The Corruption Of Plants In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

Throughout history, social statuses have been upheld both socially and economically, allowing families to blossom like plants and adapt to their designated way of life. In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, a plant symbolizes human nature as it is compared to Macbeth’s blossoming new lifestyle. Plants grow natively in specific regions, however Macbeth is seen as a weed, invading land that is not his and creating a disruption to a fragile ecosystem. Plants throughout Macbeth symbolize the ever-growing ambition and adaptations Macbeth becomes accustomed to as he is placed into a growing position of power, and how even though weeds can thrive abundantly when placed into foreign environments, invaders are never welcomed and some form of resistance will soon take place.

Plants become well adapted to their ecosystems to ensure security from predators and

As Macbeth speaks to his wife about his hope of becoming king, she states, “look like th’ innocent flower/ but be the serpent under’t” (1.5.76-77). By deceiving his enemies, she believes Macbeth will have an easy time continuing on, as long as he is able to not bring doubt to his legitimacy as a king. She believes success will present itself to him as long as he can hide his true intentions, much like poisonous flowers, who are not any threat until the have been introduces and ingested by their enemies. Similarly, Macbeth understands that he can ot blatantly declare his want for the throne without appearing suspicious, so he knows, “false face must hide what false heart doth know” (1.7.95-96). Once again, Macbeth exemplifies the role similar to that of a poisonous plant, as he tries to