Shakespeares Macbeth Essay Example for Free

Shakespeares Macbeth Essay In Shakespeares Macbeth, which character or characters bear most responsibility for the death of Duncan? Discuss. Shakespeares drama Macbeth was first performed in 1603 and appears to celebrate the accession to the English throne of King James I, who was believed to be the descendant of one of the plays characters, Banquo. The plot originates from the ancient Scottish story of King Macbeth of Scotland. Macbeth is the Thane of Glamis, and holds the position of general in the kings army. He is tempted with the prospect of becoming king himself by three witches he meets on a heath. This creates an internal moral dilemma which is exacerbated after he writes to his wife, informing her of his experiences. This compels her to exert pressure upon him, and give orders and ultimatums; and so on the surface Macbeth appears to be a victim of external forces. With this in mind I intend to examine these characters in turn to see who bears the greatest blame for the death of King Duncan. This play was intended for King James Is attention. We know this through the use of Scotland, James homeland, as a backdrop to the story and the characterisation of his ancestor, Banquo. The characters of the three weird sisters are intended as a reference to King James obsession with witches and witchcraft. In his treatise Daemonologie (1597) he wrote of them as demonic supernatural beings who served a purpose as tempters. According to him, their purpose was the damnation of their victims soul. Their role as tempters in the play relates to James belief that God may test people, even the best (God will permit so to be tempted or troubled), and this demonstrates that the witches motives for targeting Macbeth was not merely a cruel trick but may be seen as part of a greater design in which he is to be tested by God. This demonstrates that even a hero must be subjected to temptation (and euen some of the best, that their patience may bee tryed before the world). Though the witches are malevolent, they could possibly be instruments of God (rather than the Devil as suggested in Act 3 Scene 5, where the character of Hecate comes to direct the witches; however, this character is probably a later interpolation by another writer, as the Folio was printed seven years after Shakespeares death). Macbeths subsequent failing through succumbing to temptation and killing Duncan is not the fault of God nor the witches, but himself. This illustrates the ubiquitous nature of temptation, and shows that all people are plagued with their own demons of desire; however these demons cannot be blamed for leading their victims astray because the responsibility lies with the person who chooses not to resist temptation. We must deal with the possibility that the witches possessed Macbeth, and that he may not be responsible for his actions. The frequent use of the word rapt, which comes from rapture, suggests the transportation of the soul. This is seen in the play when Banquo comments on Macbeths appearance upon being told he is to be the new thane of Cawdor; (Look, how our partners rapt). However his subsequent actions prove he is capable of free will (We will proceed no further in this business) and that he is therefore responsible for his actions. In conclusion, Macbeth is capable of making choices, and he chooses to commit regicide for personal gain. This was not forced upon him by the satanic tempters, they are not controlling him. One character who does attempt to exert control over Macbeth however is his wife, Lady Macbeth. In the next paragraph we will examine the way in which she attempts to do this and to what extent she is responsible for the tragedy. Lady Macbeth was first told of the witches prophecy in a letter from her husband. Her first reaction is to doubt her husbands ability to achieve it, (Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it). Her use of the word illness refers to her suspicion that Macbeth does not possess the necessary ruthlessness to enable him to become king. This establishes her as the dominant partner in their marriage, which extends to her taking the lead in the plot to supplant Duncan with Macbeth. Her invocation of evil spirits is an invitation to Satan to purge her of her humanity (And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty) so to as better enable herself to conspire to murder. Lady Macbeth is aware that her husband has great affection for her (he calls her My dearest partner of greatness and my dearest love), and uses this to her own advantage when she persuades Macbeth to follow through with her plan when he has doubts (We will proceed no further in this business). She achieves this by calling into question his love for her (Such I account thy love) and uses this supposed implantation of doubt in his character as a tool by which she can control him. When she uses the word desire for his ambition (As thou art in desire), she is attacking his masculinity and insinuating that if he does not do this he is not really a man. There are two elements of desire she refers to, the ambition to become king, and also implying sexual desire by which she is challenging his masculinity and provoking a reaction. Macbeth takes the bait (I dare do all that may become a man), meaning he is now resolved to proving to her that he is a man. She says she will not consider him a man until he fulfils his promise (And to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man). This also demonstrates her use of flattery to coerce him to her will. Another emotional tool Lady Macbeth wields to her advantage is the memory of hers and Macbeths deceased child. (How tender tis to love the babe that milks me, / I would dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you / Have done to this.) She uses this memory as a shock tactic, evoking the raw anger and passions that stem from losing a child, to show Macbeth that had she promised to do something she would honour that promise, and so must he. We know that Macbeth has no children from a conversation Macduff has with Malcolm, telling him that Macbeth has no children. Therefore we must deduce the Macbeths have suffered a bereavement, for Lady Macbeth previously mentions the feelings of motherhood. From this we see Lady Macbeth does play a substantial role in the killing of Duncan, however she argues she was justified to take this course of action because her husband Macbeth wants her to, or else he wouldnt have sent the letter. What beast wast, then, / That made you break this enterprise to me?). His letter to Lady Macbeth could possibly be his subconscious mind, anticipating his inhibitions, and so constructing an external force, in the form of Lady Macbeth, to impede any change of mind or unwillingness to kill Duncan. Earlier pre-Freudian commentators thought that Lady Macbeth was over-reacting to Macbeths remarks on the witches. However in the light of Freuds theories on the unconscious mind (that your statements reflect your deepest preoccupations), Macbeths mentioning of the witches prophecy in his letter to his wife could be interpreted as an invitation to her to help him realise it. It seems that Macbeth would not have killed Duncan without the pressure from his wife. However his initial openness to believe that the witches prophecies are true (Tell me more), are indicative of his underlying aspirations to be king. Banquo, who was himself prepared to indulge in their stories, and even invited them (Speak then to me) harboured no such allusions of entitled greatness. He quickly tries to relinquish the witches promises, dismissing them as tricks (The instruments of darkness tell us truthsto betrays in deepest consequence). Shakespeare was constrained in his ability to portray Banquo as anything less than chivalrous because of his historical relation to James I, who believed him to be a distant ancestor. However, Shakespeare was able to use Banquo as a dramatic contrast to Macbeth. In Act 2 Scene 1 Banquo was able to resist his temptations by the calling of heavenly powers to help banish the traitorous thoughts from his mind. In contrast Macbeths own willingness to believe in the witches so fervently is an indicator of an already formulated plan to deprive Duncan of his throne. Throughout the play Macbeth continuously abdicates responsibility for his actions (I go, and it is done; the bell invites me), preferring to concentrate on his end goal rather than the suffering he is causing in the present. Macbeth says of the hallucinated dagger Thou marshallst me the way that I was going, which demonstrates his belief that fate (represented through the instrument of murder, the dagger) is compelling him to commit these acts of evil by leading his hand for him. (If it were done when tis done, then twere well / It were done quickly). Here he shows he takes no pleasure in his actions and wants them over as soon as possible. The audience understands that this is just a coping mechanism that allows him to carry out these evil deeds; however his ability to remain apathetic and dissociated with his actions does not allow him to escape ultimate responsibility. Shakespeares attempts at dealing with issues of responsibility and motivation in his characters bring up some initially unexpected conclusions upon penetrating the surface. The most telling of these is perhaps Macbeth himself, whose conflicted aspirations of greatness, greed and apathy in the face of suffering are indicative of the worst of human nature. Another character who demonstrates a number of human qualities is Lady Macbeth, who has often been misrepresented as the figurehead of greed and self-interest in the past. In fact she could possibly be seen as the victim of an indecisive husband who uses her to carry his burdens of self doubt and insecurity. The witches initial roles as catalysts of events through their indiscriminate torture of Macbeth are in fact, when considered within the context of James Is book Daemonologie, sent by God as judges to test Macbeth. The underlying message of the play is the uncomfortable responsibility that we must all take responsibility for our own actions, and that however much wed like to be able to pass blame, we cant.

Applying the Nursing Code of Ethics to Patient Care Essay -- Nursing P

Nurses have the greatest potential for improving a patient’s well-being. As a profession, nurses need to promote the core values and code of Ethics amongst them. Nurse practitioners are required to understand and practice the specific knowledge and skills of core values such as nurse caring, advocacy, holism and professionalism to assist the patients in their critical condition (Volp 2007a). This essay will discuss the core values of responsible nursing practice and code of ethics in relation to the young patient who is suffering from paraplegia. Paternalism A policy or practice of treating people patients in a fatherly manner, especially by providing for their needs without giving them responsibilities. Paternalistic practices, wherein providers confer a treatment or service upon a person or persons without their consent, ostensibly by reason of their limited autonomy or diminished capacity, are widespread in healthcare and in societies around the world. Numerous issues surround paternalistic practices (Cody WK). So doctors and nurses make decision about the treatment of patients or their clients, but it is against the patient’s choices or thoughts, according to doctors and nurses, it is beneficial for the patient (Jones). On the other hand, when patient take autonomous decision then they will get some self-harm, so, conflict arises between the nurses those are on duty of the patient care and the patient’s right to autonomy. Frequently, nurses and other medical staff used the paternalistic action to resolve the problem (Jo nes). According to the Jones (p.379) suggested that, paternalism and autonomy as two inversely varying parameters along a spectrum of independence’. Moreover, nurses and doctors created an imbalance between... ...ier, item: AN 11355240. Johnstone, M 2005, ‘Ethics and Professional practice’, in J Crisp & Taylor (eds.), Potter and Perry’s Fundamentals of Nursing, Melbourne, Australia. Lane, P, O’Brien, U, Gooney, MA & Reid, T 2005, ‘The progression of holism into postgraduate curricula in critical care nursing’, Dimensions of critical care nursing, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 131-138, viewed 6 May 2011, EBSCOhost database Academic Search Premier, item: AN 17099480. Moore C 2008, ‘A caring nurse’, Bella Online: The Voice of Women, viewed 1 March 2011, http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art43027.asp Rowe, J 2005, ‘Nursing: the art of caring’, in J Crisp & Taylor (eds.), Potter and Perry’s Fundamentals of Nursing, Brisbane, Australia. Taylor, C 2005, ‘Managing Client Care’ in J Crisp & C Taylor (eds.), Potter and Perry’s Fundamentals of Nursing, Melbourne, Australia.

Luxury brands growth in India Essay

Lack of quality luxury space, environment and dearth of high street or super premium malls is a prime reason for restricted presence of luxury brands in India, thus there is a dire need for modernized and dedicated luxury retail areas in protected vicinities such as airports, according to a recent ASSOCHAM-KPMG joint study. â€Å"Setting up stores in high streets affects luxury retailers’ profitability due to sky-rocketing rental costs, moreover, high streets are very cluttered, crowded and are unsuitable due to the absence of exclusive ambience that luxury retail demands,† according to a study on ‘Challenges highlighted by luxury retailers in India,’ jointly conducted by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and KPMG. The Indian luxury market grew at a healthy rate of 30% to reach $8. 5 billion in 2013 and is likely to continue growing at a healthy pace of about 20%, and reach $14 billion by 2016 owing to rising number of wealthy people, growing middle class, affluent young consumers and other related factors. Though, India currently enjoys just one-two per cent share in the global luxury market but it is the fifth most attractive market for international retailers. Fragmented and diversified consumer base in India is another significant challenge being faced by luxury retailers in India as high net worth individual ( HNI) consumers are not easy to reach, noted the ASSOCHAM-KPMG study. Luxury brands need to strategically design their growth plans to tap demand across three categories of HNIs, namely – the inheritors (traditionally wealthy) who are habitual spenders; the professional elite who are discerning spenders; a large segment of business giants (entrepreneurs, owners of small and medium enterprises) who have the money but lack appreciation for fine luxury goods because of no prior exposure to such products, it added. â€Å"There is a need for luxury brands to focus on expansion in the type and nature of products being offered and increasingly adopt innovative marketing plans to tap rapidly evolving consumer behavioral trends,† said Mr D. S. Rawat, secretary general of ASSOCHAM while releasing findings of the study. â€Å"Luxury retailers need to plan out of the box marketing strategies and come up with products that are tailor-made to suit the whims and fancies of varied Indian customers,† said Rawat. † Luxury is no longer a ‘status symbol’ but is now a lifestyle and the global brands need to fast evolve and learn ways to adapt within the local environment so that they can get accustomed to nuances of the market by understanding the cultural identity of Indian consumers. † Lack of policy support is another prominent challenge being faced by luxury brands in India, noted the ASSOCHAM-KPMG study. â€Å"Despite strong demand momentum, Indian luxury market has not been viewed as policies and regulations friendly for the luxury retailers,† the report said. † Import duties (20-150 per cent) are relatively higher and this is considered as a key apprehension factor among the international players, who may resist them to frame aggressive growth plans for India,† noted the study. Clauses such as 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in both single and multi-brand retail requires 30% of local sourcing, announced in the liberalized FDI policy in luxury retail in November 2013 could be difficult for the international luxury players to comply with. â€Å"The duties are manifold ranging from customs’ duty, counter veiling duty (CVD), special additional tax, education cess adding to the overall cost,† said Rawat. Besides, luxury retail is also affected by the system of ‘maximum retail price’ as it applies to custom duties and to cascading ‘after the custom’ taxes, thereby heavily penalizing foreign brands pushing their overall entrance costs by up to 40%. Lack of trained staff is another well-acknowledged challenge facing Indian luxury retail industry which requires greater discretion and knowledge on the part of a salesperson, further highlighted the ASSOCHAM-KPMG study. â€Å"Shortage of skilled labour for the industry is a major cause of concern as it is difficult to make the local workforce understand the heritage and legacy of the brand along with the specific finishes involved in the manufacturing process,† said Rawat. In the absence of these requisite skill sets, brands have no option but to manufacture in their country of origin; lack of skilled workers can also be attributed to the sales function where presentation and interpersonal skills form an integral element for the business. Growing prevalence of counterfeit luxury goods and a grey market are also hampering the growth of the industry, noted the ASSOCHAM-KPMG study. Most of these products belong to segments such as apparel, perfumes and accessories, which are usually lower ticket items and can be easily placed in grey channels. â€Å"Luxury players in India continue to face supply side issues such as legal loopholes pertaining tointellectual property rights, inadequate means to monitor various emerging channels, and a growing number of online portals, among other factors,† the study added. A collective, industry wide effort is likely to have a far-reaching impact in dealing with the issue – as seen in other industries such as films and music. Awareness and collaboration also needs to be built with authorities, who have experienced major revenue losses   due to loss of taxes and duties, on how to deal with counterfeits, further suggested the study to counter the growing menace of counterfeit luxury products. â€Å"Corrective measures need to be taken to banish the growth of grey luxury goods’ market in India which results in sizeable revenue losses for firms,† said Rawat, and added that a strong legal structure combined with effective framework of intellectual property protection would help prevent dilution of brand image and reduced consumer trust. â€Å"Measures in form of effective intellectual property enforcement, plugging loopholes in the legal and judicial structure and higher conviction rates can help curb the growth of fake luxury products,† said Rawat. Information collected through secondary sources such as internet and local newspapers†¦

Was Myth a Primarily or Public Political Tool - 2372 Words

TMA3 ‘In Rome myth was primarily a public and political tool.’ Do you agree with this statement? For this essay I wanted to first look into the political aspects of early Rome and explore whether myth was primarily a political tool for power and wealth, starting with the foundation myths of Augustus, I came across a quote â€Å"Emperors exploited myths and mythical characters to promote their images and values† (Block 2 pg. 153) and wanted to see weather myth had any involvement in how politician’s first ruled early Rome. I will also look in to Emperor Nero and see how he used myth as a tool to gain public support from his people, and explore how myth had an impact on both men to gain political power and respect. I will then look into†¦show more content†¦(http://didanese.deviantart.com/journal/My-favorite-emperor-quot-NERO-quot-228740816). Nero was good at manipulating myths to gain popularity from the lower-class who supported his political ideas and actions; they believed that Nero was one of them as he would treat the elite different and even ignore a nd humiliate them (block 2 pg. 139). For the second section of my essay I wanted to see if myth was primarily a public tool for different social groups and see weather which social groups shared the same perspectives on myth. Or if myth was not primarily a public tool, what other roles did it fulfil in the Roman Empire. â€Å"Roman culture, including Roman mythology, often borrows elements from other cultures such as the Etruscans and the Greeks†. â€Å"The Romans borrowed elements of religion, government, and lifestyle†. (http://www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/mythology/instructors_resources/harrispt1ch18.pdf). The elite social group used myth as a ranking of status to show their knowledge of the past and to how well educated they were. Lavish house parties were a regular part of the elite’s life, and they use their wealth to demonstrate their knowledge of myth to entertain guests, bringing theatre into the home. In primary source 2.19 a dinner party hosted by Trimalchio was a lavish over the top event in which to show off his wealth and knowledge of ancient myth. He had many decorative items with illustratedShow MoreRelatedTo What Extent Can Nazism in Power Be Seen as Totalitarianism in the Period 1933-1939?1008 Words   |  5 Pagescontrol of the media and arms and central control of the economy. During the Nazi Reich between 1933-1939, under Hitler as Fuhrer (supreme leader), the Nazi regime was able to successfully achieve aspects of totalitarianism by exerting tight control of the media and police; leading to control of certain aspects of German social, political, legal, econom ical and cultural life. 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