The Destruction of a Hero
By: Nia Phillips
The Culprit of Macbeth's Downfall
Destruction
"I'll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on't again I dare not" ( 2.2 70-71 ). Once Lady Macbeth convinced Macbeth to kill King Duncan, he started to regret the whole thing. Macbeth was very overwhelmed and couldn't believe what he'd done. He couldn't even look at Duncan. This lead to his destruction because of his murderous act on Duncan.
"Before my body I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff, and damned be him that first cries "Hold, enough!'" ( 5.8 37-39 ). Macbeth's guilt and greed tore him apart. He killed people's families and they weren't going to sit back and watch him be king. A particular person named Macduff had a problem with Macbeth and set out to kill him. Macbeth was so arrogant that at first he believed that he could not be killed, but deep down he knew that he was going to die because of his previous actions. Macbeth refused to surrender to Macduff and wanted to fight to the death. Remember, this was all caused by the persuasion of Lady Macbeth to kill Duncan and then everything else spiraled off of that.
Imagery
Symbolism
Allusion
Who really is Lady Macbeth?
Look into Lady Macbeth's mind
"...I have given suck, and know how tender tis' to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this" ( 1.7 62-67 ). Again, she thought Macbeth was being a coward. Lady Macbeth was telling him that she would have no problem killing her baby, so he should have no problem killing Duncan. Only seeing what she wants, she did not see what the consequences were and the fact that Duncan had done nothing to them for him to be killed, but Macbeth did see those things.
"What need we fear who knows it, when none call our pow'r to accompt? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him" ( 5.1 37-39 ). Realizing that she had a conscience, she started to feel bad about killing Duncan. Lady Macbeth felt like it wasn't anything personal, just business. She wasn't trying to hurt anyone. She just simply wanted power. Lady Macbeth did not know she was going to feel this way. Her guilt was driving her crazy and she couldn't escape it.
Movie Connection
The character that acted like Lady Macbeth was Alex Forrest and the actress who played her was Glenn Close.
Movie Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3oF8Po4qWc
The movie relates to Macbeth because character Dan Gallagher, who is like Macbeth, got his life ruined by Alex Forrest. Dan got his world turned upside down when he met Alex and had a one night stand with her. The thing is, Alex wanted more than just that. She manipulated and threatened his family. Dan was married and his wife found out. Of course she was upset that he slept with Alex, but she was more upset that he put him, her, and their child in danger. This was all caused by the simple mistake Dan made with Alex. This was like Macbeth because Lady Macbeth manipulated him and talked him into killing Duncan, which ruined his life.