Benjamin Hillman Macbeth Essay - P2

Many authors weave intricate designs into their tales. There is the wonderful diction and stylistic names in the books of J.K. Rowling, and the delightful commentary of J. R. R. Tolkien. These artists may be great, but it is Bill Shakespeare’s use of characterization that projects a wonderful design of the story. His use of characterization is to clarify man’s perception of fate and how it affects man’s actions.

Particularly, this is seen in the title character, Macbeth. From the get-go, the audience views Macbeth as a successful individual who knows what he wants and how to get it (similar to the businessmen of today’s metropolitan world). Macbeth is told of his fate by a troupe of mysterious witches. They tell him many things, but among them is the important fact that he cannot die of a man born from a woman. Macbeth is startled by the news he has heard from these magical temptresses but he slowly learns that his fate is coming true. The wicked women told him that he would eventually become king of Scotland and this comes true due to the deceitful deeds of Macbeth and his cunning wife, Lady Macbeth. Shakespeare utilizes Macbeth’s traits of confidence and ambition to fuel Macbeth’s actions towards perceiving his fate. Macbeth now views himself as some sort of demigod, believing that no one can destroy him. His confidence and life is soon broken when a man who was not born from a woman kills him, rather he was taken from the womb from his deceased madre.

Shakespeare also drives the actions of other individuals with characterization. This is scene in the actions of Malcolm and Lord Siward. They do not know their fate, because they were not present when Macbeth learned of his, but they do have the traits of cleverness and honesty. These traits allow them to formulate a plan to hide their numbers from Macbeth’s forces. They decide to use boughs and branches from trees to disguise how many men they have when advancing on the fortress that Macbeth lives in. Without their knowledge, this is indirectly what the witches said would be the downfall of Macbeth. The witches predicted that Macbeth would remain alive and in rule until the forest surrounding his castle advanced upon him. The clever actions of Malcolm and Lord Siward made this possibility a reality.

One more character underwent a similar treatment to Malcolm and Lord Siward. Macduff is the character in question. Macduff is given the traits of integrity and bravery by the characterization from Shakespeare. Macduff, similarly to Malcolm and Lord Siward, does not know that only a man who was not born from a woman can take down Macbeth. Coincidentally, Macduff fits this description. He does what he believes is right, utilizing his integrity, and fights Macbeth despite his knowledge of Macbeth’s apparent invincibility knowing that he very may well not survive. Macduff prevails and brings down the awful and tyrannical Macbeth.

As evidenced in the play that ol’ William Shakespeare artistically crafted, man’s perception of fate affects man’s actions. The actions of Macbeth were fueled by his perception that he was invincible and no one could take him down. The actions of Malcolm, Lord Siward, and Macduff were all fueled by their knowledge that fate may not be what brings Macbeth down but realizing that it eventually did in the end. Whether you are a Shakespearean poet, a boy-wizard author, or an odyssey-writing Tolkien, stylistic devices fuel the actions of characters.