Comparison Of Macbeth And Prison Reform

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According to the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2,220,300 adults are incarcerated each year. Based on that statistic, 80 percent of them will get released at some point and will be expected to show progress towards reforming. Unfortunately, many of which will fail due to not having the resources and help they need to change. “Within three years of their release, 49.7% of inmates either had an arrest that resulted in a conviction with a disposition of a prison sentence or were returned to prison without a new conviction because they violated a technical condition of their release, as did 55.1% of inmates within 5 years of release.” (Sipes, Leonard) With evidence from Macbeth and Prison: To Punish or To Reform, an article on the …show more content…

An individual with a lower amygdala, as well as lower anterior cingulate cortex levels is more likely to commit a crime within four years after reforming. Some may conclude that it is not the individuals fault for having a chemical imbalance in their brain, which is partially true. One example of this is Macbeth, a character from Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth. Like many criminals after committing a crime, Macbeth tries to reform but is incapable of it because of the environment surrounding him. While planning his first crime, his wife prompts him to kill the king in line to the throne in order for him to gain the crown. After killing the king, Macbeth comes to the realization that, “Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore/ Cawdor/ shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.” (2.2.54-57) He is struck with grief and guilt for what he has done to the king. But, eventually Macbeth decides that “the very firstlings of my heart shall be/ the firstlings of my hand. And even now/ to crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and/ done;” (4.1.67-70) Macbeth evolved from contemplating killing his first victim, to listening to what his heart wants him to do. Because he was influenced and encouraged by his wife, he continued to commit crimes even after the consequence of eventually being dethroned and killed. Like Macbeth, each individual has a choice to make before they pursue their actions. Therefore, the psychological effects may be a factor that ties into the process of reforming after committing a crime, but environment and influence have a bigger impact

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