Sophia Whitesel

Miss Skirtich
20 December 2017
English 12: British Literature

"Macbeth" Thesis Paper

"Every flight begins with a fall," this is a quote by George R.R. Martin. The message of

this quote is that things get worse before they get better, and sometimes we have to undergo

unfortunate circumstances to attain our goal. On that note, when we fall we have to learn to pick

ourselves back up, otherwise we will fall deeper. Macbeth, the main character of the play

"Macbeth" by Shakespeare makes a decision to achieve his goal and takes a fall, however he

drives himself deeper into distress and is unable to reverse his ambition from

the negative direction which he was directing it. The Bard of Stratford-upon-Avon is known to

be one of the most brilliant writers, influencing others with his dramatic and fluent poetry,

writing a total of thirty-seven plays. Shakespeare displays the decadence of one's morals and

its effects in "Macbeth" by falling into deception, growing greed, and Catholic guilt, all of which

initiate their demise.

Shakespeare displays the decadence of one's morals and its effects in "Macbeth" by

falling into deception. From the point Macbeth heard the prophecy of the three weird sisters,

he became obsessed with the idea of becoming king. Instead of focusing on the present, he

chooses to intervene with fate. Lady Macbeth is the more ambitious of the two at the

start of the play. Macbeth does not want anyone to see how he will gain the crown unfairly, he

says "Stars, hide your fires" (i.iv.57). Hecate is in charge of the weird sisters and is upset with

them for providing Macbeth with the future. As punishment for Macbeths actions which

disrupted the future, she says, "As by the strength of their illusion/Shall draw him on for his

conclusion" (iii.v.27-29). Hecate and the weird sisters are going to manipulate a vision for
Macbeth, making him see illusions, causing him confusion in differentiating what is real and

what are visions that his mind has created. These are just a few examples of the events that

initiate his downfall and cause him to fall into deception.

Additionally, Shakespeare displays the decadence of one's morals and its effects in

"Macbeth" by growing greed. When Macbeth is told the prophecy from the witches, his

ego explodes. His mind becomes attached to the idea of becoming king, he

says, "Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more" (i.iii.70). After this revelation, Macbeth

chases a path of glory and the goal of becoming king. He became the Thane of Cawdor naturally,

but intervention was needed if he was going to continue moving up in status. At first, guilt took a

tool on Macbeth when he chose to relent to unmoral actions, however, greed overpowered

him. His ambition dragged him so deep into blood that he could not escape, only go deeper. "I

am in blood/Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more,/returning were as tedious as go'oer"

(iii.iv.133-135). At this point Macbeth has completely surrendered his conscience to the devil,

and has accepted the bloody deeds that he must commit to advance further. Although there are

many, these are just a couple examples of Macbeth's growing greed.

Moreover, Shakespeare displays the decadence of one's morals and its effects in

"Macbeth" by Catholic guilt. Macbeth is extremely guilty and feels remorse heavily in the

beginning of the play. The witches hooked Macbeth by telling him he will be all powerful and

reign over the people of Scotland. After Macbeth has taken action and killed King Duncan in

order to ensure his position, he feels the weight of Catholic guilt. Lady

Macbeth disgraces him by saying, "My hands are of your color, but I/shame/To wear a heart so

white" (ii.ii.61-63). It is not until she sees the body herself, which reminds her of her father, that

she begins to feel slightly weak with melancholy. This marks a character change, as the readers
catch a glimpse of her humanity, rather than her insanity. Once Macbeth had become king, he no

longer needed his wife. This distance in their relationship greatly affected

Lady Macbeth, eventually causing her mental illness. At the end of the play she begins a

sleepwalking habit, she screams, "Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" (v.i.38). Just as she had

told Macbeth to wash the guilt and blood from his hands, she hopelessly does the same. At this

point, Lady Macbeth is going completely mad, and her Catholic guilt is deteriorating her

conscience.

To conclude, Shakespeare displays the decadence of one's morals and its effects in

"Macbeth" by falling into deception, growing greed, and Catholic guilt, all of which initiate their

demise. Believing prophecy can be dangerous, especially if it influences a person to make

decisions that they normally would not. The rulers in history that have fallen are ones that were

power-hungry to a fault, who repeatedly made unmoral decisions, and who lost their way to the

corruption of worldly desires. As Cersei Lannister said, "when you play a game of thrones you

win or you die."