1986. Some works of literature use the element of time in a distinct way. The chronological sequence of events may be altered, or time may be suspended or accelerated. Choose a novel, an epic, or a play of recognized literary merit and show how the author's manipulation of time contributes to the effectiveness of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.
Many authors use time as a plot device to add depth to their writing or give background on a character. The novel Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë, gives readers a glimpse of Jane’s life as a child before accelerating into her young twenties, where the majority of the plot takes place. Brontë’s manipulation of time provides the explanation of Jane’s personality traits, which are key to the development of her relationship with Mr. Rochester, and a personality with which to juxtapose Jane’s personality at the end of the novel.
The first third of Jane Eyre are clips of scenes from Jane’s childhood, during which she was an orphan and living under a strict uncle. As exemplified by instances of both verbal abuse, provided by her vain cousins, and physical abusing, like when she was locked in the Red Room, Jane is beaten down and reduced to a timid, weak girl. After her only friend at the Lowood Institution dies, Jane reaches an even more damaged state. When Brontë skips eight years ahead in Jane’s life, we find her still carrying the scars of her youth. Jane is somewhat of a pushover to the young girl she tutors (who is must like Jane’s spoiled cousins) and has trouble asserting herself over Mr. Rochester and his fiancé. Brontë’s inclusion of the childhood scenes allows us to understand more deeply why Jane acts the way that she does. She is constantly referred to as “plain”, a description she is content with after having been told so frequently by her cousins and aunt. Without the details provided by Brontë earlier in the novel, it is possible that readers would be confused as to why Jane is so acceptant of her treatment and social standing within the Thornfield manor.
As well as manipulating time to give the reader details, which explain Jane’s personality later in the novel, Brontë uses it to compare the young and old Jane as well. From what we read of at the beginning of the novel, Jane is meek and lacks self-esteem and the confidence to stand up for herself. By the end of Jane Eyre, however, Jane has grown into a strong and assertive woman whose personality is hardened from the experiences at the Thornfield manor. Jane falls in love with a man only to discover that his striking appearance hides a dark secret. After fleeing from the chaos that proceeds, mostly on account of Mr. Rochester’s insane wife, Jane depends on herself to make a living and finally indulges to her desire of teaching poor children the way she believes they should be taught. Jane’s independence contrasts sharply with the insecurity we saw in the beginning two thirds of the novel, juxtaposition only possible with Brontë’s use of time. As a result of the plot device, we connect with Jane more and appreciate her growth.
Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre is the romantic story of two lovers who handle troubles and triumphs. The novel is also the journey of a woman from insecurity to independence and the experiences that cause her to get there. Because of Brontë’s manipulation of time, we are able to fully understand Jane’s personality and feel more emotion when she gains confidence and strength.
10-2-2011
1984. Select a line or so of poetry, or a moment or scene in a novel, epic poem, or play that you find especially memorable. Write an essay in which you identify the line or the passage, explain its relationship to the work in which it is found, and analyze the reasons for its effectiveness.
In great literature and famous dramas, memorable lines are repeated again and again, many times being used in modern movies and novels as well; they often provide foreshadowing while presenting the mood and feeling that the characters are set in. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the ultimate tragedy of a hero’s decent into madness, feelings of greed, betrayal, and guilt flow into one another during the constantly dark mood of the play. In Macbeth, Shakespeare uses precise diction and vague foreshadowing in the witch's phrases and quotes to introduce the themes of everything not being what it seems and betrayal causing self-destruction.
The famous quote by the witches in Macbeth, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”, is a strong clue as to what theme the play is going to carry. Shakespeare’s concise diction allows the reader to remember this one line and consider it throughout the play. His use of alliteration in “fair” and “foul”, as well as the symmetry in the syntax of the quote, also serve as memory devices that engrain this quote in one’s memory. As far as the meaning of the quote, Shakespeare writes this phrase as the last line of Scene 1 to suggest that the things that appear benevolent are evil underneath and what appears evil is really masking benevolence, or everything is not what it seems. This theme comes into play with the character of Macbeth himself; he appears a loyal, brave soldier who quickly turns on the king, killing him for this position at the throne. It appears again in the witches’ predictions. Macbeth rejoices upon hearing that he will one day be king, though he does not suspect the repercussions that will come along with this fate. Later in the play, the witches tell him that no man who is woman-born will be the one to kill Macbeth. Assuming that all men are woman-born, Macbeth thinks nothing of this and is blissfully oblivious to the fact that Macduff is not, in fact, “woman-born”, that is until he is murdered. Shakespeare uses clever diction and syntax to make this line memorable and applicable to the rest of the play.
The theme of betrayal causing self-destruction is also evident through the witches singsong like rhyme, a rhyme that is still used in songs today. When the witches say “When the hurlyburly’s done, When the battle’s lost and won. There will be ere the set of sun.” they refer to the entire plot of Macbeth but in vague, subtle terms. Shakespeare uses rhyme to emphasize this point and cause the reader to take notice. The “battle” is Macbeth’s fight for the crown and, in essence, power. In a way, the battle is both “lost and won” because of his short lived glory as king but his quick murder by Macduff. The witches state that the “set of sun”, or end of the story, will arrive after Macbeth has been through all of the looming “hurlyburly”. The themes emphasized here are apparent throughout the play and become more so as we watch the actions played out.
Macbeth is the famous work of Shakespeare that depicts how a desire of power self-corrupts the beholder. While the evidence of the themes that exist in the play are obvious by the end, Shakespeare adds effectiveness and depth by planting the ideas at the very beginning.
1995. Writers often highlight the values of a culture or a society by using characters who are alienated from that culture or society because of gender, race, class, or creed. Choose a novel or a play in which such a character plays a significant role and show how that character's alienation reveals the surrounding society's assumptions or moral values.
More often than not, literature is written to make a statement or opinion about a certain culture or society. In Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles, the female protagonist is placed in an unaccepting society in 1880’s Wessex to contrast the citizens’ views. Hardy uses the characters’ relationships with each other and the tone of the novel to enforce his view that the upper class community in 1880’s Wessex is judgmental, vain, and close-minded.
Hardy bases his plot off of a relationship to give strength and depth to his argument against Wessex society. Tess Durbeyfield’s relationship with Angel Clare is of the “star-crossed lovers” nature in that Tess, coming from a poor family of farmers, is viewed as unsuitable for Angel Clare by his parents. Before even meeting Tess, Angel’s parents promote his marrying to another young lady, one who comes from more wealth and class. The opinions of Angel’s parents is one formed at the beginning of their relationship, before anyone discovered that Tess once had an illegitimate child. Without even knowing of her hidden secret, Angel’s parents look down upon Tess as a “farm girl” and are disappointed of their son for having chosen such a woman as his wife. Angel’s parents are representative of the entire upper class community in Wessex: judgmental and closed-minded. Throughout Tess and Angel’s relationship, there are many hurdles that the two are forced to deal with. Tess struggles with hiding the secret of her son out of fear that she will be judged further and have to end her relationship with Angel. The attitudes of Angel Clare’s parents symbolize the attitudes held by members of the upper class in 1880’s Wessex.
In Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Hardy uses setting to create a tone that contributes to his view that there was a sharp difference in the position of societal members in the 1880’s. The setting of the novel is dark, dreary, and depressing; Tess struggles to find herself among the pressure from her family. Mrs. Durbeyfield, a woman who has lived in the lower class all of her life, desires for her daughter to marry a rich, prominent man in society in order to better her life and her family. This coincides with the plot devices used to make Angel’s parents appear more harsh and close-minded; Tess’s parents understand how difficult it will be for their daughter to marry a man of high stature and so encourage her to marry Alec d’Urberville, a man whom Tess dislikes and who took advantage of her. The opinions of the upper class citizens is understood and accepted by those of the lower class, like Tess’s family. The characters in Hardy’s novel interact with one another in a way that enforces Hardy’s point that there was a vast societal difference between classes in the 1880’s.
Thomas Hardy writes of a poor girl struggling to find her own strength and a place in society among the judgmental views of those in Wessex. In Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy uses relationships among characters and setting to make his point that the upper class in 1880’s Wessex held a superior and vain view of the lower class in society.
10-16-2011 Revised
1995. Writers often highlight the values of a culture or a society by using characters who are alienated from that culture or society because of gender, race, class, or creed. Choose a novel or a play in which such a character plays a significant role and show how that character's alienation reveals the surrounding society's assumptions or moral values.
Most literature is written to make a statement or opinion about a certain culture or society. In Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles, the female protagonist is placed in an unaccepting society in 1880’s Wessex to contrast the citizens’ views. Hardy uses the characters’ relationships with each other and the tone of the novel to enforce his view that the upper class community in 1880’s Wessex is judgmental, vain, and close-minded.
Hardy bases his plot off of a relationship between Tess Durbeyfield and Angel Clare. Their relationship is one of “star-crossed lovers” in that Tess, coming from a poor family of farmers, is viewed as unsuitable for Angel Clare. Before even meeting Tess, Angel’s parents promote his marrying to another woman, one who comes from wealth and class. The opinions of Angel’s parents is one formed at the beginning of their relationship, before he discovered that Tess once had an illegitimate child. Without even knowing of her hidden secret, Angel’s parents look down upon Tess as a “farm girl” and are disappointed of their son for having chosen her as his wife. Angel’s parents are representative of the upper class community in Wessex: judgmental and closed-minded. Throughout Tess and Angel’s relationship, there are many hurdles that the two are forced to deal with. Tess struggles with hiding the secret of her son out of fear that she will be judged further and have to end her relationship with Angel. The attitudes of Angel Clare’s parents symbolize the attitudes held by members of the upper class in 1880’s Wessex.
In Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Hardy uses setting to contribute to the theme that there was a sharp difference in the position of societal members in the 1880’s. The setting of the novel is dark, dreary, and depressing; Tess struggles to find herself among the pressure from her family. Mrs. Durbeyfield, a woman who has lived in the lower class all of her life, desires for her daughter to marry a rich man in society in order to better her life and her family. Tess’s parents understand how difficult it will be for their daughter to marry a man of high stature and so encourage her to marry Alec d’Urberville, a man whom Tess dislikes and who took advantage of her. The opinions of the upper class citizens is understood and accepted by those of the lower class, like Tess’s family. The characters in Hardy’s novel interact with one another in a way that enforces Hardy’s point that there was a vast societal difference between classes in the 1880’s.
Thomas Hardy writes of a poor girl struggling to find her own strength and a place in society among the judgmental views of those in Wessex. In Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Hardy uses relationships among characters and setting to make his point that the upper class in 1880’s Wessex held a superior and vain view of the lower class in society.
1972. In retrospect, the reader often discovers that the first chapter of a novel or the opening scene of a drama introduces some of the major themes of the work. Write an essay about the opening scene of a drama or the first chapter of a novel in which you explain how it functions in this way.
Though not usually apparent during the initial reading of a novel or play, authors frequently use the first chapter or scene to present the main themes and ideas in the work. Edward Albee writes so subtly in his play “The American Dream” that the reader must go back and re-read in order to discover the hidden themes. In his play, Albee introduces the themes that Americans desire only what is coveted or admired by fellow Americans through his tone and Mommy’s actions in the first scene in “The American Dream”.
Albee creates a disapproving and superior tone aimed at Mommy in beginning hat scene that adds to his theme that Americans are materialistic and thrive on the acceptance of others. Being the first lengthy dialogue between Mommy and Daddy, the scene in which Mommy describes her purchase of a hat is important to the entire plot. Mommy shows her frivolous and juvenile personality through frantically excited sentences such as “It was a lovely little hat, and I said, ‘Oh, this is a lovely little hat,’” and “I’ll take this hat; oh my, it’s lovely”. Mommy’s excitement at simply looking at hats and finding one she likes shows her shallow interests in shopping and material goods. Albee’s use of repetition, exemplified with Mommy’s persistent use of the word “lovely”, make her seem childish and obnoxious, the way that Albee thinks of her. When Mommy continues her story about leaving the store and running into the chairman of her woman’s club, she shows pride and self-satisfaction at the fact that the chairman wanted a wheat hat for herself. The two then get into an argument about whether the hat is wheat or beige. Albee is clearly showing his disapproval of Mommy’s actions by having her get caught up in something the reader knows is silly. Albee also pokes fun at Mommy and her personality when he gives her the air of being gullible, such as when she is given the same hat again and convinced that it’s the color beige. Albee’s tone shows his feelings toward Mommy, which add to significance of the meaning.
Mommy’s actions in the opening scene correlate directly to the theme of the entire work. Mommy, who is desperately pleased with herself for buying what she believes is a beige hat, is distraught and angry when Mrs. Barker informs her that the hat is actually wheat-colored. Mommy’s reaction at Mrs. Barker’s one comment is an idea that continues throughout the entire play: American citizens are greatly influenced by those around them and want to have only what is accepted by society. Instead of wanting to keep her wheat-hat and be unique, Mommy goes right back to the hat store and exchanges it for a beige one. This action suggests the conformity of America and effect of consumerism on our society. When Mommy takes the hat back, she throws a fit, blaming the salesman for selling her a wheat-hat. Rather than having Mommy blame herself for the purchase, Albee has her shift the blame to someone else, adding meaning to the fact that Americans are shallow and are not concerned with character. Through his depiction of Mommy and her actions in the first scene, Albee creates themes that are later supported with Mommy’s actions involving the bundle and her interactions with Mrs. Barker.
Through brief and inconspicuous, the hat scene subtly presents the themes that are more obviously presented later in the work. In “The American Dream”, Albee is discreet but thorough in his structure of the first scene in order to create the underlying theme that Americans and American culture are materialistic, superficial, and juvenile, a theme that is persistent in the rest of the play.
10-31-2011 Revised
1972. In retrospect, the reader often discovers that the first chapter of a novel or the opening scene of a drama introduces some of the major themes of the work. Write an essay about the opening scene of a drama or the first chapter of a novel in which you explain how it functions in this way.
Authors frequently use the first chapter or scene to present the main themes and ideas in the work. Edward Albee subtly includes his themes in “The American Dream” in the opening scene. In his play, Albee introduces the theme that Americans desire only what is coveted or admired by fellow Americans through his tone and Mommy’s actions in the first scene in “The American Dream”.
Albee uses a disapproving tone aimed at Mommy in the beginning scene that adds to his theme that Americans are materialistic and thrive on the acceptance of others. As the first lengthy dialogue between Mommy and Daddy, the scene in which Mommy describes her purchase of a hat is important to the entire plot. Mommy shows her frivolous and juvenile personality through sentences such as “It was a lovely little hat, and I said, ‘Oh, this is a lovely little hat,’” and “I’ll take this hat; oh my, it’s lovely”. Mommy’s excitement at simply looking at hats and finding one she likes shows her shallow interests in shopping and material goods. Mommy’s persistent use of the word “lovely” makes her seem childish and obnoxious, the way that Albee thinks of her. When Mommy continues her story about leaving the store and running into the chairman of her woman’s club, she shows self-satisfaction at the fact that the chairman wanted a wheat hat for herself. The two then get into an argument about whether the hat is wheat or beige. Albee is clearly showing his disapproval of Mommy’s actions by having her get caught up in something the reader knows is silly. Albee also pokes fun at Mommy and Americans in general when he gives her the air of being gullible, such as when she is given the same hat again and convinced that it’s the color beige. Albee’s tone shows his feelings toward Mommy, which is representative of how he feels about Americans as a whole.
Mommy’s actions in the opening scene correlate directly to the theme of the entire work. Mommy, who is pleased that she bought she believes to be a beige hat, is angry when Mrs. Barker informs her that the hat is actually wheat-colored. Mommy’s reaction at Mrs. Barker’s comment is an idea that continues throughout the entire play: American citizens are greatly influenced by those around them and want to have only what is accepted by society. Instead of wanting to keep her wheat-hat and be unique, Mommy goes right back to the hat store and exchanges it for a beige one. This shows the conformity of America and the effects of consumerism on our society. When Mommy takes the hat back, she throws a fit, blaming the salesman for selling her a wheat-hat. Rather than having Mommy blame herself for the purchase, Albee has her shift the blame to someone else, adding meaning to the fact that Americans are shallow and are not concerned with character. Through his depiction of Mommy and her actions in the first scene, Albee creates themes that are later supported with Mommy’s actions involving the bundle and her interactions with Mrs. Barker.
Though brief and inconspicuous, the hat scene presents the themes that are more obviously presented later in the work. In “The American Dream”, Albee is discreet but thorough in his structure of the first scene in order to create the theme that Americans and American culture are materialistic and superficial.
2007, Form B. Works of literature often depict acts of betrayal. Friends and even family may betray a protagonist; main characters may likewise be guilty of treachery or may betray their own values. Select a novel or play that includes such acts of betrayal. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze the nature of the betrayal and show how it contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.
Betrayal has always been a taboo, unforgivable act in society. In “Death of a Salesman”, Arthur Miller plays on the idea of betrayal in order to put stress on the Loman family and bring out the raw emotions inside each character. Through Willy Loman’s betrayal of his marriage due to a secret affair, Miller creates a turning point in the relationship between Willy and Biff to emphasize the theme that the American dream is impossible to achieve.
Willy’s affair with the younger woman is the climax of his relationship with Biff. Leading up to this event, the father and son have a positive relationship of mutual support and respect. Biff craves his father’s acceptance and approval, for example when he eagerly tells him that the touchdown he will get in the upcoming football game will be for him. Biff also tells his father what he wants to hear in terms of Bernard when he tells him that he is “liked, but not well liked”. Willy, desiring that his son is the most well-liked and popular by in school, gleams with pride when Biff tells him of the time he impersonated his math teacher to get a laugh from his class. After Biff walks in on his father with another woman, he is shocked and speechless, utterly confused that his father, the man in whom he put all his trust and faith, had done something so terrible to Linda. At this point in the play, Biff’s character shifts from excited and youthful to disillusioned and jaded. He no longer seems his father as a role model but more as a traitor to the family.
This shift between the two main characters supports Miller’s theme that the American dream is unattainable by showing the culmination of Willy’s efforts to have the dream and how they destroyed his relationship with his son. The broken bond between Willy and Biff is the product of Willy’s constant struggle to achieve success, even after the world has continually pushed against him. One feels sympathy for Willy because of how hard he tried and how little it got him. Willy’s act of betrayal is also a result of the many stresses in Willy’s life: to provide for his family, to succeed as greatly as his brother, Ben, and to encourage Biff to work hard and get the most out of life. The secret affair and the effect it has on Willy’s relationship with Biff presents the possible destruction that attempting to achieve the impossible can bring.
Through artful flashbacks and memories, Miller brings his readers steadily to the climax of the father-son relationship, Biff’s discovery of Willy’s affair. Through Willy’s action of betraying Linda and the shame that follows, Miller creates the meaning that the American dream is impossible to achieve and attempting to do so can only bring destruction.
11-13-2011 Revised
2007, Form B. Works of literature often depict acts of betrayal. Friends and even family may betray a protagonist; main characters may likewise be guilty of treachery or may betray their own values. Select a novel or play that includes such acts of betrayal. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze the nature of the betrayal and show how it contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.
Betrayal has always been a taboo, unforgivable act in society. In “Death of a Salesman”, Arthur Miller plays on the idea of betrayal in order to put stress on the Loman family and bring out the raw emotions inside each character. Through Willy’s betrayal of his marriage due to a secret affair, Miller creates a turning point in the relationship between Willy and Biff to emphasize the theme that the American dream is impossible to achieve.
Willy’s affair with the younger woman, and Biff’s discovery of it, changes their relationship. Leading up to it, the father and son have a positive relationship. Biff craves his father’s acceptance and approval, for example when he eagerly tells him that the touchdown he will get in the upcoming football game will be for him. Biff also tells his father what he wants to hear in terms of Bernard when he tells him that he is “liked, but not well liked”. Willy, desiring that his son is the most well-liked and popular by in school, is proud when Biff tells him of the time he impersonated his math teacher to get a laugh from his class. After Biff walks in on his father with another woman, he is shocked, utterly confused that his father, the man in whom he put all his trust and faith, has done something so terrible to Linda. At this point in the play, Biff’s character shifts from excited and youthful to disillusioned and jaded. He no longer seems his father as a role model but more as a traitor to the family.
This shift between the two main characters supports Miller’s theme that the American dream is unattainable by showing the culmination of Willy’s efforts to have the dream and how they destroyed his relationship with his son. The broken bond between Willy and Biff is the product of Willy’s constant struggle to achieve success, even after the world has continually pushed against him. One feels sympathy for Willy because of how hard he tried and how little it got him. Willy’s act of betrayal is also a result of the many stresses in Willy’s life: to provide for his family, to succeed as greatly as his brother, Ben, and to push Biff to work hard and get the most out of life. The secret affair and the effect it has on Willy’s relationship with Biff show how attempting to achieve the impossible can result in destruction.
Through flashbacks and memories, Miller brings his readers to the turning point of the father-son relationship, Biff’s discovery of Willy’s affair. Through Willy’s betrayal of Linda and the shame that follows, Miller creates the meaning that the American dream is impossible to achieve and attempting to do is futile.
1980. A recurring theme in literature is the classic war between a passion and responsibility. For instance, a personal cause, a love, a desire for revenge, a determination to redress a wrong, or some other emotion or drive may conflict with moral duty. Choose a literary work in which a character confronts the demands of a private passion that conflicts with his or her responsibilities. In a well-written essay show clearly the nature of the conflict, its effects upon the character, and its significance to the work.
Macbeth is one of the most famous stories of internal struggle existing in a man; Lord Macbeth, considered a tragic hero, battles with his desire for power and his moral responsibilities to his town. Shakespeare uses Macbeth’s confrontation with this desire to emphasize the conflicting needs and wants of human beings and the power of passion that can eventually overtake one’s morals.
The buildup to Macbeth’s recognition of the demands of his desire are strengthened with the facts given about his past. A man of significant stature and social standing, Macbeth was well respected in the community and seen as courageous, responsible, and dependable. These personality traits make Macbeth’s actions later in the play that much more shocking and effective to the reader, who would not expect a man like Macbeth to do such things. Although Macbeth is originally a pure man with good morals, his wife, Lady Macbeth, has ever growing desires of power and wealth for her family. Her wishes rub off on Macbeth, who wants to please and provide for his wife. After listening to her constant urging and the witches’ prophecies, Macbeth is driven to the point of believing what they say and wanting the same things as his wife. The effects of his newfound desire for power, and his betrayal of the king, cause Macbeth to begin his slow descent to insanity and eventually death. The guilt he feels takes the form of ghosts that him and repetitive visions and thoughts that constantly remind him of what he has done. The nature of the conflict as well as the toll it takes on Macbeth emphasizes Shakespeare’s meaning.
The effects of this internal war on Macbeth add to Shakespeare’s underlying statement about humanity in general. Macbeth exemplifies the typical man of high social standing who is corrupted by greed and eventually gains nothing. Shakespeare uses this constant internal struggle as the main conflict, supported by a few physical conflicts. The internal turmoil in Macbeth is viewed as the most important conflict in the book, a plot element exemplified by the fact that the actual murdering of King Duncan is left out of the play completely. When Macbeth confronts the demands of the passion (in his statement in which he recognizes that he has lead himself to his own death), there is nothing he is able to do to prevent it. This supports Shakespeare’s theme that human beings are often overcome by greed and personal desire and lose all sense of morals due to those desires.
The tragedy of Macbeth is the classic story of the dramatic fall of a hero. Previously a responsible man, Macbeth has no one to blame but himself for his tragic fall from grace. Shakespeare uses the buildup of Macbeth’s recognition of his flaw and the recognition itself to prove that humans are sometimes weak to personal traits and desires.
1980. A recurring theme in literature is the classic war between a passion and responsibility. For instance, a personal cause, a love, a desire for revenge, a determination to redress a wrong, or some other emotion or drive may conflict with moral duty. Choose a literary work in which a character confronts the demands of a private passion that conflicts with his or her responsibilities. In a well-written essay show clearly the nature of the conflict, its effects upon the character, and its significance to the work.
Macbeth is a story of internal struggle; Lord Macbeth, considered a tragic hero, battles with his desire for power and his moral responsibilities to his town. Shakespeare uses Macbeth’s confrontation with this desire to emphasize the conflicting needs and wants of human beings.
Specific facts about Macbeth’s history add to his recognition of the tragic flaw. A man of stature and social standing, Macbeth was well respected in the community and seen as responsible and dependable. These personality traits make Macbeth’s actions later in the play more shocking and effective to the reader, who would not expect a man like Macbeth to do such things. Although Macbeth is originally a pure man with morals, his wife, Lady Macbeth, has ever growing desires of power and wealth for her family. Her wishes rub off on Macbeth, who wants to please and provide for his wife. After listening to her constant urging and the witches’ prophecies, Macbeth is driven to believing what they say and wanting the same things as his wife. The effects of his newfound desire for power, and his betrayal of the king, cause Macbeth to begin his descent to insanity and eventually death. The guilt he feels takes the form of ghosts that him and repetitive visions that constantly remind him of what he has done. The nature of the conflict as well as the toll it takes on Macbeth emphasizes Shakespeare’s meaning.
The effects of this internal war on Macbeth add to Shakespeare’s statement about humanity. Macbeth exemplifies the typical man of high social standing who is corrupted by greed and eventually gains nothing. Shakespeare uses this internal struggle as the main conflict, supported by physical conflicts. The internal turmoil in Macbeth is viewed as the most important conflict in the book, a plot element exemplified by the fact that the actual murdering of King Duncan is left out of the play completely. When Macbeth confronts the demands of the passion (in his statement in which he recognizes that he has lead himself to his own death), there is nothing he is able to do to prevent it. This supports Shakespeare’s theme that humans are often so overcome by greed and personal desire that they lose their morals.
The tragedy of Macbeth is the story of the dramatic fall of a hero. Previously a responsible man, Macbeth has no one to blame but himself for his fall from grace. Shakespeare uses the buildup to Macbeth’s recognition of his flaw and the recognition itself to prove that humans are sometimes slave to personal traits and desires.
