Is Macbeth Still Relevant Today

Those who have questioned why the famous play ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare can be still relevant to contemporary society will find that there are many themes, messages and ideas that can still relate to todays society. The main theme of ‘Appearance vs Reality’ portrayed in Macbeth cannot only be seen in the play, but also in modern society, Lady Macbeth looks and acts as the sweet, kind, ladylike middle-ages woman though in reality she is the opposite of what you would expect. Greed and ambition, the main ‘idea’ portrayed in Macbeth can also be seen in the play and modern society. Along with one of the main messages in Macbeth of ‘Power and greed can corrupt’ which is seen throughout modern society, especially with the higher class people such as the prime-minister. When looked into more, one can clearly see how the themes, messages and ideas portrayed in Macbeth can relate to modern society.

Lady Macbeth, the wife of Macbeth, is a key example of how appearance vs reality is relevant to modern society. In the play ‘Macbeth’ Lady Macbeth is seen by the other characters in the play as ‘sweet, kind and ladylike’ but in reality she is greedy, ambitious and evil. The theme of Appearance vs reality

can be seen in both the play ‘Macbeth’ and in modern society. Due to today’s society some people will change how they act as a result of feeling that they don’t fit in, and they pretend to be something that they aren’t. Someone could act all kind on the outside but could actually be cruel and mean on the inside. Also Lady Macbeth acts strong in front of Macbeth, but when the murders and guilt beat at her conscience she finally breaks down. Along with Banquo, who tends to hold back his true feelings in order not to offend others around him. This is another example of how Appearance vs reality can relate to modern society.
Throughout the play, Macbeth is affected by greed and ambition, as does many in modern society. “Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, to see” (1.4.58-61) In this line Macbeth speaks of his ambitions and greed for power, and this ambition causes him to act upon without moral restraint. The idea of ambition in Macbeth is something that can be seen in everyday life, whether it’s good ambition, the ambition to help others, or bad ambition, acting upon for one’s self gain. Many people in modern society crave power, recognition, and money. The witches’ prophecy that he would become Thane of Cawdor, then King fuelled Macbeth’s ambition, that led to him finally killing the king.
Power and greed has the power to corrupt people, people can bring about poor or careless decisions and act only for their own gain.

This can be seen through the character Macbeth and in many ways in modern society. Through the play ‘Macbeth’ the character Macbeth is corrupted by power and greed causing him to assassinate the king, Duncan, in order to achieve his goals. In contemporary society some people will destroy the careers and lives of others for their own gain. Power can lead to some people becoming so hungry for dominance and influence that they may not make rational decisions. Macbeth shows how power can affect one’s sense of security, as it forces him to pay professional assassins to kill his friends Banquo and Macduff in order to ‘secure’ the crown for

himself.
Throughout the play Macbeth the themes, ideas and messages can not only be seen in the characters and play, but also in modern society, in more ways than one. Even in today’s society the themes, ideas and messages in a play such as this can still be relative. The theme of ‘appearance vs reality’ is still relevant in how people pretend to be someone they’re not, whether it’s because they’re afraid of who they are or they feel like they don’t fit in. The idea of ‘greed and ambition’ is shown throughout modern society when someone makes an act of ambition without moral restraint, similar to how Macbeth kills the king without thinking about morals or how his action will affect the future. Power and greed can cause people to make poor decisions and act only for their own benefit.