A Tyrannical Leader verus a Benevolent Monarch in Shakespeare's Macbeth A tyrannical leader is one who has absolute power derived from oppressive or brutal use of force. It is one not chosen by others or appointed by divine rights, but rather one who takes the power without restraint by laws either moral or mortal. A benevolent monarch is one who reins over a kingdom with the purpose of goodwill. He is one who has preeminent power. He works for the purpose of doing good. Macbeth-A Leader: A leader may be either, or both, a tyrant and benevolent, although not at the same moment. This describes Macbeth. He was both a benevolent monarch and a tyrannical leader within his reign. The difference occurs in the source. Thesis: This paper will focus on the traits of a tyrannical leader and a benevolent monarch as described by Shakespeare in Act IV, scene iii, and demonstrate how they apply to Macbeth and other characters involved in the play. Furthermore, this paper will address how the characteristics are magnified depending on which source is being reviewed by the reader. Traits: Shakespeare outlines the traits of both a tyrant and a benevolent monarch in the dialogue between Malcolm and Macduff in Act IV, scene iii. "Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful, sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin that has a name…my lust, and my desire…." (Pg. 73) Here Malcolm lists those traits, which he proclaims to have which he truly does not. These are the traits Shakespeare sees as those of a tyrannical leader. One who is extravagant and greedy in his ways. A tyrant is a leader who leads through lies and deceit that lacks patience or empathy. Shakespeare sees a tyrant as one who is evil and sinful; one who lusts after women and desires all things that are not his. A benevolent monarch, on the other hand, would be one who possesses none of the traits of a tyrant. One who has kingly graces would be, "As justice, verity, temp'rance, stableness, bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, devotion, patience, courage, fortitude…" (pg. 74) A benevolent leader is one who comes from divine right. He would be truthful, generous, and humble in his actions. His motives would stem from honor and a desire for the greatest good. Macbeth --Holinshed: In Holinshed's accounts, Macbeth is portrayed as an ambitious captain; however, he reins for nearly 10 years as a benevolent monarch/leader.
Words like “dark” and “treacherous” and also tyrant are to name but a few. In Macbeth we see how the kingship is potential for good or evil. Macbeth is seen as a hero for some. “Brave Macbeth” to refere. “If good, why do I deal to that suggestion/ whose horrid image death and unfix my Hair/ and make my seated heart knock at my ribs/ against the use of nature? Present fear.”(1.3.147-155) As said in this quote, Macbeth has stated that he has no fear against whatever he will face showing good kingship because of the amount of power is in his hands. Macbeth is not the only one with great power. King Duncan performs two of the basic duties of a king: punishing the bad and rewarding the good.”My plenteous joys/ Wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves/ in drops of sorrow- sons, kinsmen, thanes,/and you whose places are the nearest, know/ we will establish our estate upon.” (1.4.39-49) Duncan shows that not everything is easy and not everything is even to some by hand. Everyone must earn what they are given.Malcolm unlike Macbeth is able to tell appearance from reality in his superiority as
A tyrant is defined as any person in a position of authority who exercises his or her power oppressively or despotically. To become a tyrant, the person must not only have an absolute need for power, but
He states that an individual must attain the qualities: grace, leadership, well roundedness, and reverence. Using Hamlet's definition, Macbeth would be considered the exact opposite and in many ways the antagonist to Hamlet's assertion of honorable leader. Macbeth contained qualities that tarnished his prestige in the blink of an eye, and his lack of ability to process certain decisions he made revealed his innate character which was ultimately beheaded.
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Ed. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. New York: Washington Square Press New Folger Edition, 1992
Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare, portrays Macbeth as a kinsman, subject and trusted friend to King Duncan I of Scotland. A trusted friend, that is, until Macbeth has a chance encounter with the “three witches” (Shakespeare) or the “Weird Sisters”. The witches predict that Macbeth will become the next King and that his fellow companion, Banquo, will be the father of a line of kings. A change comes over Macbeth after his meeting; he is no longer content to be a follower of the King, he will “be” King at any cost. After killing the King and his friend Banquo, losing his wife to madness and ordering the execution of many, Macbeth is killed in much the same fashion as he has killed. But does this really reflect the real King MacBeth of Scotland? While examining the characteristics and actions of the two Macbeths and decide if Shakespeare’s writing was historically sound or was it just “double, double, toil and trouble” (4.1.22-26) playing with MacBeth’s character.
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a play centred around opposing forces trying to gain power in the succession for the throne of Scotland. Macbeth, in the beginning, is known to be a noble and strong willed man, who is ready to fight for his country. However, one may see that Macbeth has a darker side to him, he is power hungry and blood thirsty, and will not stop until he has secured his spot as King of Scotland. Though Macbeth may be a tyrant, he is very nave, gullible, and vulnerable.
Ambition can consume leaders, nonetheless some leaders can handle the pressure that comes with having to lead individuals like Abraham Lincoln. However some leaders like Adolf Hitler and Macbeth allowed their ambition to get the best of them and cause harm. Hitler allowed his ambition to drive him to make catastrophic decisions such as trying to conquer other (stronger) countries, make dangerous weapons, torturer, and kill millions of innocent people. Whereas Macbeth allowed his ambition to kill the people that loved and supported him the most in order to gain control of the kingdom. Both Macbeth and Hitler illustrate leadership, but turned mad in order to consume more power.
Prior, Moody E. The Drama of Power: Study in Shakespeare's History Plays. Shakespeare For Students, Vol. II. Detroit: Gale Publishing, 1999.
In Machiavelli’s The Prince, he stats that it is better to be feared than loved, but that one should avoid being despised and hated. With these concepts at hand we can compare these philosophies to one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays Macbeth. This play can be analyzed through two important characters Macbeth and Duncan. They both have their own tragic flaws and how they came to power. But Macbeth had gained his title illegitimately.
The essence of Macbeth lies not only in the fact that it is written by the universal talent William Shakespeare; the royal-conspiracy, the political unethical activity, the killin...
However, Shakespeare also focuses on the merit of checked ambition and how it can be a driving force for justice. Lady Macbeth's unchecked, corruptive ambition led her to become full of guilt. Whereas, Macbeth knew about his ambitions and recognised their dark consequences. Yet, he continued to act on them as he couldn't control them. Much the same as Macbeth, Malcolm acknowledged his ambitions and used him to encourage himself and others to work for the good. All of these characters showed ambitions but it is the way they utilised these ambitions and acted on them is what differentiate them from each
Macbeth chooses the wrong path to accomplish his ambition. Killing Duncan is wrong and he knows it but can’t help himself. An example for dominance of power in addition to Macbeth can be presented in Brian De Palma’s movie Scarface. Al Pacino as Tony Montana creates excessive wealth from distributing cocaine because he thrives for power. As the movie progresses, the drugs make him crazy and he kills more and more people who die in violence followed by the main character. Similarly, Macbeth’s ambition for power becomes his weakness which finally brings tragedy to his character. He is a tragic hero because he can’t seem to help himself even though in the beginning he was good and was a hero in Scotland. Similarly to Dr. Mathur, Faith Nostbakken argues that “The witches do not completely determine Macbeth’s actions. If they did, Macbeth would simply be a victim rather than a tragic figure who suffers the consequences of his own choices. As he wades deeper and deeper into his own darkness, pulling the kingdom down with him, the weird sisters spur Macbeth to his own corruption…In the service of evil rather than good, they equivocate in their prophecies, encouraging destructive behavior.” (Understanding Macbeth
According to Merriam Webster’s online dictionary, a tyrant is someone who rules by causing suffering to the people and land they preside over.(Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, n.d.) Tyrants are self-centered and concentrate how to attai...
Perhaps the most fundamental theme of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is the inherent corruptibility of even a seemingly good man when ambition turns to greed, and Macbeth himself exemplifies this concept throughout the play. While at the outset he is seen to be loyal to his king, generally considered trustworthy, and displaying numerous other laudable qualities, Macbeth ultimately succumbs to the influence of those around him and becomes unequivocally evil, setting aside all his previously held morals and coming to be driven only by his lust for power. This transition is brought about by a wide variety of factors and plays an integral role in the development of the plot. In his tragedy Macbeth, William Shakespeare employs
Macbeth is a very complex character whom reflects man's thirst for power through the drastic changes of his personality; thus being one of the slightest reasons in which make this intriguing character, greatest of all Shakespearean’s well-known works.