Desire In Macbeth

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Jonathan Dollimore once posed an idea in regards to the concept of desire and its impossibility to achieve. His idea is based on “the very concept of desire-or passionate love-is a paradox: it is shrouded in contradiction since it is at once sought after and impossible to fully achieve, a practice of fantasizing and idealizing the desired object that may stand in direct contradiction to reality” (Pratchett, 1). Motifs, when relating to narrative, exemplify recurring elements which encompass some sort of symbolic significance that may lead to producing other aspects, such as theme or mood. A motif present in Macbeth is the supernatural. Shakespeare’s use of supernatural through the witches or through any greater power enhances Dollimore’s concept …show more content…
“By invoking the fantastic and supernatural world in plays such as Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, then William Shakespeare seems to suggest the impossibility of desire, the conception that desire truly is super-natural, unable to be successfully or happily achieved in the natural, or human, world” (Pratchett, 1).
The above quote, as it relates to Dollimore’s concept of desire, is confirmed in Macbeth when Lady Macbeth says “Where our desire is got without content: ‘Tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy” (M, III, ii, 6-8). This quote proves the idea that once her ultimate desire was “achieved,” it was not as she expected it to be, thus confirming the idea that desire is impossible to achieve. Desire itself, in its idealistic form, is what Dollimore’s concept says is impossible to achieve.
“Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble” (M, IV, i, 12-13). The recurring lines said by all of the witches pertains the “burning” of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. They both are now living the consequences of their actions. As they killed in order to end the sense of despair stemming from their idealistic desire, they are now realizing that this desire was unachievable. This concept of what they thought they desired never existed. It was a sensation and a feeling. The fact that Shakespeare has the witches saying these lines, relates to the idea of desire being
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