Rejection of natural order by an individual leads to disarray and

their eventual downfall, as order is eventually restored. In

Macbeth, Shakespeare teaches his audience about life and
society by showing that Macbeths downfall and the chaotic
events leading up to it are due to his dismissal of the
predominant Christian-oriented hierarchal order that formed
the basis of life in the Jacobean era, and that the eventual
return to equilibrium was only achieved with the ousting of
Macbeth.
Unrestrained ambition is a negatively viewed trait that can
reflect an individuals dismissal of societal values, which may in
turn lead to rejection of the natural order. In Macbeth, Macbeth
and more importantly Lady Macbeths ambition for the throne
represents the rejection of their current position in society, in
line with the Jacobean contextual belief of a divinely-planned
hierarchical order of everything, at the very top being god,
followed by the king and then the commoners. This is displayed
by Macbeths monologue of why chance may crown me
without my stir, which shows that Macbeths unchecked
ambition has led to him harboring thoughts of needing to stir,
or to kill the king in order to fulfil his desires. With the position

of the king being that of the metaphorical lords anointed

temple, regicide in Shakespeares context is considered to be
essentially killing God, making the thought of this murder
particularly heinous and a clear example of his rejection of
societal values. Furthermore, the dichotomous character of
Lady Macbeth contrasts her traditional female role in society of
helplessness and reliance on men, shown by the persuasive
plea of help me hence, ho, with a controlling, ambitious
character that defies the Jacobean gender roles to pursue her
desires, epitomized by her imperative statement of fill me,
from the crown to the toe, top full of direst cruelty, suggesting
that she aims to attain the masculine quality of cruelty in order
to better pursue her goal to become queen. This dichotomy of
character, with a true, unnatural and defiant side that is caused
by Lady Macbeths ambition, against the illusion of a gentle,
emotional woman conformant with patriarchal social values,
establishes her willingness to dismiss the natural order in order
to attain her desires, and is representative of the unnatural
themes that are pervasive throughout the play.
Rejection of natural order leads to the disregarding of moral
guidelines and the resultant committing of unacceptable

behavior. This is established by the witches raising the

prophecy of all hail Macbeth that shalt be king thereafter,
which he responds to with the imperative tone statement of
stay, you imperfect speakers, despite the compositional
context of witches as being Satanic creatures and hence
suggesting his keen rejection of natural order in order to
advance his ambition. Rapidly, by Act 1 Scene 4, Macbeths
ambition has progressed to the stage where he is preparing to
kill King Duncan, shown by the dark imagery of his aside
statement let not light see my black and deep desires,
showing Macbeths recognition and acceptance that in order to
achieve the throne, he must commit deeds that are morally
unacceptable and therefore must be kept secret. Natural order
is also rejected by the unconventional character of Lady
Macbeth, who inverts the accepted status quo of the Jacobean
era by exhibiting more masculine qualities, shown by her
asking spirits to unsex me here and rid her of the female
characteristics that traditionally define her, and catalyzing
Macbeths own moral degeneration to further her own ambition
to become queen by encouraging him to metaphorically look
like the innocent flower but be the serpent undert, another

example of where characters recognize, accept and even

encourage the committing of morally unacceptable deeds in
order to achieve their desires.
In the Jacobean context of an interventional God, good always
displaces evil. In Macbeth, this is illustrated by the fall of Lady
Macbeth and Macbeth, and the restoration of the social
hierarchy and natural order that represent the supreme will of
God. In Act 5 Scene 1, Lady Macbeth is ill and states in the
imperative tone, out, damned spot, with the damned spot a
metaphor for her guilt which she is unable to wash from her
hands. Contrast this with earlier in the play, when Lady
Macbeth believed that metaphorically a little water clears us
of this deed. This displays her conscience now prevailing over
the evil that she brashly committed earlier out of ambition, with
her later implied suicide suggested by the stage direction of a
cry of women within confirming this. Macbeths later death,
established by the stage direction of reenter Macduff with
Macbeths head shows the end of his tyranny and unnatural
reign, to be replaced by the lineal heir of Malcolm, who is
legitimately hailed by all as King of Scotland and who

promises to metaphorically plant a new era, by the grace of

Grace. Hence, natural order is restored.
VARY VOCABULARY
conclusion