Submitted by: Submitted by icekhan
Views: 2892
Words: 465
Pages: 2
Category: Literature
Date Submitted: 06/08/2011 10:02 AM
It is impossible to just give a "Yes" or "No" answer to your question. In order to answer it, we need to define Morality and Morals and how they apply to the play and its characters.
Macbeth is the classic example of a Tragic Hero - a great man at the start of the play that has his 'downfall' due to a flaw in his character - his unchecked ambition. So he starts off as a pretty 'good' (moral) guy - he defends his country and King against the Norwegian Forces at the start of Act I. By the end of the play, after committing murders (and having the blood of many others on his hands) he does not look like man with "morals". His morality seems to have gone by the wayside.
When Malcolm is crowned as King at the end of the play, we do like to belive that justice is served. BUT is it really ever right of us to say that Macbeth's death was justified? Can we state that one human life is more important than another? We do want to believe that Malcolm will restore peace and goodness in Scotland after Macbeth's tyrannical rule, but is there ever real moral ground to wish someone dead?
You do not include Lady Macbeth in this question. Were her ambitions for her husband not 'right'? NO NO NO! She believed in success no matter what the price. She manipulated Macbeth to kill Duncan and from there (for him) it was 'downhill'. It is therefore ironic that she is the one (of the couple) that commits suicide due to being unable to cope with the consequences and guilt of their deeds.
when you think about this it isn't that much of a moral play. Malcolm is named king in the end but if you think about it Malcolm could be the next Macbeth. The witches prophecy fortelling that Fleance is meant to be king and Fleance is still alive so this gives motive to Malcolm to kill. Malcolm is also very evil in his own ways. These problems can be identified through his conversation with Macduff. He is a good liar, he is able to convince Macduff that he is greedy and lusts for women. He is an...