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Macbeth, a tragic-drama of Shakespeare, explores the concept of natural and unnatural factors in society. By doing so, the playwright raises central issues, which are successfully resolved in the culmination of the plays plot. Two such central issues, both evident in the extract and the play throughout, are power and morality. The thoughts, actions and continual reference throughout the play of that which is natural and unnatural exemplify the two central issues chosen for discussion. The central issues raised in the extract continue throughout the play into a resolution whereby the natural or good, conquers the unnatural or evil.
Beyond the selected extract, Shakespeare successfully introduces the issues of power (and the desire of) and morality. Shakespeare maintains the presence of these issues and resolves them in the plot of the play. The plot cumulates with Macbeth's tragic death, where the desire for his power and abandonment of morale fibres, remain as central issues as they appear in the selected extract. This is illustrated clearly, as in the selected text; Macbeth is torn morally for his plan to take power, which he and his wife desire. Beyond Act 1. Scene 5, Macbeth resolves all concern for morality by disbanding it altogether through his desire for power.
It is a deliberate choice that accentuates the plays ethical values and denounces his desire as unnatural due to the actions Macbeth is willing to undertake. Macbeth is aware of Morality and social judgement for his actions. In Act 1, Scene 7, Macbeth delivers a speech: We still have judgement here, that we but teach Bloody instructions which, being taught, return To Plague th inventor. This even-handed justice Commends thingredience of our poisoned chalice To our own lips (1. 7. 8 - 12).
Despite social and moral constraints, Macbeth indicates he has a deep vaulting ambition which surpasses fear of recrimination from society or from god (1. 7. 27). Power, and the desire to achieve an absolute power, is a central issue in Macbeth. Lady Macbeth's strong ambition to be Queen spurs the faltering ambition of Macbeth to an all- consuming quest where Macbeth's character ultimately undergoes a transformation. Lady Macbeth has an instant desire to take what greatness is promised to Macbeth (Macbeth 1. 5). The power Lady Macbeth desires requires a sacrifice of her natural being, hence her dramatic address to the spirits which govern mortal thoughts: unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the Toe, top full of direst Cruelty (Shakespeare 1. 5. 40 - 42). Lady Macbeth to strip away her maternal instincts of compassion, emotion and care to become a hardened woman.
Lady Macduff, is a contrasting character to Lady Macbeth and serves to illustrate the natural female traits in her maternal, caring manner (4. 2). Such contrasting women in the play illustrate that which is natural and unnatural in a woman according to the society of the plays setting. Macbeth's quest for power is initially hesitant. Macbeth is a good man who is initially troubled by his conscience and loyalty, though at the same time ambitious Lacy Macbeth states that her husband is too full o th Milk of Humane kindness (1. 5. 16), and not cruel enough to fulfill his ambitions and seize the power the witches foresaw as his for the future... Lady Macbeth's advocacy ultimately spurs Macbeth to fulfill his intent and ambition for power. The desire for power consumes Macbeth as the play unfolds and becomes intertwined infallibly with the plot, culminating in a moralistic stance on power and its associated evils.
Morality, along with Power, is a central issue in Macbeth. Lady Macbeth and her husband transgress ethics and principles of morality in the hungry fervour to achieve power. The concept of what is natural or unnatural exemplifies the issue of undermining ethics to achieve power. Lady Macbeth is prepared to transgress social rules and Christian beliefs to achieve the power promised to her husband. She suggests an act of equivocation. This social deception would require Macbeth and his Lady to, Look like the Time; bear welcome in your eye, Your Hand, Your tongue; Look like th innocent Flower, But be the serpent under (1. 5. 63 - 65).
Accentuating Lady Macbeth's deception behind an act of equivocation is the sin of committing a murder, especially when imposed upon a King - emphasising her lack of ethics. Underpinning the central issues of power and morality throughout the play is the concept of natural and unnatural. Desire is portrayed as natural as it exists day to day. However, the unnatural aspect of desire is the means taken to achieve the desire of power. To want the power is not portrayed as unnatural, rather the sinful actions taken by Macbeth and his lady.
The play continuously highlights that which the society or setting determine as natural and unnatural. By doing so, the reader can ascertain when a characters thought or behaviour is immoral as per the society laws and beliefs. For instance, Lady Macbeth aspires to de-humanise herself to go through with any unmoral act it would take to put her husband on the throne. Lady Macbeth wants to dispel all her natural traits and redeem her purity. She requests the spirits to: Make thick my blood, Stop th access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious Visiting's of nature, Shake my fell Purpose, nor keep peace between, Th effect and Hit (1. 4. 45 - 49).
Lady Macbeth is a good wife who loves her husband. She is also ambitious but lacks the morals of her husband. To achieve her ambition, she rids of herself of any kindness that might stand in the way. Thus, Lady Macbeth needs to become an unnatural being to adopt the emotionless cruel position required to fulfill her intentions. However, she runs out of will to suppress her conscience and natural being and kills herself.
The central issues of morality and power accentuate one another as they highlight each other as the plot escalates into the tragic death of Macbeth. The desire for power underlies the actions of Macbeth and his Lady throughout the play. Additionally, the actions of these two characters incessantly compete with morality. Desire is natural, however, when al the rules, moral and social, are broken in the desire for power, then these actions are deemed by the plays characters as unnatural actions, with unnatural consequence. The play successfully resolves the main issues, especially in the dramatic plot. As the plot climaxes with the death of Macbeth, the reinstatement of the natural ruler and the justice over Macbeth, the unnatural being or tyrant, the play shows a moral standing on the actions undertaken by Macbeth.
Reactions in nature or behaviour illustrate the unnatural disturbances this action creates. Shakespeare's play successfully resolves the central issues of power (the desire of) and morality (transgression thereof) in a capitulating plot where the unnatural tyrant of Macbeth is slain and the natural 'due of birth (3. 5. 25) ruler takes upon the Throne of Scotland. Balance therefore is supposed to be restored now that evil or unnatural forces (those that transgress morality) have been overpowered. The concept of natural and unnatural is highlighted through moral questions and references to the teaches of Christianity. The fact Lady Macbeth and her husband ignore such natural rules illustrates that their desire becomes unnatural as their quest for power overtakes all moral beliefs. As the play reflected the audience values of the 1600 s, the play arguably conforms to the social and moral values of the authors society.
Power and morality are central issues resolved in the play of Macbeth. The issues are highlighted through an emphasis on natural and unnatural. Both issues of power and morality are successfully resolved in the play, especially as they intertwine with each other, form the basis of the plot, and these concepts are resolved in the final scenes of the play. The desire to achieve power undermines issues of morality and nominally results in Macbeth and his wife transgressing morale and social ethics to acquire power.
The resolution of the play culminates in the restoration of the rightful person in the throne. The play does not judge so much the power desire of Lady Macbeth and her husband, but rather the actions they undertook to take that which was not rightfully or naturally their own to possess.
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Research essay sample on Analyzing Central Issues To Macbeth
