ABSTRACT
The opposition of life and death forces is strong in Macbeth. The dark and evil negation is found endued with a positive strength, successfully opposing things of health and life. This chapter places a primary attention to the life-themes it opposes. They are: warrior-honour, imperial magnificence, sleep and feasting, and ideas of creation and nature's innocence. These are typical Shakespearean themes. Throughout the main action of Macbeth we are confronted by fear. Fear is at the heart of this play. Now, if we consider the beginning and ending too, we find a very clear rhythm of courage, fear, and courage. The play ends on a note of courage. Macbeth is from the first a courageous soldier. If we consider the beginning and ending too, we find a very clear rhythm of courage, fear, and courage. The evil in him hates to hear Duncan proclaiming princely honours on Malcolm, despite the promise of more distinctions for such as himself.
