Macbeth: Contrasts of Nature :: Macbeth essays

Macbeth Contrasts of Nature         In the play, Macbeth, Shakespeare drops contrasts of record in variousways.  He consistently shows us that Macbeth and his wifes actions go against reputation.         The first lines of the play are a condensed version of the abnormalnessof things to come.  In thunder, lightning or in rain?  ( I, i, 2).  In nature,thunder, lighten up and rain occur together, but Shakespeares use of the wordor  infers the unnatural occurrence of one without the others.  When battleslost and won ( I, i, 4),  is likewise non a natural occurrence.  Battles are eitherlost or won.  Shakespeare is implying the future opposites of nature in theforthcoming play.  Fair is foul, and foul is fair (I, i, 11),  further showsthe use of inversions and paradoxs in nature that Shakespeare will usethroughout the play.         One of the principal(prenominal) controversies of nature for the reader is that in spiteof Macbeths evil full treatment, we still aim him likeable.  We see him in the same waythat the King does when he welcomes him by takeing,  O valiant cousin Worthygentleman (I, ii, 24).  We perceive him as valiant, because he is afraid ofsacrificing his humanity. My thought, whose murder yet is but fantasticle. /Shakes so my one state of man that function / Is smothe departure in surmise and cryptograph is / But what is not (I, iii, 139-41).  Macbeth has doubts about thepredictions of the witches.  He knows that it could be a magic and hismisgivings make him seem to be a better person.         Another thing that makes Macbeth likeable to the reader is the contrastwith his wife.   It is clear from her beginning that she is evil.  She hasreservations about Macbeth not being evil enough.  Yet do I fear thy nature (I,V, 14).   She fears he is too good to do the kind of evil deeds that she isplanning.         After Macbeth murders the King, he realizes the extent of evil that hehas committed, but also realizes that the deed is done and there is nothing thathe can do to rectify it.  As they had seen me with these hangmans hired hands /Listning their fear.  I could not say Amen / When they did say God blessus (II, ii, 27-29).  The fact that Macbeth is very troubled, and continueshis tirade, Will altogether great Neptunes ocean wash this blood / Clean from myhand?  No, this my hand will rather / the multitudinous seas incarnadine, /Making the green one red (II, ii, 59-62), evokes compassion for him from the