Starting with this speech, explore how far Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a violent
character.
In Shakespeare’s eponymous, didactic tragedy, ‘Macbeth’, Macbeth is presented as an
increasingly violent character, though the intensity of his violence and the reactions of those
around him vary as the action unfolds. Initially, “brave Macbeth” is praised and rewarded for
his violence, but as he becomes unhinged, the other characters are repulsed by his violence.
Deliberately, Shakespeare employs Macbeth’s gruesome defeat to send a clear message to his
Jacobean audience: challenging natural orders will result in severe punishment.
In Act 1 Scene 2 of the play, the tale of Macbeth’s most recent victory on the battlefield is
excitedly retold by the Captain. He describes the way that “brave Macbeth… unseamed him
form the nave to th’chaps”. In the Jacobean epoch, bravery and violence were considered to
be desirable, masculine traits. Consequently, Macbeth’s fall from grace is all the more tragic
and shocking for the audience. Shakespeare rewards Macbeth’s violence when it is on behalf
of the king and punishes him when his violent nature leads him to challenge natural orders
like the great chain of being. The notion that the king was chosen by god generally accepted
to be the truth, breaking the great chain was considered to be a terrible sin. The adjective,
“brave”, clearly demonstrates the way that violence on behalf of the king is commendable and
admirable. Here, killing is justifiable and honourable. Moreover, the noun “unseamed” implies
that Macbeth’s violence is skilful and carefully executed. Clearly, the way that he slices open
the traitor is considered to be somewhat if an artful spectacle as Macbeth chops him down
with a flourish. This form of execution is particularly unnecessary and excessive as he could
have killed the man with far less, and hints at Macbeth’s violent nature. Furthermore, his
slaying of a traitor is ironic and could be considered foreshadowing of the consequences
Macbeth will face for his own treachery, even if at this moment Macbeth’s hamartia lays
dormant.
In act 3 scene 2, Macbeth confides in Lady Macbeth, saying “oh wife, full of scorpions is my
mind”. This moment marks a turning point in the play as it signals that Macbeth’s guilty
conscience has begun to unravel his mind. Following the conventions of a typical
Shakespearean tragedy, Macbeth is tortured after killing Macbeth and reduced to a feeble
man, forced to seek comfort from his “wife”. The plural noun “scorpions” is used to describe
Macbeth’s violent thoughts. By his own use of this disturbing metaphor, it is clear that he
understands the way that his violent thoughts and deeds have poisoned his mind. In his
desperation, Macbeth turns to even more violence following killing Duncan. Certainly,
Shakespeare punishes Macbeth to express that violent sins like regicide will be punished, if
not by king, by own psychological suffering. Arguably, the mental torment that he faces for
committing regicide is a warning to the audience against committing treason. This lesson is
likely influenced by the context of the gunpowder plot, in which Guy Fawkes and his associates
plotted to kill King James I and failed. As Shakespeare is witing for King James I, it would be in
his interest to appease the King by showing the dire consequences of committing regicide. By
the denouement of the play, Macbeth has still not realised how little his violent actions aid
him.
