Macbeth_discuss The Character Essays - Characters In Macbeth

Macbeth_discuss The Character The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare is a classic piece of Literature that has been continuously analyzed throughout the centuries. The main character of the play, Macbeth, has conflicting emotions that result in him ?destroying his self respect, ruining his pride, degrading his honor, and spoiling his integrity? (Cant). In an effort to gain power, he pushes aside his honor, but his desire for immorality is what caused his downfall in the end. The play depicts the minor characters as having their own distinct characteristics, however Macbeth tends to modify himself many times throughout the play. Macbeth is first portrayed as a noble, brave soldier who thrives on the admiration and respect from people around him (Cant). Later, he becomes indecisive and feebleminded as Lady Macbeth persuades him into killing King Duncan in an effort to gain power. He shows his weak, agile characteristics by allowing his success to conquer him (Hazlitt 171). By the end of the play, Macbeth's o bjective is to resume in power and ensure a secure future for himself. The actions he takes to obtain this goal causes his level of morality to decline and he loses the respect he previously earned throughout his meritorious life (Cant). Macbeth's characteristics tend to change each time his title changes. During the first act of the play, Macbeth is honored as a noble and brave soldier. King Duncan rewards him for being a soldier who is loyal, courageous, and willing to ?fight for his life with a wild and brute-like force? (Hazlitt 174). Not only is Macbeth recognized by his admirers for his physical strength, but also he is commended for his ?keen sense on the battlefield? (Bornstein). He has been known for having a pure, natural manner to him (Cant). Because of this nature, Lady Macbeth is afraid he will not kill Duncan without intense persuasion because he is ?too full of the milk of human kindness? (I.v.15). Lady Macbeth effects the way the audience views Macbeth because she is utterly relentless. Macbeth's characteristics change because of her ruthless ambition that drives him to commit malicious sins (Hazlitt 171). She encourages Macbeth to ?look like th' innocent flower / But be the serpent under't? (I.vii.63). Lady Macbeth is very persistent in reaching a higher social guise, leading Macbeth to become violent in order to acquire her mission (Hazlitt 171-175). Lady Macbeth has successfully subdued Macbeth when he murders Duncan although he originally was against it. After killing Duncan, Macbeth shows remorse for the treason he has committed which he once fought against. As he becomes more anxious and disturbed, the joy and love he once received diminishes, but hope causes him to continue the striving for domination. Macbeth is no longer happy with who he is or what he has done despite the fact he gets all that which he set out to gain. Macbeth seems to be comforted by reminiscing his crimes. He attempts to deny their consequences and he relieves his regret for his past actions by planning more devious schemes in order to ensure his position. ?He stands in doubt between the world of reality and the world of fancy? (Hazlitt 176). ?I have supped full with horrors / Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts / Cannot once start me? (V.v.13). Macbeth begins to see hallucinations that cause him to be severely agitated. ?He becomes more callous as he plunges deeper in guilt? (Hazlitt 171-176). By the end of the play, Macbeth makes a drastic transformation from the noble, brave soldier to the keen, nefarious king. Ambition corrupts Macbeth. Greed has caused him to be powerful and he takes advantage of his power by assassinating innocent people who may have the possibility of being connected to his predicted downfall. ?Once his hands are dyed in blood, he hardly cares to withdraw them?until slaughter becomes the habit of his reign? (Hazlitt 174). He plans to continue murdering people in order to serve his purpose. Evil has overcome Macbeth at this point and nothing can startle him. Fear does not phase him because his conscience is jaded and this actualization, in a way, comforts him (Cant). Throughout the play, the three witches who ?planted the seed?

War Hawks and the War of 1812

War Hawks and the War of 1812 The War Hawks were members of Congress who put pressure on President James Madison to declare war against Britain in 1812. The War Hawks tended to be younger congressmen from southern and western  states. Their  desire for war was prompted by expansionist tendencies. Their agenda included adding Canada and Florida to the territory of the United States as well as pushing the frontier further west despite resistance from Native American tribes. Reasons for War The War Hawks cited multiple tensions between the two 19th-century powerhouses as arguments for war. Tensions included violations that the British committed regarding U.S. maritime rights, the effects of the Napoleonic Wars and lingering animosity from the Revolutionary War.   At the same time, the western frontier was feeling pressure from Native Americans, who formed an alliance to stop the encroachment of white settlers. The War Hawks believed that the British were financing the Native Americans in their resistance, which only incentivized them to declare war against Great Britain even more. Henry Clay Although they were young and even called the boys in Congress, the War Hawks gained influence given the leadership and charisma of Henry Clay. In December 1811, the U.S. Congress elected  Henry Clay  of Kentucky as speaker of the house. Clay became a spokesperson for the War Hawks and pushed the agenda of war against Britain. Disagreement in Congress Congressmen mainly from northeastern states disagreed with the War Hawks. They did not want to wage war against Great Britain because they believed their coastal states would bear the physical and economic consequences of an attack by the British fleet more than southern or western states would. War of 1812 Eventually, the War Hawks swayed Congress. President Madison was eventually convinced to go along with the demands of the War Hawks, and the  vote to go to war  with Great Britain passed by a relatively small margin in the U.S. Congress. The War of 1812 lasted from June 1812 to February 1815. The resulting war was costly to the United States. At one point British troops marched on Washington, D.C. and  burned the White House and the Capitol. In the end, the expansionist goals of the War Hawks were not achieved as there were no changes in territorial boundaries. Treaty of Ghent After 3 years of war, the War of 1812 concluded with the Treaty of Ghent. It was signed on December 24, 1814 in Ghent, Belgium. The war was a stalemate, thus the purpose of the treaty was to restore relations to status quo ante bellum. This means that U.S. and Great Britain borders were to be restored to the condition they were in before the War of 1812. All captured lands, prisoners of war and military resources, such as ships, were restored.   Modern Usage The term hawk still persists in American speech today. The word describes someone who is in favor of beginning a war.