal gains. Although Wicked is not a woman specifically, they still manipulates others just like Lady Macbeth did. Lady Macbeth and Wicked have the same intentions: use others for their own gain. Lady Macbeth wants to be powerful while Wicked wants to find a cure by using children. Lady Macbeth was responsible for Macbeth's downfall as she persuades him to do horrible actions, and Wicked controls Thomas to go into the Maze and escape with the others, so they can experiment on them even more.
The Maze Runner | Official Final Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX