Theme Of Cowardice In Macbeth

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The Flaw of Cowardice Mai Tran Mr. Cassidy ENG3U-05 June 13, 2012 No matter how decisive or strong-willed one can be, there will always be a voice within that questions any action taken, and bring a sense of insecurity. Although the characters of William Shakespeare's Macbeth are all different and driven by their own motives, their biggest downfall is their cowardice. The subject of cowardice pervades Macbeth's decision making and acts of murder, as well as Lady Macbeth's greedy actions throughout the play. Fear, confusion and notable cowardice impel Macbeth's decisions, rather than "vaulting ambition" (1.7.27). His "dearest partner in greatness" (1.5.10), Lady Macbeth, arranges Duncan's assassination for their rise to sovereignty. Fear overcomes Macbeth when the thought of consequences fills his mind, concluding to rejecting the murder plan. Lady…show more content…
She enters the play as a woman whose greed initiates cruel thoughts of murder. To manipulate Macbeth into assassinating Duncan, she verbally assaults him by undermining his manhood: "When you durst do it, then you were a man / And to be more than what you were, you would / be so much more the man" (1.7.56-58). She declares that if she is in Macbeth's position, she "would, ... dashed the brains out, had I sworn as you have done to this" (1.7.64-67). She is one to discuss matters rather than taking action. To avoid the consequences, she cowardly does not do the deed herself but instead manipulates Macbeth. Subsequent to Macbeth's murders, Lady Macbeth develops mental instability, in scene 5 act 1, where she sleep-walks and hallucinates. Her own cowardice and guilt indices her to be "troubled with coming fancies" (5.3.47) and speaks in guilt in her "slumb'ry agitation" (5.8.82-84). To escape this unbearable guilt, she commits suicide. She is too much of a coward to deal with the repercussions, resulting in
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