Sympathy In Macbeth

Words: 452
Pages: 2

Analyzing the Sympathy in Shakespeare’s Macbeth While emotions elicited from reading are subjective, there seems to be an overwhelming sense of sympathy towards the protagonist, Macbeth, in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Throughout the entire play, readers are told of the heinous crimes Macbeth and Lady Macbeth commit, but the misdeeds of the main characters are repeatedly rationalized, thus coaxing readers to sympathize with a murderer. However, the subsequent pity readers feel after reading of the atrocities Macbeth and Lady Macbeth commit is strategically generated by Shakespeare. From the beginning of the play, readers are connected to Macbeth and it is through his initial insecurities that readers are affixed with him. Specifically, due to Shakespeare’s dramatization of Macbeth’s horror at the prospect of killing Duncan, readers feel closer to Macbeth (Cain 1). Macbeth’s reluctance to fulfill the prophecy of becoming king provides readers with a sense of even if he …show more content…
Shakespeare again opts to not show Macbeth’s murders in Acts III and IV, which ultimately blinds readers from his monstrosities. The sole time Macbeth kills on stage is at the end in a fair fight when the odds against him seem insurmountable, thus yet again pressuring readers to sympathize (Cain 1). In the repeated use of blinding readers from Macbeth’s heinous acts, the reader’s true feelings are diluted. In conclusion, Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a play where a man commits numerous murders. Nevertheless, Shakespeare strategically writes in such a way that readers sympathize with the killer. In blinding readers from the actual deed of murder, readers develop a close relationship with Macbeth built on sympathy due to the varying circumstances. Nevertheless, Macbeth is a killer and in closing, Macbeth is an articulate, shrewd piece written by