Shakespeare's Macbeth and Euripedes' Medea

Shakespeare's Macbeth and Euripedes' Medea

Shakespeare's Macbeth, and Euripedes' Medea, are both tragic plays in the classical sense. Both Medea and Macbeth lust for the unattainable, and that lust destroys them. It cannot be said which character is a truly tragic figure, because both fit the description. However, if either character deserves more sympathy it is Madea, the jilted wife, not Macbeth the King killer. Macbeth's lust for power and his willingness to please his wife leads to his downfall. He murders the children of his one time friend, and suffers the consequences of that sin. Medea murders her own children in her quest to win back her lover Jason. She does this to seek revenge, since Jason sees the children not as theirs, but as his. She also, like Macbeth seeks to kill her rival, Jason's new lover, the daughter of King Creon of Corinth and a 'real Greek'. Both Euripedes and Shakespeare use the supernatural to enhance their plays. Macbeth is influenced by the prophecy of the three witches. Madea, who is a witch herself, is influenced by the mythological Gods of ancient Greece. Macbeth's and Medea's ambitions and lust lead to tragic conclusions in their lives.

Urged by his henpecking wife, Macbeth lusts for the throne. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is likeable, but we soon see his dark side that will lead to his tragic downfall. The play starts with Macbeth and Banquo as co-leaders of the Scottish army, are returning from battle when they meet three witches. The witches prophesy that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawder and, later, king.

bodyOffer() 1. Witch. All hail, Macbeth. Hail to thee, Thane of

Glamis!

2. Witch. All hail, Macbeth. Hail to thee, Thane of

Cawdor!

3. Witch. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King here-

after! (Act 1. Sc. III, lines 50-55)

They tell Banquo that he will not be king himself but he will have his descendants as kings:

1. Witch. Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.

2. Witch. Not so happy, yet happier.

3. Witch. Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none.

So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo! (Act 1, SC. III lines 70-74)

Here we see Macbeth's ambitions begin to appear. He begins to consider the possibility of becoming king! There is a chance that King Duncan might choose Macbeth, a cousin, as his successor, but Macbeth’s hopes are destroyed when Duncan names his son, Malcolm.