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Loss Of Innocence In Macbeth

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What is innocence? It is neither a quality or a virtue, but rather a state of perception in which one should maintain. This perception is both a manifestation of self understanding and social moderation. It is desirable to ensure a positive outlook, but sometimes external forces come into play, which rob one of this innocence and forcibly expose them to malice. This is the case in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, where the hero’s innocence and naivete make him vulnerable prey to those who are all too comfortable with evil - namely Lady Macbeth and the three witches. Macbeth, who is noble and loyal, is not accountable for his actions because he is manipulated by influences that he has no control over, and overwhelmed by insurmountable emotions. …show more content…

When Duncan announces that he would be visiting their castle, not only does she display the expected joy of the news, but begins implore an elaborate plan of murder, a concept in which Macbeth has already considered and rejected out of fear: “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,/! Shakes so my single state of man”(.) Acknowledging his husband’s good nature, thus his inability to proceed, she calls on the spirits of darkness and evil to “fill [Her] from the crown to the toe, with direst cruelty”, and to remove her of all feminine qualities - essentially turning herself into the very incarnation of malice; bent towards making Macbeth follow suit. However when Macbeth further considers how he is kinsmen, subject and host towards the king, and is bound by duty to keep Duncan from attack, and obviously not attacking himself, with the added facts of Duncan being a virtuous and highly respected man, he decides to “proceed to further in this business.” Lady Macbeth who furiously accuses of Macbeth of acting cowardly and delivers a final blow to his resolve by saying how she would soon rather kill her own baby than to back down from such a solemn commitment. Her total lack of restraint would suggest that she is not only a simply a woman of persistence, she is possessed by evil passion so tremendous and irresistible that Macbeth’s Loyal nature is inevitably

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