Macbeth’s Last Words - Shakespeare and Politics (2024)

FAQs

What are Macbeth's final words? ›

It is too late, he drags me down; I sink, I sink, — my soul is lost forever!

The play is about political failure, and about the evils of domination—what happens when one person has too much power over others, as colonialists have too much power over the people whose lands they dominate. Macbeth experiences the dagger—but he knows it is not there [2.1.

Macbeth ceased to be a sympathetic hero once he made the decision to kill Duncan, but by the end of the play he has become so morally repulsive that his death comes as a powerful relief. Ambition and bloodlust must be checked by virtue for order and form to be restored to the sound and fury of human existence.

Answer & Explanation. the final lines of Macbeth's monologue are the right conclusion to this scene because they are the most poignant it is a reflection on the nature of life and death. Macbeth reflects on the fact that life is short and full of suffering, but death is the great equalizer.

Macbeth ends, after the death of Lady Macbeth, with a battle on Dunsinane Hill where Macbeth is ultimately defeated and dies due to his own stupidity of believing that no man born of woman could kill him.

“What's done cannot be undone.”

If it were done when 'tis done. The raven himself is hoarse. Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.

A political assassination like the one Macbeth commits is not justifiable because a murder is a wicked deed. Macbeth killed King Duncan for his ambition to become king and he deserves to be in prison. Murder is never justifiable because it is evil and no one should ever commit such a deed.

The political struggles that helped audiences connect with the Macbeth storyline were primarily centered around the themes of ambition, power, and betrayal. These universal themes resonate with audiences because they reflect real-life political conflicts and struggles.

Shakespeare shows his audience that ambition is a sin when it goes against God's will for the way things are meant to be. By killing Duncan to become king, Macbeth fights his way up the Chain of Being.

The appetite of over ambition and power leads a man to the path of degeneration is purely applicable for present society. Too much ambition has many negative impacts, which we can learn from Macbeth very easily.

Who killed Macbeth in the end? ›

Macduff kills Macbeth and Malcolm becomes Scotland's king. Act 1, scene 1 Three witches plan to meet Macbeth. Act 1, scene 2 Duncan, king of Scotland, hears an account of the success in battle of his noblemen Macbeth and Banquo.

Initially, therefore, Macbeth's violence is a sign of his skill and loyalty to King Duncan and protect his country. The description that he “unseamed him from the nave to th' chaps” is graphically violent, but Macbeth's enthusiasm is portrayed as loyalty to Duncan.

How Is Macbeth Killed? During the final battle, Macbeth is beheaded by Macduff. The play ends with Macduff carrying Macbeth's head onstage and declaring that order has been restored to the kingdom. Malcolm, King Duncan's eldest son, then becomes the new king of Scotland.

The word 'blood' appears over 40 times in Macbeth – not to mention appearances by related words such as 'bloody', 'bleeding' and so on. Shakespeare's constant repetition of the word 'blood' stresses to his audience or readers the full horror of what is happening.

But Macduff calls Macbeth a coward and says that Macbeth will be mocked across Scotland if he surrenders. Despite certain death, Macbeth attacks. Macduff kills him. Despair thy charm, And let the angel whom thou still hast served Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb Untimely ripped.

Words like 'done', 'won', 'lost', 'fair', 'foul' are repeated in Macbeth. By repeating these words throughout they are given increasing significance in the play.