Macbeth Act 5
In Act 5 of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth's character seems to do a complete 180. In previous acts, she is ruthless and bloodthirsty, but now it seems that she is finally feeling the weight of her actions. The roles between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth seem to have been switched, as he goes on plotting to kill people in order to retain power whereas she feels incredibly guilty. In previous acts, it was Macbeth that felt guilty and Lady Macbeth who was bloodthirsty. Before, Lady Macbeth told Macbeth that water would easily wipe away the blood on his hands, but now, she says, "Out, damned spot; out, I say. One, two./Why, then 'tis time to do't. Hell is murky. Fie, my/lord, fie, a soldier and afeard? What need we fear who knows it when none can call our power to/account? Yet who would have thought the old man/to have had so much blood in him?" (5.1.37-42). She hasn't fully grasped the severity of her actions up until this point, where she realizes that murder leaves a heavier mark on the soul than she originally thought. In the end, it is she who commits suicide after being unable to handle all of the events in the book. For all her talk, she ends up being the "weak" one.
It was also interesting how apathetic Macbeth seemed to the death of his wife. When he hears the news of her death, he says, "She should have died hereafter./There would have been a time for such a word./Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player/That struts and frets his hour upon the stage/And then is heard no more. It is a tale/Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury/Signifying nothing," (5.5.20-31). He essentially says that her death would have happened anyway, and that life in general is meaningless. Did Macbeth ever really love Lady Macbeth? I am inclined to say no, because I don't recall any expressions of love between them, other than the ones used by Lady Macbeth in order to manipulate Macbeth into doing what she wanted.
It is at that point that Macbeth realizes that he's done for; he basically traded away his sanity and his life for a brief taste of power. Macbeth also seems to be justifying his actions, making it seem like what he did wasn't that bad since all those murders mean nothing in the big picture, because life means nothing. These sentiments have been uttered by several prolific serial killers in the past. It sounds eerily similar to Ted Bundy's line, "I mean, there are so many people," in response to being asked about his several murders. This proves that Macbeth never really was fit to be king, and may have evolved into a bit of a psychopath. It is also interesting that in this line, Shakespeare chooses to use the metaphor, "Life's but...a poor player/That struts and frets his hour upon the stage/And then is heard no more." His use of the theater, the very medium that brought his plays to life, as a metaphor for the meaninglessness of life seems to be some sort of ironic social commentary.
It was also interesting how apathetic Macbeth seemed to the death of his wife. When he hears the news of her death, he says, "She should have died hereafter./There would have been a time for such a word./Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player/That struts and frets his hour upon the stage/And then is heard no more. It is a tale/Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury/Signifying nothing," (5.5.20-31). He essentially says that her death would have happened anyway, and that life in general is meaningless. Did Macbeth ever really love Lady Macbeth? I am inclined to say no, because I don't recall any expressions of love between them, other than the ones used by Lady Macbeth in order to manipulate Macbeth into doing what she wanted.
It is at that point that Macbeth realizes that he's done for; he basically traded away his sanity and his life for a brief taste of power. Macbeth also seems to be justifying his actions, making it seem like what he did wasn't that bad since all those murders mean nothing in the big picture, because life means nothing. These sentiments have been uttered by several prolific serial killers in the past. It sounds eerily similar to Ted Bundy's line, "I mean, there are so many people," in response to being asked about his several murders. This proves that Macbeth never really was fit to be king, and may have evolved into a bit of a psychopath. It is also interesting that in this line, Shakespeare chooses to use the metaphor, "Life's but...a poor player/That struts and frets his hour upon the stage/And then is heard no more." His use of the theater, the very medium that brought his plays to life, as a metaphor for the meaninglessness of life seems to be some sort of ironic social commentary.
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