At the end of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', Malcolm the newly proclaimed king describes Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as ' This dead butcher and his fiend like queen'. A butcher is someone who murders in a cruel and indiscriminate manner. Macbeth can therefore be qualified as a butcher through his actions. However, a butcher is also someone who enjoys the act of killing and who shows no sign of guilt or remorse. Therefore by nature, Macbeth cannot be deemed a butcher. A fiend can be described as a diabolically wicked person. This is however too harsh a term for lady Macbeth, who possesses fiend-like qualities but is not in actual fact a fiend.
             Thus, this statement is not an entirely accurate description of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's actions and characters throughout the play.
             Firstly, Macbeth can be seen as a butcher through his actions in the play. After initially murdering Duncan, Macbeth continues to use murder to cover his tracks : ' I am in blood stepp'd in so far, that should I wade no more, returning as tedious as go'oer' (ACT III scene IV l.35). After realising that he could get away with murder, Macbeth begins to use it more and more frequently, killing out of spite and paranoia. Macbeth murders a lot of innocent people and does not distinguish between men, women and children. This can be seen in the play when Macbeth gives the cruel order to kill Lady Macduff and her children. Macbeth kills in a ruthless and savage manner, murdering all those who pose a threat to him, or those of whom he has the slightest suspicion. An example of this is when he decides to kill not only Banquo but also his son. Macbeth's actions can also be likened to that of a retail butcher, whose hands are often soaked in blood. Macbeth's first murder – but also his other killings are bloody, reinforcing the notion of a butcher. After killing Duncan Macbeth's hands are soaked in blood, g...