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In Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, the following statement can be applied, Macbeth is a butcher and Lady Macbeth is a fiend-like queen. This is a true statement as many occurrences involving Macbeth and Lady Macbeth portray them in this way. A butcher can be defined as someone who kills or has people killed needlessly or brutally. The term butcher used in this way describes Macbeth to some extent. During the play, Macbeth is involved in the murder of many people, including King Duncan, Banquo, and Macduffs wife and children. A fiend can be described as a very wicked or cruel person, or one who causes mischief and annoyance.
This can be applied to Lady Macbeth, who had only her own intentions at heart. On many occasions Lady Macbeth shows fiend-like traits, especially when plotting to kill Duncan, framing the servants after he has been killed, and also when she fails to stop Macbeth from killing Banquo. These events are examples of when the two characters show these traits. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth can be described as being loyal, courageous and noble. He is liked, trusted and respected by everyone around him. However this soon changes after his first encounter with the three witches.
This is because the witches inform Macbeth that his life could be far different, therefore changing Macbeth's perception of his life. In doing this, they do not actually use true powers, they use the power of suggestion. This is where we begin to see a change in Macbeth's outlook on life and his behaviour. Being the ambitious man that he is, Macbeth's thoughts become dark, and he secretly thinks about what should be done about King Duncan to increase his own power. In spite of this fact, the play is equivocal as to whether or not Macbeth intended on killing Duncan before he met with the witches. In Act One, Scene three, Macbeth says: This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good.
If ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in truth? I am Thane of Candor: In this passage Macbeth seems to be questioning himself as to what he should do next. The first prediction that the witches made has come true, and he is now considering whether or not there will be any truth in the prediction about him becoming king. He seems unsure if he should act upon their predictions or not. Macbeth is eventually persuaded to murder Duncan by his wife. Duncan's death is a brutal act, especially as King Duncan was Macbeth's guest and relative, and he was also a good King that did not deserve to die.
The crime of killing Duncan seems especially barbaric as Macbeth killed him in his sleep. After killing Duncan, Macbeth becomes somewhat remorseful and also afraid. Macbeth soon realises that he can not stop at just killing King Duncan. There are now other people that he must eliminate in order to retain his position as King. He realises that the one person who is most likely to threaten his position is Banquo. This is because Banquo was present when the weird sisters gave Macbeth their predictions, and he may suspect that Macbeth is the true murderer of the King.
In Act Three, Scene One, Line 48, there is a large speech which shows Macbeth's fears about Banquo's knowledge of his dirty crime. After this speech, the three murderers enter, and he assigns them to kill both Banquo and his son France. This act does seem to be butcher-like as Banquo was Macbeth's best friend and had done nothing wrong. However, it has become a necessity for Macbeth to have Banquo killed. The third example of where Macbeth is a butcher, is when he hires the murderers to kill Macduffs family. Once again, they have done nothing wrong, but he kills them in order to hurt Macduff.
This is a particularly brutal act, to kill the innocent children and their mother. But by this time Macbeth is so full of power, ambition and assurance he will do anything to get what he strives for. Although Macbeth is a butcher several times throughout the play, he can be considered as a tragic hero. This is because he was a potentially great man who had a hamartia he was too ambitious and went about to get these ambitions in the wrong way. If his qualities had been put to good use instead of evil, he would have been a great man.
Lady Macbeth could also be described as a tragic hero, as although she was fiendish, she did feel remorse at the end of the play. She then took her own life, as she could no longer live with the cruel deeds that she had done, therefore making her a tragic hero. One instance in which Lady Macbeth seems fiendish is when she and Macbeth are plotting to kill Duncan. Macbeth seems quite unsure about what is to be done, but she convinces him that he should murder the King and become closer to be crowned King himself. In order to make Macbeth think that it is an appropriate plan, she questions him of his manly hood, and shames him into thinking that he should do the deed.
This occurs in Act One, Scene Seven, when Lady Macbeth says: What beast was t then That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place... The fact that Lady Macbeth is trying to convince Macbeth to commit such a brutal crime when he is having doubts is fiendish. Only someone with wicked and self-centred thoughts would take this drastic approach. This is a definite sign of Lady Macbeth's evil spirit.
Another example of when Lady Macbeth shows her fiend like characteristic is just after Duncan's death. This is when she deals with the bloody daggers, and tells Macbeth not to worry about the crime that he has committed. She takes the bloody daggers from Macbeth's possession and wipes the blood on the sleeping servants, leaving the daggers at their sides. She does this without any feeling of guilt, whilst framing the innocent men. It is simply a matter of clearing her own name.
When Macbeth shows his remorse for his crime, and his fear for being discovered she seems scornful. This can be found in Act Two, Scene Three, when Lady Macbeth says: A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight (Line 21) In this line Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth not to be so stupid, Duncan's death is not a miserable event to occur. Another quote showing her evil side from the same act is: A little water clears us of this deed: How easy it is then! Your (Line 66) This shows that Duncan's death has had no effect on Lady Macbeth, and she scorns Macbeth for feeling remorse. She acts as though it is a common occurrence and is nothing to be concerned about.
She is also saying that nobody will find out that they were behind his death, as the evidence can just be washed away with water. Lady Macbeth once again shows her fiendish ways when she pretends to faint after hearing about the murder of the King and the murderers. She knows that King Duncan and the servants have been murdered, yet she fools the people around her to believe that she is truly shocked about such treacherous happenings. The irony of this is that the night before she was not concerned at all, but is now acting as though it is tragic. Lastly, Lady Macbeth continues this pattern when she fails to stop Macbeth from killing Banquo. She suspects that Macbeth will kill him, but does not convince him otherwise.
When Macbeth suggests that he is going to do something about Banquo, she makes no effort to dissuade him. She seems quite pleased that Macbeth is going to do something about Banquo, as it will help her retain her position as Queen. She does not yet feel any remorse for anything that they have done, and seems to think that it is great that Macbeth is finally taking charge of his own treacherous deeds. Throughout the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Macbeth can be described as a Butcher, and Lady Macbeth can be described as a fiend-like queen. Many examples supporting this can be found throughout the play. Macbeth can be described as a butcher when he is involved in the murders of King Duncan, Banquo and Macduffs family.
Lady Macbeth can be given the title of a fiend-like queen when she is plotting to murder Duncan, framing the two servants, and when she fails to stop Macbeth from killing Banquo. The traits of these two characters have helped Shakespeare to create a great tragedy, with two recognisable tragic heroes.
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Research essay sample on Fiend Like Queen Act One Scene
