10.10 English: Macbeth by Shakespeare
SAMPLE TEXT RESPONSE
‘The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.’ To what extent is this true for
Macbeth?
Through the character of Macbeth, Shakespeare demonstrates that the more powerful an
individual is, the more likely they are to pose a danger to others.
This is because of the nature of power itself. When one is in a position of power, one is able to
influence people and events. In weak characters, this becomes a corrupting element as power is
then used to secure their own interests, often at the expense of others. This is true in Macbeth’s
case, as he used wicked means to obtain power and then secure it. Seduced by the witches’
prophecy, urged on by his ambitious wife, he murdered his king, ruthlessly eliminated competitors
to his own throne, and shaped Scotland according to his own foul desires.
Obtaining power through such evil deeds, however, leads to Macbeth’s deterioration. His sense of
reality becomes distorted: he finds difficulty sleeping, confers with assassins, and relies on
assurances from supernatural beings. The world which sung his praises at the start of the play is
now a hostile place filled with threats. He thus continues on his murderous path, arranging to
have Banquo and Fleance killed and later, Macduff’s family as well.
The only way to explain such excessive abuse of power is to go back to the nature of power. The
more powerful the person is, the easier it is for him to suppress resistance. Malcolm recognised
this, knowing that he would need not only refuge but the assistance of the English king to regain
what the “dwarfish thief” had taken. Meanwhile, without an opposing force, Macbeth was able to
totally change the political landscape to one that is characterized by deceit, betrayal and murder.
Throughout history, this has been the usual outcome where abuse of power is rampant.
It is not only this lack of restraint that makes increasing power dangerous. As the means for
abuse becomes increasingly available, so does the potential for harm. After committing murder at
the start of the play, Macbeth is later able to direct others to do the deed. He also reinforces false
suspicions against Malcolm and Donaldbain, setting kinsmen against each other. As king, his
sphere of influence was far-reaching, and so was the damage he wrought.
Thus, the paradox in the play is that Macbeth’s sense of self- control crumbled away even as his
power grew. The moral restraint that would have curbed the abuse of power disappeared on the
night of Duncan’s murder. He had chosen power for its own sake rather than the honour and
loyalty of his countrymen, and thus became a menace to others, including the innocent. His
actions ultimately lead to his tragic demise. Macbeth proves the truth that power can be
dangerous, even to yourself.
Word count: 453
© F Measham 2008
10.10 English: Macbeth by Shakespeare
SAMPLE TEXT RESPONSE
The audience feel no sympathy for Lady Macbeth. Do you agree?
Over the course of “Macbeth”, Shakespeare draws out both outrage and pity from the audience
towards Lady Macbeth. In doing so, he demonstrates the complexity of human nature and leads
the audience to recognise something of themselves in her character.
We first meet Lady Macbeth when she reads the letter from her husband recounting the witches’
predictions of greatness. She laments that Macbeth would be great if only he had ambition. She
knows that he is “too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way.” Our initial
impression of her is thus negative. Not only does she disparage her husband’s benevolent nature,
she seems to have already noted the means by which Macbeth could become king. The “nearest
way”, as it turns out, would be to murder the current king, Duncan.
She cold-bloodedly hatches the plan to frame the king’s attendants. When Macbeth inadvertently
brings back the bloody daggers after doing the deed, it is she who has the presence of mind to
insist that they be left in Duncan’s chambers. Keeping in mind that the play was performed at a
time when regicide was considered the ultimate crime, the audience feels utter revulsion towards
Lady Macbeth. Although her husband is equally accountable for the murder, her steely resolve
makes it more difficult for the audience to find anything redeemable about her.
However, as her character changes, so does the audience’s reaction towards her. She realises that
“nought’s had, all’s spent.” They had risked all, but have gained nothing, feeling vastly insecure in
their position. She struggles to hold the monarchy together as Macbeth begins to deteriorate from
inner turmoil. This is highlighted in the banquet scene, where she tries to keep the state dinner
from falling into disarray due to Macbeth’s vision of Banquo’s ghost. At this stage, the audience
starts to feel some sympathy for her, as she loses control over her husband and over the chain of
events that follow the murder of Duncan.
The last time Lady Macbeth appears in the play, she is sleepwalking, talking to herself and trying
to remove imaginary bloodstains from her hands. She has become a wretched figure, tormented
by guilt and consumed by her anguish. It is implied that she eventually kills herself.
The extent to which the audience feels sympathy for Lady Macbeth thus hinges on two questions:
first, how much they hold her accountable for the events in the play; and second, whether her
tragic demise is seen as a natural and just consequence of her actions. In other words,
Shakespeare shows that our judgment of Lady Macbeth is complicated because she is a complex
character. Although she was instrumental in the killing of Duncan, her capacity to feel remorse
reminds us of our own weakness as human beings. She is a reflection of the darkest part of
ourselves, but in her tragedy we also see a figure of pity.
Word count: 486
© F Measham 2008