Macbeth & Just Lather That’s All
Comparison Essay
In William Shakespeare's play, Macbeth and Hernando Tellez’s short story, Just Lather, That’s All, the main characters, Macbeth and the Barber show whether self satisfaction is attainable if one follows their morals.
Macbeth and the Barber demonstrate how morals should not be questioned, especially when the victims are in a vulnerable and defenseless position. In Shakespeare’s play, after Macbeth discovers his prophecies, he begins to plot how he can overthrow King Duncan by killing him and becoming the king himself. This is evident when Duncan says, “This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air/ Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself/ Unto our gentle senses.” (Shakespeare 1.6.1-3). Duncan describes
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Macbeth’s decision is heavily influenced by Lady Macbeth’s attack on his manhood. She discusses the power that Macbeth will possess if he is brave enough to do anything. “I am settled, and bend up/ Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.” (Shakespeare 1.7.79-80) Macbeth makes an impulsive choice that is very unlike his true character. He is at the point where he would do anything that will make him the King of Scotland, such as killing Duncan. To defend his manhood, Macbeth’s greed and desire to be king causes him to not carefully consider the outcomes of his actions. Furthermore, in Tellez’s short story, the Barber cautiously thinks about the outcomes of killing Captain Torres and what will become of his reputation. Questioning himself, he states “Murderer or hero?... You came to me for a shave… I don’t want blood on my hands.” (Tellez 2). Although the Barber knows it would be quite simple and effortless to kill the Captain, he lets his true morals become a deciding factor, ultimately deciding not to kill the captain. He has proven himself to be an honourable man who takes his profession seriously and would rather not let one person who he despises ruin his prestige. When comparing the two stories, morals become the deciding aspect on whether to kill or not. Macbeth decides to completely neglect his morals and allow the influence of another to make him act impulsively, without considering the consequences of his actions. Unlike the Barber, who acts on the side of his values and completes his duty of simply performing a shave for the Captain. He debates whether he would rather be known as a murderer or hero, however, he knows he would not benefit from this opportunity and chooses to not commit the crime. Ultimately, the Barber helps display how if one thoroughly thinks about the outcomes of their actions, they will choose to do what is right.
Shakespeare's “Macbeth” a murderous story filled with greed, unchecked power, temptation, peer influence, and betrayal leads to quite the in depth and brutal story. “Macbeth” shares some of the big ideas in Sam Raimi’s “A Simple Plan.” Murder, how greed/temptation can corrupt, and peer influence. Murder in these two stories is very apparent as in “Macbeth” Macbeth himself and others he has hired, have killed people to make sure he has the right to the throne as the witches prophecy states that Banquo will beget a line of Scottish kings.
In William Shakespeare's play, Macbeth and Hernando Tellez’s short story, Just Lather, That’s All, Macbeth and the Barber show whether self satisfaction is attainable if one follows their morals. Macbeth and the Barber demonstrate how one should not have the need to question their morals, especially when the victims are in a vulnerable and defenseless position. In Shakespeare’s play, after Macbeth discovers his prophecies, he begins to plot how he can overthrow King Duncan by killing him and becoming the King himself. This is evident when Duncan says, “This castle hath a pleasant seat.
Macbeth’s conscience tells him again to resist temptation to gain the crown and not kill Duncan because he is a man Macbeth should defend and protect. Even after this nudge towards moral correctness, Macbeth kills Duncan. He begins to feel intense guilt about his decision, and lives in fear of
In the play “Macbeth”, the protagonist, Macbeth, seems to go through this internal journey of how his predestined fate affects the decisions he makes. In the beginning of the play,
Macbeth feels that the only way to make his anxiety and shame disappear is to kill anyone who threatens his kingship, so his conscience begins to believe that killing people is ethical. Near the end, Macbeth realizes that he has "almost forgot the taste of fear" (IV.iv.9). By murdering so
In Act 1, scene 7, lines 1–28, Macbeth debates whether or not he should kill Duncan. The destruction that comes from unchecked ambition will continue to be explored as one of the play’s themes. He is aware of the powerful reasons for murdering the king, but is nagged by self-doubt arising from his fear of retribution both in heaven and on earth and by his likely loss of reputation. In line 13 he says, “I am kinsman and his subject.” This statement serves as a reminder of how grave an outrage it is for the couple to slaughter their ruler while he is a guest in their house.
Macbeth is a man of power and wealth but he was not always king. He had to fight to the top in indescribable ways. He took advantage of the fact that society sees him as a nobleman. His first act was the murder of the king which even with the help of his wife he could still not take intelligent steps. After murdering the king, he comes back with adrenaline rushing to find the response of his wife to be; "Why did you bring these daggers from the place?"
The barber is given the opportunity to kill the captain, but does not do it. Throughout the story, he struggles to remain calm while contemplating whether or not he should kill the captain, as through his thoughts he reveals he does not believe in murder. The conflict he faces as well as his actions develop his character. The barber's uncertainty reveals his true nature
Macbeth’s impatience for power leads to drastic actions. He murders the king in the belief that “this blow might be the be-all and end-all” (1.7.5). This assassination could never “trammel up the consequence” (1.7.2-3), as Macbeth believes, but only leads to more trouble. Although Macbeth seizes the throne, Macbeth had to betray his loyalty to the king whose “virtues will plead like angels” (1.7.18-19), and his morality has paid the price. Macbeth has now lost all sense of what honor is by using such dishonest ways to become king.
Starting off with Macbeth, he is given the option to either Kill Duncan and become the new king or let things go the way they are. Macbeth personally is hesitant about this decision and believes that this will ruin his reputation and he will also in a sense betray his king as he was a soldier before. However, this does not satisfy his wife, Lady Macbeth
Macbeth’s ambition is what is causing him to intervene with his prophecy and pursue his goal (rather than leave it to chance). In a way, it is Macbeth’s own “black and deep desires” that make him kill in the first place as the witches never tell him to do so. Furthermore, apart from ambition, it is Macbeth’s own weak will and moral system that causes him to do the actions that result in his downfall. Macbeth’s weak will is undeniable and is illustrated before killing Duncan. “I have of spur/To prick the sides of my intent, but only/Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself/And falls on the other” (I, VII, 25-28).
Macbeth begins to make selfish decisions that he knows only will benefit himself. “For mine own good, all causes shall give way. I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er” (III.iv.140-145).
Macbeth chose to listen and accept the prophecy as truth even though he had no proof. Although the witches influence Macbeth they did not suggest to Macbeth to kill the king, he got that idea from his selfish thoughts. After the witches visit Macbeth he goes to his wife about his thoughts of killing the king. Lady Macbeth encourages murder because that’s the only way she thinks Macbeth can become king.
In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, Shakespeare introduces us to a man on a mission to assassinate the reigning king of Scotland, King Duncan. Through King Duncan, Shakespeare reveals Macbeth’s crude and unfiltered nature while capturing every second of Macbeth’s sadistic plan. With the use of paradox, internal character struggles, and the idea of fate, Shakespeare provides insight on what madness Macbeth created and the effect his madness has on other characters. Through the use of paradox in the play, minor details guide the path of the story to the very end.
Lady Macbeth goes on to say that she would rather “[h]ave pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, [a]nd dash’d the brains out” than betray a promise (I.vii.l.57). This statement is full of emotional appeal; the detail that Lady Macbeth goes into definitely plays a role in Macbeth changing his mind. The emotional appeal that Lady Macbeth brings into her argument makes it more effective, but her plan is the final component that ultimately convinces Macbeth to kill King