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The literary devices of Macbeth by Shakespeare
How power leads to corruption
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Corruption in Macbeth Power has the ability to destroy one's nature, making one capable of doing many things he would not normally do unless power has been an influence. Once Macbeth realizes that he has power, he becomes a person of corruption. This power he attains allows him to commit many sins to become King of Scotland. In Macbeth, a play by William Shakespeare, Macbeth corrupts through power, guilt, and ambition. Macbeth desires to achieve a particular goal, to be the most powerful person in Scotland. He fights on Scotland's side and kills Macdonwald. King Duncan tells him to "go pronounce his present death, and with his former title greet Macbeth" (I.ii.63-65). King Duncan hears of Macbeth's powerful and noble qualities and crowns him the new Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth kills King Duncan, leaving an empty spot for a new King. He reassures himself that he will become very powerful. Soon Macbeth learns of heirs to the throne that may interfere with his power, and he immediately orders the death of both Banquo and Fleance. He tells the hired murderers to "leave no rubs nor botches in the work . . . Fleance, his son . . . is far less material" (III.ii.153-155). With this, he allows these undermining and evil ways to get the better of him, corrupting his being. Macbeth is so consumed by the thoughts of becoming powerful that he corrupts himself even further. Before and after the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is consumed with guilt. When he tells his wife of the future, she manipulates him into wanting to kill King Duncan. Yet, Macbeth resists the horrible thoughts and tries to push them out of his mind because "Duncan has always honored him" (I.vii.35). King Duncan is a very good friend to Macbeth, and he feels guilt about his death. Macbeth is growing more and more delirious and wants to get out of the murders. When attending the gathering, he tells guests that "[his] dull brain [is] wrought with forgotten things" (I.iii.166-167). He is slowly allowing himself to be eaten alive by such guilt that he even admits it to his party attendants. Macbeth goes through with the slaying of Duncan. His wife tells him to look innocent and to "carry [the daggers] and smear the sleepy grooms with blood" (II.ii.63-64). His innocence is no longer available, and it is nearly a pawn in his game to be crowned King of Scotland. While he seems very strong on the outside, very quietly on the inside, Macbeth's existence is being thrown about, all from the corruption of the want of power, which leads to the feeling of guilt. Macbeth's ambition allows him to become more involved in the thought of becoming powerful. He first begins to think of being King after the three witches tell him of his fate. When they try to leave, he immediately remarks for them to "stay" and to "tell [him] more" (I.iii.73). By wanting to know his future plans, he is ambitiously corrupting himself. Macbeth longs to become King so much that he will do anything to meet his goal. Macbeth has "no spur to prick" the outcome of his intent, "but only Vaulting ambition" (III.ii.50-51). Macbeth's continuous ambition is present in his wanting to have a succession of kings after him. After Macbeth finds out about Banquo and Fleance's escape, he takes no time in moving onto the next victim. His ambition is to "surprise" Macduff with the "edge o' th' sword," but his wife and children, their "unfortunate souls," die instead (IV.i.174-177). Coincidentally, Macduff went to England, rendering his family defenseless at the time of their murder.
Perhaps the most fundamental theme of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is the inherent corruptibility of even a seemingly good man when ambition turns to greed, and Macbeth himself exemplifies this concept throughout the play. While at the outset he is seen to be loyal to his king, generally considered trustworthy, and displaying numerous other laudable qualities, Macbeth ultimately succumbs to the influence of those around him and becomes unequivocally evil, setting aside all his previously held morals and coming to be driven only by his lust for power. This transition is brought about by a wide variety of factors and plays an integral role in the development of the plot. In his tragedy Macbeth, William Shakespeare employs
Macbeth by William Shakespeare is a recognized classic tragedy portraying the victory of good over evil. This paper will explore the various expressions of evil within the play.
because they wanted to not because they were afraid to. A good example of this
In The Wizard of Oz (1939), Dorothy and her friends journey to the Emerald City in seek of Oz – the great and powerful wizard. Upon finally reaching him, Dorothy’s dog opens a curtain to reveal that the Wizard is merely an ordinary man speaking into a microphone while using various knobs and levers to create a smoke-and-mirrors effect. In many ways this story is similar to the creation and interpretation of religion by individuals within society.
The Confessions of Nat Turner Throughout history people have published articles and books in order to sway the public to their side. Rulers such as Stalin and Mao used propaganda to keep themselves in power; people such as Thomas Paine used articles in order to start revolution. Thomas R. Gray, author of The Confessions of Nat Turner, had that power when he interviewed Turner.
Following the meeting with the witches, Macbeth begins to think about killing Duncan and taking the throne by force. Macbeth becomes concerned with the witches prophesies and wants to learn more, as we can see from what he says after they leave, "Would they have stayed!" (1.3.82). After this, he begins thinking about his desire to be king. We can see that he is thinking about murdering Duncan from his soliloquy, "Stars, hide your fires, /Let not light see my black and deep desires;" (1.5.50-51). Macbeth has begun his path to corruption.
Macbeth feels a great deal of remorse after he has killed the king. He understands that he has committed a sin and will be punished. He is so terrified that he hears voices telling him:“ Macbeth does murder sleep, … , Macbeth shall sleep no more”(Act 2, Sc.2 p. 57). Macbeth is very upset with himself and wishes that he never killed Duncan. “To know my deed it were best not know myself.” When he hears strange knocking at the gate he wishes that it wakes up Duncan, “wake Duncan with thy knocking”, however it is too late (Act 2, Sc.3 p. 61).
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is portrayed as a courageous and well-respected soldier who is loyal to his King and country. He is described by one of King Duncan's men as “brave Macbeth.” As a result of his bravery on the battlefield, Duncan decides to reward Macbeth with a new title – the Thane of Cawdor – as the last Thane was proven to be disloyal; however, Macbeth is unaware of this, and this creates tension in the audience. The opening scenes show that Macbeth is a powerful and courageous man who is not naturally inclined to do wrong, but is capable of being brutal when he needs to be. The meeting with the witches also reveal that Macbeth is a very ambitious man who craves an even greater power. There is contrast between Macbeth’s and Banquo’s attitudes towards the witches’ prophecies. Whilst Banquo dismissed the witches’ prophecies, Macbeth was “rapt withal.” This shows that Macbeth has thought about being “king hereafter.” Macbeth's first soliloquy reveals his deep desire to be king. His soliloquy also reveals that he would do anything to achieve it.
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth’s loyalty towards the king has been overthrown by the prophecies. Macbeth has replaced loyalty with greed for power and betrayal. In doing so, murderous deeds have been put into action. Lady Macbeth and the witches fill Macbeth with such ambition, which lead to the death of him. The impact of Macbeth’s ambition reflect death and guilt upon himself and others. Regarding Macbeth’s loss of loyalty, he fools many around him, being devious and cunning. Being against divine right, Macbeth commits a dreadful sin that throws Scotland in an unnatural state. Easily persuaded, Macbeth’s ambition was the success and fall of him.
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.
The Tragedy of Macbeth written by William Shakespeare is a tale of a man and his un-bridled ambition, set in ancient Scotland. Macbeth is a nobleman of the king of Scotland, Duncan, who is in mid-war with Norway. Macbeth and his fellow general Banquo encounter three witches. The witches tell the pair that Macbeth will be king, and Banquo’s children will also be kings. Any person in their right mind would question information given to them by strangers, let alone witches, but for some reason these statements intrigue Macbeth. They temp Macbeth to do evil things such as treason, and worse, to kill. Although un-bridled ambition is his main tragic flaw, there is one more that plays a big role in his decisions and the outcome of the story; Macbeth is far too impressionable.
Shakespeare depicts the corruptive power of ambition to the audience as the protagonist, Macbeth is led by his unchecked ambition despite acknowledging it. Macbeth's private ambitions are made clear to the audience through his asides and soliloquies. Macbeth who was initially faithful to Duncan and was aware of his ambition, couldn't control it and thus, made him become a murderous tyrant, obsessed with power and full of fear and insecurities. From the beginning of the play, Macbeth had ambitions. This was shown once the witches told Banquo and him the prophecies. Macbeth is left confused but it sparked his ambition. Banquo ponders aloud, 'the instruments of darkness tell us truths, (to) win us with honest trifles,' to then 'betrays in deepest consequence.' Banquo tries to metaphorically explain to Macbeth that the witches only told them some truth so that they could make Macbeth believe them. Unknowingly, Banquo foreshadows Macbeth's decision to betray Duncan and kill him. After this, Macbeth's corruptive ambition and thirst for power thrives. However, prior to Duncan's death, Macbeth was aware of his ambition but his morals didn't fit them. Thus, his initial decision to not kill King Duncan. He had clearly stated that he 'have no spur to prick the sides of my intent,' but it is 'only vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself and falls on the other.' Macbeth metaphorically
There has been a clash between secular thought and religion since its formation of societies in the classical age. Both have made an equal effect on the culture of each empire by influencing people to change their belief on the world. Major religions have made interactions, which affected some of their ideas for what they have become now. The major religions during the classical age are Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, Daoism, and Zoroastrianism. These religions also have similarities and differences between each other in which it has involved them to what they've become. The major empires that have affected are Persia, India, China, Greece, and Rome. These empires' culture has influenced by religion to the extent where it has changed their lifestyle. Although secular thought has made a huge impact on the world, world religion has affected history since its reemergence of empires by exchanging culture of their ideas during the classical age.
Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, is a story of a tragic hero with a level of high degree, but where his actions fall short and effect the fate of his nation at large. This man who was being rewarded by King Duncan for his loyalty and courage in defending the Scottish realm, and managed to turn into a murdering, power hungry monster, simply by saying, someday you’ll be king.
Sociological Approach of Religion What is a religion? That's easy," I thought. Then I could not come up with an answer. For the answer I turn to my Webster's Random House New Collegiate Dictionary only to find: " religion (ri lij'en), n. 1.