Preview

Macbeth Act 4 Scene 2 Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
643 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Macbeth Act 4 Scene 2 Analysis
Conceived in the play Macbeth are three symbolic views that are all recurring and Act 4 scene 2 presents all of these views. These three views are manhood, flight, and betrayal. The first begins in the beginning of the play, but is recognized in Act 4 scene 2 just like the rest of these symbolic views. To many this scene is seen as one of the most crucial parts of the play. Drawing on the major scenes of the play Macbeth it pushes for action and ultimate conclusion. Numerous times irony is displayed in this passage. Contained in one scene is three symbolic views that were presented at the beginning of the story leading up to this point,manhood, flight, and betrayal.
The first point found in Act 4 scene 2 was manhood. The first mention of
…show more content…
Macduff’s son defends his father when the killer calls his father a traitor to which he son responds by saying, “Thou li’st, thou shag-eared villain”. To which at this point the young boy is stabbed and dies. The irony behind this is that the true traitor in the story is Macbeth. The other half of this is recorded in Act 2 scene 2 when Macbeth betrays his country by killing the king for power. Unfortunately, the death of Macduff’s family and the people of his castle were killed because of the traitor Macbeth. Although it was thought to have been in memory of the traitorous Macduff’s that has fled to England.
All three of these themes and more are seen in the duration of Act 4 scene 2. Manhood, flight, and betrayal are all defining qualities of this play Macbeth. Presented in all one scene, the fundamentals the make up the play. While many argue whether or not this is the climax of the story, it definitely is a pivotal point in the play. Multiple major points conveyed in the story secretly and strategically placed within this one scene. Shakespeare does this almost seamlessly. Ironic and cruel all in one is presented in Act 4 scene 2 of Macbeth through manhood, flight, and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Malcolm orders his soldiers to throw down the branches and reveal to MacBeth’s castle who they really…

    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    4. Macbeth’s colleague Banquo asks Macbeth why he is startled by the prophesies, which “sound so fair.” He then asks the…

    • 791 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Before Macbeth gives his famous “Is this a dagger which I see before me” soliloquy, he has decided that he was not going to kill the king. Lady Macbeth wants to become queen, so she has an argument with Macbeth. During the argument Lady Macbeth says, “When you durst do it, then you were a man”, saying that Macbeth is not a man unless he kills king Duncan. Lady Macbeth’s words make Macbeth perplexed and he goes into his soliloquy where he debates whether or not to assassinate the king.…

    • 480 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Situate the passage into the greater text: mention the act and scene numbers, as well as what happens at this point in the play/ Significance (1-2 sentences)…

    • 303 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The setting of this scene begins with Macbeth contemplating whether or not he should actually kill Duncan. This scene shows an ominous mood seeing as Macbeth might kill Duncan, but the audience contemplates if he will go through with it. This also ties to the theme of ambition because Lady Macbeth forces Macbeth to kill Duncan by questioning his manliness. Macbeth does not know how he feels about his actions. When Macbeth states “th’ assassination could trammel up the consequence” (Shakespeare 1.7.2-3) the audience becomes aware that Macbeth knows that the assassination will only effect his accession to the throne. With Duncan dead Macbeth would achieve his success and make is wife happy.When Macbeth says that the audience he knows for sure…

    • 204 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the beginning we see Lady Macbeth playing the more superior, more dominating role of the two. She lays all the plans and all Macbeth has to do is obey her commands. She comes across as a woman, who is persuasive and manipulative. Macbeth on the other hand is fickle-minded and unsure. We discover that the man, who is praised so highly by the King and the general public, is actually weak and submissive man. As in the earlier scenes, Macbeth reveals everything to Lady Macbeth, but here, Macbeth keeps secret from his wife the plot to murder Banquo. He also says “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck”; this shows the audience that he does not regard her as an equal partner anymore and sees her as a small little woman with a sharp tongue. He also alarms her by conjuring up an atmosphere of evil. In the earlier scenes, Lady Macbeth was very ambitious and brave, but here, we hear that she begins to show signs of stress and Macbeth suffers 'terrible dreams'.…

    • 528 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Lady Macbeth’s view on manhood is significant. She equates manhood with ambitious, selfish, and often times cruel behavior. Macbeth, on the other hand, believes that manhood must have some code of honor. Because of this, Lady…

    • 937 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Theme Of Power In Macbeth

    • 997 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Macbeth, a dark and gruesome tragic play written by William Shakespeare primarily discusses the concept of greed for more authority. Emasculation and the Great Chain of Being are some core components of this play that are discussed through gothic poetry. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are the main characters in the play. Through Macbeth’s catalyst, his wife, he found the strength to kill King Duncan. Lady Macbeth was his agent in many of the scenes in the play. Their compatible pairing lead to many “successes”, but also to their own deaths. Shakespeare brilliantly uses garment metaphors throughout the play as well as the innocent flower and crafty serpent motif to express Macbeth’s mindset and tragedy.…

    • 997 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shakespeare's Macbeth, considered as one as of his most brilliant plays, is a definite pleasure to read, particularly for fans of the "medieval-setting" and Old English literature. His style is unique and creative, which, all in all, makes for a very appealing storyline. Regardless of such optimistic facets, Shakespeare's signature mark within most of his plays is his combination of various assorted themes merged together within one captivating scenario. In this case, Macbeth is an ideal paradigm representing this talent. Unlike most his past plays, this particular storyline consists especially of gloomy and sinister themes: infidelity, treachery, lust for power, and ironical situations used to emphasize scenes of tragedy form most of Macbeth's foundation.…

    • 789 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Play Analysis

    • 965 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Review: Macbeth a visually striking period piece for the modern viewer We all wrote an essay about it in high school; Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is so widely read that it’s surprising Justin Kurzel’s newest film is the first notable cinematic adaptation since Roman Polanski’s in 1971. Kurzel’s take on the Scottish play is a spectacle of haunting violence; he takes advantage of the cinematic medium and crafts a stunning aesthetic. As an adaptation, the film offers an imaginative reading of the familiar narrative of the eponymous Scottish general (Michael Fassbender, sure to draw a crowd at the box office) and his infamously manipulative wife (Marion Cotillard, art-house ace). However, in its attempts to be visually striking, much will seem to have…

    • 965 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Ambition Analysis

    • 614 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Given these points, one can conclude the leading theme in The Tragedy of Macbeth is ambition. Through the examples of characteristics, actions and events, and quotes, one can find that the characters in the play clearly portray ambition, determination, and a strong willed attitude. The reader can also see that all the characters throughout the story provide an absolute depiction of the attribute ambition. The Tragedy…

    • 614 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Macbeth,” by William Shakespeare is a caper about a man’s ambition that drives him crazy to the extent of murdering, and the man is Macbeth. Throughout the play the audience is introduced to many incidents and themes; some were brutal and some were not. This enactment of Act 3 scene 4 will be revealing the brutal change of Macbeth’s ambition. Ambition appears throughout the play and manipulates the parts in the same way ambition manipulates reality. Mankind’s biggest weakness is ambition, but ambition is also a strong point. William Shakespeare uses imagery, theme, phrasing, and symbolism in this transit, which establishes the characters look more evil than guilty.…

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Is Macbeth A Hero

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The play Macbeth by William Shakespeare tells the tragic tale of a nobleman and his wife’s descent into darkness as they conspire to take the throne of Scotland. The character of Macbeth possesses qualities that make him admirable, but these qualities are also the cause of his downfall. Throughout the play, Macbeth exhibits bravery, morality, and ambition—traits which appear heroic, but ultimately lead to his end.…

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Macbeth

    • 908 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the play Macbeth, there are many different themes and motifs. The play is about a man named Macbeth who is a respected military man who lives in Scotland. One day, Macbeth meets three witches who give him the prophecy that he’ll become King. This prophecy leads to Macbeth’s downfall, and the start of his guilt. In Macbeth, Shakespeare explores the theme of guilt in order to teach his audience the overall lesson that guilt often leads to destruction. The guilt overcame their mental processing, and obstructed them from achieving their goals.…

    • 908 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth's soliloquy at the start of Act 1, Scene 7, introduces us to a side of Macbeth that has not yet been portrayed earlier in the play. Here, instead of being the courageous and valiant soldier, Macbeth reveals himself to be a man who is being slowly tempted by ambition and power, though not determined enough to take the risks in order to achieve his goal, thus resulting in the repetition of "ifs" throughout the beginning of Macbeth's soliloquy. Macbeth is also very much aware of the lack of reason for the murder of Duncan. The soliloquy effectively adds to our understanding of the internal conflict that plagues Macbeth as he struggles to determine whether or not he should kill Duncan, who is a virtuous man as well as his kinsman and king. He believes that it is against the nature of man to kill someone who is of such a status and relation to him and that it is immoral to do so, "he's here in double trust: first, as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed" and that it would be a breech of Duncan's trust in him if he decides to go through with the murder. We see Macbeth's reluctance to murder Duncan himself as he is a guest in his own home. "…as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself." Macbeth knows that his weakness is the desire he has to seize the crown. He knows that although he does not wish to murder Duncan but for the fulfillment of his own ambition, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition…" it is something that must happen in order for Macbeth to achieve what he wants. The audience sees the conflict within Macbeth and the horrible imaginings he has for his own downfall and his fate. He knows that he is drinking from a "poisoned chalice" which symbolizes Macbeth's yearning for moral desecration. Another aspect of Macbeth that the audience witness is the reluctance to mention the murder of Duncan. Instead, he uses euphemisms such as " it, assassination,…

    • 600 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays