Dominos In Macbeth

Dominos
“Why can’t I go out?” I questioned her, my heart pounding, and arms quivering. She simply sighed.
“Samar, this isn’t Canada, it’s not safe he-”
“But mama you let Hammad go, he’s younger than me!”
“It’s not the same…”
“What’s not the same?” I knew full well what was to come next, but I pressed anyways.
“He’s a boy.”
I pushed myself off the floor and stormed out of the door, slamming it as I left. At that moment, I did not care for the yelling voices behind me, nor did I care that the shoes I was wearing were three sizes too big. All I wanted to do was escape. I chose to run that night because I thought that what was being done to me was unfair, and running out was my way of fighting for my beliefs. Looking back, I realize, ultimately,

I was wrong. When my brother went out it was daytime, yet when I wanted to it was dark outside. We were not in a safe location. I understand now that my mother was not the one who was making an irrational decision, it was me.
In life, each decision is a domino. When one falls, it changes the path of the entire set. Each decision you will make in life impacts what will happen next, so it is essential that you make the right choice when it comes to these decisions.

You must realise that you are filled with envy, lust, greed, jealousy and animosity, and that is okay, because you are human.

However you should not let these emotions be your master and let the rest of you dangle from the end of a thin string like a broken marionette. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, revolves around the ambitious Lady Macbeth’s climb to the top. Her ruthlessness is shown in her willingness to murder King Duncan. After the murder, she begins to plummet into insanity due to her guilt. Despite the fact that her actions were not discovered she still felt as if “all the perfumes of Arabia couldn’t make [her] little hand smell better”.(V.i.44) Her (bloody) hand referring to the act of murder which she has committed, Lady Macbeth knew that there was nothing in the world which could cure her of her culpability. She made the wrong decision while under the influence of greed and the lust for power which resulted in her demise. Save yourself the pain and do not let your emotions overrule your conscious. Rather, reign over them so you do not have a fate similar to that of Lady

Macbeth.
While Lady Macbeth and I had made decisions under the influence of dangerous emotions, we may have avoided making the wrong choice if we had someone there to guide and critic us. However, if someone told you that you, or your work, is insufficient what would you do? Would you throw a tantrum? Would you deny their criticism? In every piece of criticism there is some truth. Some truths are more perverse than others, yet it important for you to seek out these truths and not let your pride overcome you.
In the show Kitchen Nightmares world famous chef, Gorden Ramsey, visits restaurants with the intent of improving them.

Although Mr.Ramsey is a straightforward and occasionally harsh man, he is very knowledgeable in his field. The restaurants which he visits are often unclean with poor food and dreadful customer service. Often, Ramsey’s advice is met with fits of anger and dogmatic denial. A well known example is Amy’s Baking Company owned by Amy and Sammy Bouzaglo. The Bouzaglo company was becoming infamous for their bad food and customer service so they sought Chef Ramsey’s help. As his visit progresses, it becomes apparent that the biggest issue with the restaurant is the couple's complete lack of ability to take criticism. All four dishes the chef tasted were flawed in one way or another. For example, the ravioli, which Ramsey was told was fresh, was store bought. When Chef Ramsay confronted Mrs. Bouzaglo, saying it was “store bought crap ravioli,” she retaliated with, “they're not crap and they’re delicious.” (NokiaCatwalk 2013). After similar instances at the restaurant, Chef Ramsay walked out, for the first time in his career, without completing his job. To no one’s surprise, the restaurant was shut down shortly after.
Part of life is acknowledging that you are flawed. It is your ability to improve and change which is what makes you human so rather than becoming defensive or offended, you must consider that criticism and use it to your advantage. However, in order to

change you must actively seek out criticism now matter how much it hurts.

Criticism and advice are not as different as you may believe they are. Both are the opinion of another person which can be taken positively or negatively. During my Macbeth presentation I took criticism from a peer. Due to this I was able to act in a more polished and professional manner. I benefitted because I took the criticism I received in a positive manner while the Bouzaglo’s business deteriorated because they rejected the comments of the chef.

There are times where you will have to listen to those above you, despite how much you detest them. This does not mean blindly following advice, this means putting your end before your means and accepting that those you dislike may know better than you. In the autobiography House Rules by Rachel Sontag, Sontag often disobeyed her father in order to gain “freedom”. Although, he was not the best father, his rules were in no way extreme and he was unquestionably a successful man. In the novel, Sontag drops out of university to spite her father. This, however, leads to her being thrown onto the streets of Boston with no roof over her head and only a pocketful of change. Sontag did not listen to her father and attempted to pursue a life far from home without any money, contacts, or education. This created a “feeling of defeat that came every at the end of each day, a feeling [she] had based on making it or not making it.” (Sontag 209). To make it in Boston would prove to her father that she was right, and to fail would mean that her father was right. However, considering she had been in Boston for weeks and still did not have a home or a job, Sontag was not making it. Sontag may have disliked her father, nonetheless, if she has listened to him from the start she would have been a more prosperous, possibly even content, individual. To ignore beneficial advice from a person simply because you dislike them is your ego attempting to convince you that you are better than that person for insignificant reasons. You must push your ego aside and humbly accept good advice because when all is said and done, you will be the one to prosper.

It may be difficult to embrace criticism with open arms and accept advice from those you dislike, yet it is essential that you do To avoid making mistakes you must not be overcome with emotions such as Lady macbeth and I. You must also let go of your insignificant pride and ego and accept criticism and advice openly, unlike Amy and Sammy, even if you are in a situation like Sontag where the advice is coming from someone you may dislike. To avoid what has happened to Amy, Sammy, Lady Macbeth and Sontag you must consider what I have wrote and realise that even if you may not like me, this is advice and if you are willing to take it, you will be successful.