Similarities Between Macbeth And A Simple Plan

Jean-Jacques Rousseau a French philosopher believes that all men are born good but are corrupted by society. A comparative study of literacy pieces reveals that although universal values transcend time, they remain subject to contextual changes. Shakespeare’s play Macbeth explores how good men can be corrupted by outside influences, while Sam Raimi’s film A Simple Plan conveys that any individual, can be negatively influenced by the power of temptation. Both Shakespeare and Raimi purpose is to illustrate what values their societies should hold and also warn against the temptation of “vaulting ambition”, such as the want for gaining power. Ultimately, Macbeth and A Simple Plan thoroughly explore how any person can be corrupted by society and

through temptation.
All men are born good, but as they grow up they are corrupted by society.

Both Macbeth and A Simple Plan are about the yearning for power. Macbeth the yearning for power and the goal to become king, while A Simple Plan is the yearning for money and the American Dream. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the witches play a key role in corrupting Macbeth, as they predict future events and how he will become king. The witches’ supernatural nature is revealed in the Act 1 Scene 1 when they call out the juxtaposition “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”, this reveals their relationship which demonic forces and reveals their future insights. Similarly in act 1 scene 3, it can be seen that the witches influenced Macbeth through foreshadowing the motif of “So foul and fair a day”. The witches also predict the future of Macbeth becoming Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland after killing Macbeth, this drives his vaulting ambition for power. This revealed that Macbeth is becoming corrupt through outside force, such as the witches. In Sam Raimi’s A Simple Plan, Lou, Jacob and Sarah play an important role in corrupting Hank. Lou and Jacob persuade Hank to take the money that they found in the plane. They say

“it is the American Dream in a gym bag” which entices Hank to take the money to have the dream life. Hanks mortal self-questions his future actions saying “You work for the American Dream, you don’t steal it”, but by he convinces himself to keep the money for himself and Sarah his wife. These actions of concealing the money lead to his corrupt nature. Furthermore Sarah uses tactics to overpower and influence her husband, evidently blaming him for their so called horrible life ‘just like it used to be’, convincing him to keep the money. Similarly to Macbeth, supernatural events such as the crows and the fox foreshadowing the future, also plays a key role in the corruption and death to come. Outside influences play a key role in corrupting good men to become evil.
Society values healthy levels of ambition rather than indulging in the temptations of vaulting ambitions, such as gaining power.

In Shakespeare's play Macbeth, Lady Macbeth reflects the Machiavellian way of living where she plots and schemes to gain power. Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband into the murder of King Duncan all to heighten her 'vaulting ambition'. Lady Macbeth's desire for power is so strong that she seeks to be 'unsexed' so she can pursue masculine power that has been denied to her because she is a women living in a male dominated society. As Macbeth begins to doubts his actions, Lady Macbeth belittles him calling him ‘infirm of purpose’ undermining Macbeths manhood and presenting herself of higher strength. Similarly Sarah Mitchell, the wife of protagonist Hank in Sam Raimi's film A Simple Plan, is an intelligent and devious character who mirrors the values of the Machiavellian way of living. She resembles Lady Macbeth's yearning for power. She uses her husband’s weaknesses against him and manipulates him to the point of exhaustion. Sarah cunningly questions her husband’s manhood and asks Hank if he thinks their daughter ‘is going to like growing up in somebody else's hand-me-down clothes, playing with some kid's old toys because [they] can never afford to buy her anything new?' Sarah attacks Hank who is so desperate to prove himself worthy that gives way under her terrifying strength and agrees with her ludicrous

plans.

In conclusion, Shakespeare’s play Macbeth explores how good men can be corrupted by outside influences, while Sam Raimi’s film A Simple Plan conveys that any individual, can be negatively influenced by the power of temptation. Both literacy pieces support Jean-Jacques Rousseau idea that all men are born good but are corrupted by society.