Essay Example on What is good and what is evil and anyone can Cross

There is a thin line between what is good and what is evil and anyone can cross the line without noticing it In Shakespeare’s Macbeth morality is explored in the characters Macbeth is slowly considering killing Duncan but the dagger is in his way The focus of the soliloquy the invisible dagger is our first glimpse of Macbeth s powerful delusion imagination that is largely responsible for his mental torment throughout the play The dagger is his mental torment because he knows it s morally wrong to kill a good king Macbeth can t justify what he s about to do but when the bell rings he s over powered by his ambition His mental torment guilt has been overshadowed by the strong ambition that causes his action of morally wrong In this soliloquy Macbeth is tormented by this delusion which is the dagger The dagger is a representation of his guilt and he s knows this however he s still greatly affect by it emotionally Macbeth A dagger of the mind a false creation Proceeding from the heat oppressèd brain I see thee yet in form as palpable As this which now I draw 2 1 50 54 

This established that the dagger is a form of mental torment which can be described as guilt This also demonstrates that his mental torment is displayed by his description of how it makes him feel ashamed and vulnerable Macbeth tries to reach the dagger but can t take hold theirs symbolizes his want for control over his emotions The dagger keeps showing up which shows us how strong is guilt This shows that the dagger symbolizes his guilt and how he can t overcome it Macbeth knows that what he s going to do something morally wrong Macbeth It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eye 1 7 49 This quote demonstrates that he already sees himself committing the murder and he sees the distraction of the dagger and the guilt is bothering him The dagger keeps showing up in the Soliloquy and it confirms his feelings about the planned crime and how much time he spends pondering the moral consequences of his plan He keeps thinking if murdering Duncan is right or wrong however the dagger keeps showing up This confirms his subconscious thoughts that what he s about to is wrong When Lady Macbeth rang the bell it cleared his delusions and opened up a new found courage to commit the crime Ambition is his source of this new courage Ambition is a strong emotion it can overpower other emotions Macbeth s guilt was overshadowed by this same emotion ambition Macbeth Whiles I threat he lives 

Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives 2 1 73 74 This quote displays that Macbeth s guilt was so strong that he couldn t overcome it but his courage was still intact and could be revived With his courage revived by the bell his ambition had taken over and helped him head towards Duncan s chambers because Macbeth knows he s not alone in this Macbeth I go and it is done The bell invites me Hear it not Duncan for it is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell 2 1 26 28 Macbeth knows he s not alone because he hears the bell that s rung by Lady Macbeth that she had used to signal him to commit the murder of the king and that there would be no witness because Lady Macbeth shares the crime These quotes demonstrate that he had already had the ambition to commit the crime but not always the courage Macbeth s morals state of mind are being explored through his actions and delusions one being the dagger which is the focus soliloquy The dagger symbolizes his guilt which plays a big part in the play but it is also his mental torment This shows us that Macbeth knows what is right and what is wrong knowing that killing Duncan is against his morals The guilt is quickly overshadowed by ambition Macbeth s ambition being able to override his guilt this determines that he will kill the king Duncan This gives us a clear image of how power hunger Macbeth had turned in to with the knowledge the three witches gave him about being king had changed his state of mind Macbeth s demeanor and morals had made a big turn in the soliloquy The guilt that will come with the murder of Duncan is overshadowed by the ambition The dagger is kept on being mention in the soliloquy The dagger represents guilt which is his mental torment throughout the play but with Macbeth s demeanor changing and knowing he will be king ambition had consumed his thoughts of his weak state of mind