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No Fear
Fear motivates many people to act upon matters, right or wrong. This emotion
has been important in many events in both works of literature, and in the real
world. It has forced military geniuses into retreat, and influenced them to
plan another method of attack. Fear can be both a positive and a negative
acting force in one’s life, a quality that can motivate one to success as well
as to downfall.
In the play Macbeth fear was a major motivating factor in character’s actions.
Macbeth was fearful of being caught and having to pay for the wrongs he had
done – this led to the murders that followed he killed King Duncan. Macbeth's
actions were also partially driven by fear of the witches' last prophecy, about
the line of kings spawning from Banquo. He was afraid this would come true
attempted to prevent it from happening. Lady Macbeth was also plagued by fear
as made apparent by the constant washing of her hands while sleepwalking and
her speech during her troublesome sleep. Her fulfillment by the direst cruelty
and pure evil has worn off, leaving her somewhat of a basket case, ridden by
fear and guilt as a result of her actions.
After Macbeth kills Duncan, he is too scared to even carry the daggers back
into the king’s chamber. When the king’s body is discovered, he kills the two
guards that were in Duncan’s room, and places the blame for the murderous deed
upon them. His fear forces him to act this way in order to make him seem
innocent. Macbeth’s fear of being caught acts as an indicator of his guilt; however
at first none of the other characters are able to realize this.
As Lady Macbeth becomes consumed by fear and guilt, she is slowly losing her
sanity. This is a result of her not being able to handle what she has done to
Duncan. In one scene, Lady Macbeth is trying to wash out what she sees as being
blood on her hands, even though she is sleepwalking, though the doctor and
woman in the room dare not blame her for anything, for fear of being accused
and executed for treason. At the start, Lady Macbeth was pushing the fearful
Macbeth to kill Duncan. Now, late in the play, their roles have reversed, and
it is Lady Macbeth who is fearful, not her husband. Lady Macbeth takes her own
life right before the battle against the English is about to begin. Her suicide
demonstrates her inner terror, and the actions that a person can be driven to
when one is enveloped in fear.
Fear plays a part in one’s decisions in everyday life. It forces people to make
decisions, good or bad. Leaders, whether they are of a company or an army, are
constantly influences by fear. Businessmen fear losing money, accounts, and
possibly their jobs. One’s fears drive him to cunning and often ruthless
actions in order to get ahead of his competition. Though he may hide these
fears behind a strong exterior, it remains a potent motivating force in his
life.
In Macbeth, it becomes evident what fear can drive a person to. All through the
play Macbeth’s fear of being caught contributes to many of his evil actions.
Fear can force people into great actions, into situations that force them to
make the decision to face their fear and rise above it, or to succumb to their
fears and fail in their objectives. Fear both motivates and hinders peoples’
actions, but remains one of the great stimuli for accomplishment in life.