Power In Macbeth Essay

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The themes in Shakespeare’s play ‘Macbeth’ transcend context, educating a modern audience about the human condition. As Shakespeare’s play Macbeth is seen to be still relevant in this century toward modern audiences as it explores how power can corrupt someone and cause them to deceive, betray and hurt others. Macbeths rise and fall from power is a story we all have heard before. There are countless examples of great men who have fallen from favour. None are particularly as potent as the cyclist Lance Armstrong, tour of championship to demise. Every man and woman in a world full of humans has some sort of greed, selfishness and arrogance within them. Shakespeare’s play reminds us this as it presents Macbeth as a vicious and ruthless lion after his prey. Like Scar in Disney’s “The Lion King” he reached his power eliminating the King and …show more content…

Shakespeare’s Macbeth was as a Thane who took over after his father’s death, but would never rise above his post. Macbeth was never born into the role of King as the witches say “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!”Act 1, Scene 3), but fought to attain the title. But considering the prevailing belief system of the time, the great chain of being, it is seen as an undeniable character flaw. Since Macbeth strived to ascend past his divinely defined place in the cultural hegemony, in doing so he upended the stability of his country. This is significantly relevant to Lance Armstrong, as he was never born into a position they could make him a champion. Bearing in mind that he had a debilitating medical condition testicular cancer, he never should have had a chance to endeavour for greatness. But he overcame the harsh treatment, and through grit and determination, he claimed his prize. Alas his glory was short lived, like Macbeth his institution stripped him of his titles, for they were deemed

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