Macbeth as a Strong Man
The essay below uses this simple structure:
The essay below uses this simple structure:
- An introductory paragraph to summarise an answer to the question
- One paragraph about the extract
- One about the rest of the play
- One about context.
SERGEANT
SERGEANT
Doubtful it stood;
Doubtful it stood;
As two spent swimmers, that do cling together
As two spent swimmers, that do cling together
And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald–
And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald–
Worthy to be a rebel, for to that
Worthy to be a rebel, for to that
The multiplying villanies of nature
The multiplying villanies of nature
Do swarm upon him–from the Western Isles
Do swarm upon him–from the Western Isles
Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied;
Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied;
And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling,
And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling,
Show’d like a rebel’s whore: but all’s too weak:
Show’d like a rebel’s whore: but all’s too weak:
For brave Macbeth–well he deserves that name–
For brave Macbeth–well he deserves that name–
Disdaining fortune, with his brandish’d steel,
Disdaining fortune, with his brandish’d steel,
Which smoked with bloody execution,
Which smoked with bloody execution,
Like valour’s minion carved out his passage
Like valour’s minion carved out his passage
Till he faced the slave;
Till he faced the slave;
Which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,
Which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,
Till he unseam’d him from the nave to the chaps,
Till he unseam’d him from the nave to the chaps,
And fix’d his head upon our battlements.
And fix’d his head upon our battlements.
DUNCAN
DUNCAN
O valiant cousin! worthy gentleman!
O valiant cousin! worthy gentleman!
Question: How far does Shakespeare present Macbeth as a strong man?
Question: How far does Shakespeare present Macbeth as a strong man?
Write about:
Write about:
- how Shakespeare presents Macbeth in this speech
- how Shakespeare presents Macbeth in the play as a whole.
The essay below is written using a simple structure:
The essay below is written using a simple structure:
- An introductory paragraph to summarise an answer to the question.
- A section about the extract.
- A section the rest of the play.
- A paragraph about context.
Before you read the answer below, why not have a think about how you'd answer this question. Which quotes would you use from the speech above? Also, which sections from the rest of the play would you focus on? And what contextual factors influenced Lady Macbeth's presentation?
Before you read the answer below, why not have a think about how you'd answer this question. Which quotes would you use from the speech above? Also, which sections from the rest of the play would you focus on? And what contextual factors influenced Lady Macbeth's presentation?
Most importantly, though, have a think about how you'd write that opening paragraph - answer the question in two or three simple sentences.
Most importantly, though, have a think about how you'd write that opening paragraph - answer the question in two or three simple sentences.
An Example Answer
An Example Answer
During the opening of the play Macbeth is presented as a perfect Jacobean hero: strong, brave and heroic. However, he is incapable of standing up to his wife or of resisting the witches' magic spell and this leads to his downfall.
During the opening of the play Macbeth is presented as a perfect Jacobean hero: strong, brave and heroic. However, he is incapable of standing up to his wife or of resisting the witches' magic spell and this leads to his downfall.
In this extract, a wounded sergeant explains Macbeth’s achievements while fighting a battle against Norwegian traitors. He is called “brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name.” The fact that he deserves that “name” suggests that the adjective “brave” is almost a title for him, and bravery would have been central the Jacobean understanding of what made a strong man. Macbeth goes on to “disdain fortune” – suggesting that he doesn’t care what fortune has in store for him, and he “carves his own passage.” The idea that he has enough inner strength to ignore fate or fortune and make a name for himself confirms that Macbeth has a lot of what a strong Jacobean male would need.
In this extract, a wounded sergeant explains Macbeth’s achievements while fighting a battle against Norwegian traitors. He is called “brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name.” The fact that he deserves that “name” suggests that the adjective “brave” is almost a title for him, and bravery would have been central the Jacobean understanding of what made a strong man. Macbeth goes on to “disdain fortune” – suggesting that he doesn’t care what fortune has in store for him, and he “carves his own passage.” The idea that he has enough inner strength to ignore fate or fortune and make a name for himself confirms that Macbeth has a lot of what a strong Jacobean male would need.
But he is also brutal, and physically strong – two more traits that would be valued in any strong Jacobean male. He approaches the “merciless Macdonwald” whose “multiplying villainies” the sergeant has already explained, and “unseemed him from the nave to the chaps” before fixing his head upon “our battlements.” This level of brutality would spread fear in his enemies and show that Macbeth was strong enough not to be messed with. Also, the captain is careful to describe the enemy as “merciless” an adjective that makes sure that the audience is clear that Macbeth is killing evil men.
But he is also brutal, and physically strong – two more traits that would be valued in any strong Jacobean male. He approaches the “merciless Macdonwald” whose “multiplying villainies” the sergeant has already explained, and “unseemed him from the nave to the chaps” before fixing his head upon “our battlements.” This level of brutality would spread fear in his enemies and show that Macbeth was strong enough not to be messed with. Also, the captain is careful to describe the enemy as “merciless” an adjective that makes sure that the audience is clear that Macbeth is killing evil men.
The sergeant continues to emphasise how Macbeth’s brutality should earn him respect by saying that his sword “smoked with bloody execution.” The verb “execution” is interesting, as an execution is the killing of a criminal or someone else who deserves to die. In this respect, Macbeth is not just a bloody murderer, but a noble and respectable servant of the king. His relationship to the king, who provides a source of social strength, is finally confirmed when King Duncan calls him “valiant cousin!” and “worthy gentleman!” This statement shows that Macbeth is related to the King – a really important source of strength – and is a “gentleman” – a noun which suggests that he is civilised as well.
The sergeant continues to emphasise how Macbeth’s brutality should earn him respect by saying that his sword “smoked with bloody execution.” The verb “execution” is interesting, as an execution is the killing of a criminal or someone else who deserves to die. In this respect, Macbeth is not just a bloody murderer, but a noble and respectable servant of the king. His relationship to the king, who provides a source of social strength, is finally confirmed when King Duncan calls him “valiant cousin!” and “worthy gentleman!” This statement shows that Macbeth is related to the King – a really important source of strength – and is a “gentleman” – a noun which suggests that he is civilised as well.
His reputation for strength, however, was not to last because he is largely bullied by the women in the play. In fact, his opening line in the play – “so fair and foul a day I have not seen” – suggests that he is under the witches influence right from the off. Also, later, Lady Macbeth easily talks him into murdering Duncan, saying that he is "too full of the milk of human kindness." Even saying that Macbeth is too full of milk was an insult as milk is feminine and this would have upset any ideas that he was a strong man.
His reputation for strength, however, was not to last because he is largely bullied by the women in the play. In fact, his opening line in the play – “so fair and foul a day I have not seen” – suggests that he is under the witches influence right from the off. Also, later, Lady Macbeth easily talks him into murdering Duncan, saying that he is "too full of the milk of human kindness." Even saying that Macbeth is too full of milk was an insult as milk is feminine and this would have upset any ideas that he was a strong man.
Also, killing Duncan sets Macbeth off on a spree of murder. During the play, he kills his best friend, Banquo, which would have been seen as shocking to a Jacobean male audience, as loyalty to friends was very important. He also kills Macduff's wife and child, both of which would have been seen as incredibly dishonourable and weak. In doing so, however, he turns everyone against him and he is eventually killed in battle.
Also, killing Duncan sets Macbeth off on a spree of murder. During the play, he kills his best friend, Banquo, which would have been seen as shocking to a Jacobean male audience, as loyalty to friends was very important. He also kills Macduff's wife and child, both of which would have been seen as incredibly dishonourable and weak. In doing so, however, he turns everyone against him and he is eventually killed in battle.
Ultimately, Macbeth is not presented as a strong man to the Jacobean audience as, although he is brave in battle, he lacks the strength to stand up to his wife and is bullied – by a woman – into doing something he didn’t want to do. Ironically, she does this by challenging his masculinity. The audience would have been very clear that Lady Macbeth was taunting him, but Macbeth doesn't see this and ends up getting drawn into betraying his friends and the codes of Jacobean masculinity.
Ultimately, Macbeth is not presented as a strong man to the Jacobean audience as, although he is brave in battle, he lacks the strength to stand up to his wife and is bullied – by a woman – into doing something he didn’t want to do. Ironically, she does this by challenging his masculinity. The audience would have been very clear that Lady Macbeth was taunting him, but Macbeth doesn't see this and ends up getting drawn into betraying his friends and the codes of Jacobean masculinity.