Papers on "Macbeths' Punishment" and similar term paper topics

Paper #067171 :: Macbeths' Punishment
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An analysis of the Shakespeare play "Macbeth".

Written in 2006; 2,830 words; 1 source; MLA; $ 84.95

Paper Summary:

This paper studies the conclusion of the Shakespeare play "Macbeth". The paper states that, while some critics have asked whether Macbeth is being punished at the conclusion, the appropriate question is not whether he is punished, but why? And by whose authority? This paper therefore studies the motivating principle behind Macbeth's punishment, and why his punishment had to include the deaths of so many innocents. The paper attempts to answer this question by examining the structure of the play and the moral and spiritual constructs within which it operates.

From the Paper:

"We are alerted to an element of the supernatural early within the play; the play introduces itself with the eerie dancing and meeting of the three weird sisters. These witches, we later realise, serve as the mouthpiece of the structure of the play, giving us, in their predictions, the outline of the play. The power of ordering reality is initially given, not to human agents, but to supernatural beings. Although the play has references to Christianity, there is no direct mention of a Christian God or Christ. Instead, the play is full of references to omens, demons and spiritual beings, and it is these who possess the power of manipulating reality. The weird sisters, and their mistress Hectate, personify the dual constructive and destructive elements of nature which define Macbeth's universe, and which must constantly be realigned and balanced. On the one hand, they appear to us as evil hags, murmuring words of black power to inflict harm on humans, as when the sisters collude to shipwreck an innocent sailor out of vengeance against his wife (1.23.15-21). Yet on the other hand, they subtly remind us of the constructive elements with which they are also tied, through their very alignment with the four elements of earth, water, air and fire, all of which are neccesary for germination and growth as well as destruction. The sisters themselves seem to be but personifications of neutral nature, which can be used negatively or positively, depending on the intent of the users. "Users" may be too strong a term: perhaps "recipients" is more accurate. The sisters voice this duality of their nature, invoking the mingled terms of evil and goodness when they sing "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" (1.1.10). Macbeth echoes this understanding of the sisters and their work when he first says "So fair and foul a day I have not seen" (1.3.38), and again when he reflects that "This supernatural soliciting/ Cannot be ill, cannot be fair" (1.3.131-132)."

Tags: Banquo Hectate Malcolm death punishment morality Macduff

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