How Does Shakespeare Show Violence In Macbeth

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Title This essay discusses the various forms of violent death, murders and events as narrated in William Shakespeare’s play – Macbeth. The essay also focuses on the stand of Shakespeare about violence – his approval or disapproval regarding violence in his plays. Shakespeare wrote 10 tragedies and Macbeth is one of the most famous amongst them all. The play has been considered one of the most violent plays written by Shakespeare because the play in itself is very short and revolves around greed, murder, death, war and violence. The play starts off with the witches discussing about a great fighter named Macbeth. The play’s first act has a battle where Macbeth kills a lot of enemies, causing King Duncan to consider giving him the title, “Thane…show more content…
The first one is ironic in itself because Macbeth kills the king who loves and respects him. Macbeth seems to be easily convinced by his wife and influenced by the witches’ prophesy. After the Young Siward’s death, Macbeth mocks him for being born of a woman and hence FIXXXXXX himself, but in the next scene itself the audience witnesses Macduff FIXXXXX over Young Siward’s death on the field where Macbeth had mocked moments ago. Shakespeare has captured a lot of violence but some might say, it has been done so in a “tasteful” manner which thrills and excites the audience and also adds subtle ironies wherever…show more content…
Macbeth compares himself to a bear in a bear-baiting contest (chained to stake, waiting for the dogs to come and tear him to pieces). Young Siward earnestly asks him to reveal his name even if he’s one of the worst demons in hell to which Macbeth complies. Both of them fight in the field and Young Siward is killed. Macbeth mocks and ridicules him after his death by saying, “Thou wast born of woman. But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, Brandished by man that’s of a woman born.” Until now, a reader might think of Shakespeare as a cruel and dark writer of his times as he scoffs at the death of a young character. But later Young Siward’s father arrives and exclaims, “He only liv'd but till he was a man." "He's worth more sorrow.” (Act 6 Scene 16) which shows Shakespeare does not approve of violence and there is remorse and regret in the scenes to come, where all the deeds that have happened until now are not justified, but somewhere there’s a tone of sadness attached, and then there is joy of the victory of lightness over darkness when in the end the tyrant is murdered.

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