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Shakespeare's influence during the Elizabethan Era
Shakespeare's influence during the Elizabethan Era
William Shakespeare's works influenced modern English works
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Acclaimed British author Ma Jian once said that “... the power of literature is stronger than the power of tyranny”. It is a simple quote that effectively symbolises the significance of literature by comparing it to the unlawful singularity of tyranny. Literature is different, innovative and powerful. Varying forms of literature are composed of many ideas or themes that can positively or negatively impact the human mind. Essentially, literature can enable humans to view the perspective of others, to better understand their psyche. “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, is a strong example of literature providing an insight into the human mind as it shows the psychological side effects endured by the lead protagonist, Macbeth during his reign as a merciless tyrant.
Macbeth is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, that tells the tale of
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However, this takes a psychological toll on Macbeth as he becomes consumed with guilt and paranoia as the tyrannical ruler of Scotland. In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth’s mental health begins to quickly deteriorate after murdering King Duncan. This is evident in Act 3, scene 3, during which Macbeth is seen having headaches as he says “Oh, full of scorpions is my mind….”. In the same scene, Macbeth is seen being paranoid as he believes that his comrade Banquo and his son Fleance are threats to his throne. He even tells Lady Macbeth that “Hath rung night’s yawning peal, there shall be done A deed of dreadful note. This quote hints at the dreadful deed masterminded by Macbeth, which results in the murder of Banquo. This quote also shows the
When Macbeth becomes king he controls almost everyone, from servants to assassins. He even attempts to order the three witches to do his bidding. However, Macbeth’s actions and demeanor later in the play are the result of Lady Macbeth, who holds sway over her husband. It is she who at first coaxes and controls Macbeth, resulting in the change in his personality. The supernatural, in particular the three witches, exert control over both Macbeth and his lady. In fact, it is their influences that initiate the sequence of events, and are therefore an integral part of the play.
Shakespeare's Macbeth is a heroic tragedy that shows the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition for those who seek power for its own sake. These psychological effects can be seen in many characters, but are most clearly displayed in the main character Macbeth. Macbeth begins the play as a noble and stable character- a loyal husband, subject, and the Thane of Glamis. However, as Macbeth receives more power and becomes more ambitious, he loses his mental stability. Macbeth’s mind deteriorates from his strong ambition, his guilt of killing, and the paranoia that comes of power. You can also see Macbeth’s mind deteriorate by examining his visions, attitude toward fear and death, and how
“In the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding on the back of the tiger ended up inside.”
These lines show Macbeth’s paranoia to the subject of Banquo’s death. When he says these lines, he is in a room full of people and seems rather crazy because they think he is talking himself or he is seeing things, which in fact he is. This example shows that Macbeth is so paranoid that he is imagining things in his head. This shows that he is terrified of what would happen if the truth came
An idea such as power establishes itself in most societies throughout the world. Power sets the basis for order and civilization, but it also causes chaos and collides with other human instincts such as greed and ambition. Power presents itself in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth in a confusing manner. Macbeth yearns to gain power and has the means to gain it, but the method of his gaining of power have been questioned by critics since its inscription in 1623. Macbeth, while tyrannical in gaining his power in the murdering of Duncan, sets the premise of the story and in this murder makes a name for himself on his leadership qualities. A man’s gain of power should not determine who they are as a ruler or even
Macbeth is less than ecstatic. "Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear /
Even after four hundred years, Shakespeare's plays still continue to resonate with modern audiences. This is because Shakespeare's plays explore universal themes which still remain relevant in today's society. In Macbeth, Shakespeare dramatically explores how one man's excessive ambition and greed for power led him to tyranny and absolute destruction. The ideas explored in Macbeth still remain relevant in the contemporary world where individuals can get tempted by wealth and power and forget all sense of moral direction.
& nbsp; Later in the play, Banquo starts to have a bad feeling about Macbeth. " Thou hast it now: King, Cowdor, Glamis, all,/ as the weird women promised, and I fear/ thou play'dst most foully for t." III i 1-3, this is a quote from Banquo explaining how he feels about Macbeth's predictions coming true.
It is in human nature that the more power one desires the more corrupt actions one must do to attain it. In Shakespeare’s tragedy of Macbeth, a Scottish noble's craving for power leads him to do terrible deeds that leads to his demise. Shakespeare shows that power corrupts by using Macbeth who corrupts under the thought of have power over others. Macbeth becomes corrupt under the thought of becoming king and gaining almost complete control over the people that he rules. Macbeth wants the power badly enough to do horrible deeds such as commit regicide. Lady Macbeth becomes very ambitious and allows herself to become seduced to the idea of becoming Queen. Her ruthlessness urges Macbeth to commit regicide by questioning his love for her and his own manhood.
Macbeth is a brave general who fights for his country Scotland, defeating the King of Norway. He is loyal to his king Duncan, but Macbeth has ambition to take over the kingdom for himself. He has lots of doubts of if he is doing the right thing, but still murders Duncan and then Banquo who is another general who fought with Macbeth. These murders and guilt about his treason are leading Macbeth to become insane. This essay shows that although Macbeth’s strong desire for power is influenced by the three witches in the play and also the planning and ambition of his wife Lady Macbeth, in the end he is responsible for his self-destruction.
Here, Macbeth realizes that if something is not done to Banquo, his sons will become Kings. Macbeth can not have this. He had already worried that his soul will go to hell for what he had done. His fear become evident in this scene also, "But to be safely thus: our fears in Banquo Stick deep;" [Act III, S I, L 53-54] Macbeth has Banquo murdered,
...Macbeth’s evil deeds. Macbeth, like a ripe apple, has had the last of his killings/ growth and must be shaken from the top of his tree (throne), and killed, as an apple is when taken from its tree. This quote ties the idea that Banquo represents (good triumphing evil), and puts in into action.
To become powerful, is to become corrupt and The Tragedy of Macbeth is a prime example. In William Shakespeare's tragic tale, a young noblemen soon becomes corrupt when he is given the opportunity to become king. His need for power and safety drives him to corruption, ultimately killing off anyone who stands in his path: innocent or not. Throughout the play, many characters portray the impact power has on a relationship: Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, Banquo and Macbeth, Macduff and Macbeth and many more. While all these characters were affected by power in the play, Banquo and Macbeth's relationship best demonstrates the effect of power. By examining the effect that power can have on relationships in The Tragedy of Macbeth, it is clear that Banquo and Macbeth's relationship represent best what the impact of power on friendship can be like. This ultimately illustrates that the need for power can drive people to take extreme measures in capturing that power.
Shakespeare uses Macbeth’s paranoia to show the immediate change someone goes through after committing a crime as brutal as killing a king and disrupting the natural order of life. ’O full of scorpions is my mind dear wife!’. The use of the metaphor demonstrates how after perpetrating such a ferocious act he is starting to become mad. The reference to scorpions in his brain have deadly connotations and implies that he is getting tangled up by some mysterious creature. In this time and place poisoning was the most common way to carry out a murder.
Evil is a destructive force; it causes harm to those who embrace it and their victims. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the protagonist Macbeth and Lady Macbeth fall into the hands of evil. Evil is what drives people to commit unnatural actions of destruction. Macbeth succumbs to evil through his fatal flaw, greed, and it causes him to disrupt the chain of being. When Macbeth willingly murders, massacres, lies and deceives, he loses his heath and sanity. Evil corrupts everything it touches, and Macbeth decides to be evil's servant. But, when Macbeth embraces evil, it corrupts him, and it ultimately destroys him as well. Lady Macbeth is a victim of Macbeth's fatal flaw, since she is drawn in, and becomes greedy for power herself. She pushes Macbeth into destruction when she adds the small touch that plunges Macbeth into a chain of murder, destruction, and lying followed by the loss of their sanity and health. After Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are well into the depths of corruption and greed, it is clearly seen that their guilt will haunt them for the rest of their lives. The harm they have caused others will be returned to them as revenge and they have lost their sanity in order to gain power. The fate of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth clearly illustrates that to embrace evil is to negate our own need for order and well being.