Macbeth Representation Of Power Analysis

Macbeth, a classic tragedy, is perhaps one of the most recognised pieces in english literature by playwright, William Shakespeare. In Macbeth, Shakespeare successfully explores a diverse range of key themes within the play, however, Shakespeare precisely represents power as a divine right with which one should not tamper with, lest disaster ensue. The representation of power clearly reflects the socio-cultural views of the Elizabethan era, and hence, the audience can successfully foreshadow Macbeth’s usurp of the Scottish throne will ultimately lead to his destruction caused by his hubristic actions. Macbeth’s vaulting ambition has lead to his illegitimate power that epitomises additional representations of power as being transitory, easily

Macbeth’s ambition blinds him from seeing the destructive path, ruling as a tyrant rather than a noble king. Also, his easily impressionable nature causes him to rather listen to the words of Lady Macbeth and the three witches. These hamartia go on to play a major role in Macbeth’s demise. The power and the influence of the Lady Macbeth has greatly led Macbeth to murder king Duncan by her questioning his manhood, saying “When you durst do it, then you were a man./And to be more than what you were, you would/Be so much more the man” (1.7.49-51). Lady Macbeth then taunts and manipulates Macbeth to commit the murder and fails to acquiesce to his wishes showing reversed traditional gender roles, which is against the natural order. Shakespeare positions the audience to believe that her powers will only be fleeting, since she disrupted the natural order. Furthermore, the deceptive words of the witches stating “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter” (1.3.51), acts as a driving force for Macbeth to murder King Duncan with Lady Macbeth’s influence. This positions the audience to see Macbeth’s death as the epitome of ineffective as a ruler, as his own choices were ultimately the cause for his destructions. In true tragic hero manner, Macbeth is killed due to his hamartia - a