One of the most clearly developed motifs in
Macbeth is that of human anguish. It permeates the play, from
beginning to end, as the various characters endure
it.
Macbeth's anguish is mostly self-centered: the gory
physical act of murdering of King Duncan shakes Macbeth to his core and he is repelled
by what he has done. His expressed grief over the King's death is surely an act to cover
his crime, but at its heart may lie real anguish. Macbeth had always been loyal to
Duncan, had always been trusted by him, and knows that Duncan had been a good and just
monarch.
His most genuine anguish, however, is expressed in
terms of his own defeat and impending death. In his famous "Tomorrow" speech in Act V,
Macbeth's anguish pours out of him as he recognizes his impending death and realizes the
futility of his own life. Also, his anguish over Lady Macbeth's death seems
heartfelt.
Lady Macbeth's anguish is not expressed until
the end of the drama when the weight of her sins falls upon her. In her sleeping
walking, she wrings her hands, moans in suffering, and acknowledges subconsciously the
horror she has wrought. She cannot bear darkness and keeps light around herself, but she
cannot escape her own anguish, ultimately committing
suicide.
The greatest, most deeply felt, and most
heartbreaking anguish in the play, however, is that of Macduff's. First he anguishes
over the suffering of Scotland and her people, but this pales in comparison to the
anguish he feels when his innocent, helpless wife, children, and entire household are
murdered at Macbeth's hands. Macduff's anguish is so great as to destroy him as he
mourns the loss of his wife and all his children, all his "pretty ones." It is made
worse by his own terrible guilt for having left them undefended. Only Macduff's hatred
of Macbeth and his desire to destroy him are reasons enough for Macduff to continue
living. He deals with his anguish by seeking vengeance, meeting Macbeth in battle and
taking off his head, thus freeing Scotland from tyranny.
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