Why Study Macbeth

The Benefits of Studying Macbeth For many years, high school students have been required to read books that they do not believe are worth reading, but there are many reasons, that are beneficial to students, as to why reading in school is valuable to students. In the play Macbeth written by William Shakespeare, tragedy is brought upon Scotland when Macbeth deems it necessary to become king and kill anyone who may come into his path of being crowned king and retaining the throne of Scotland. This play has many reasons why students should study it. Macbeth should be continued to be studied because it has many examples of figurative language, character development, and themes still relevant to today.

Although some may say Macbeth should not continue

Due to the old english Shakespeare used in many of his plays hundreds of years ago, many believe his plays are not simple to translate or understand and therefore have no value. In the play, Macbeth has many representations of figurative language such as metaphors, alliteration, irony, soliloquy, apostrophe, similes and personification such as said in the quote, “My gashes cry for help” (Shakespeare, 11). From the use of many literary devices, Macbeth should still be studied because figurative language pose an important role in literary works as they allow the reader to expand the meaning of the story and overall they give strength and depth to pieces of work. People will also argue that it is not relevant to study Macbeth as it written hundreds of years ago. Another example that goes to show why students should continue to study Macbeth is that it helps us to understand the past in the Renaissance and Elizabethan period and how entertainment was hundreds of years ago.

One example that stands out is how Macbeth goes from wanting to kill one person to kill anyone who seems like a threat to the throne. Clearly stated in the play, Macbeth comments, "Cannot be ill, cannot be good: if ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor: If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs, against the use of nature? Present fears are less than horrible imaginings: My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, shakes so my single state of man that function is smother'd in surmise, and nothing is but what is not" (Shakespeare, 23). This quote refers to when Macbeth first had the idea to kill Duncan but does not necessary want to. Later on in the play, Macbeth claims, "Stars, hide your fires, Let not light see my black and deep desires" (Shakespeare, 29). This shows progression throughout the play how Macbeth develops from a person who does not wish to kill to someone who would kill anyone to gain power. Due to examples like these, character development can set the foundation for engaging class discussions which can be beneficial to students. Class discussions give students the opportunity to test their knowledge and opinions while also learning the ideas of others. Another example of character