MACBETH
The play Macbeth by William Shakespeare contains many interesting themes; Shakespeare has taken a time of great change in Scottish history and used it to suit his of purposes. He uses the rise to power of a man to examine issues and ideology of Elizabethan times.
The people of the Elizabethan timer believed in the divine right of kings, to put simply the king is gods chosen representative on earth, he speaks to god, to kill a king would bring about horrendous repercussions an turn a peaceful world into chaos.
A good example of this chaos is when Macbeth kills Duncan; the day after Ross tells us
That the day became as dark as night, a falcon was killed by an owl and that Duncan's horses turned wild and ate each other.
Another theme from Macbeth, which is linked to the idea of divine right of kings, is Individuals disrupting the natural order of events. Unnatural acts such as murder and witchcraft are linked to unnatural events in nature. Using the example of duncan's horses, we see, after Macbeth committed an unnatural act (killing Duncan) we learn that his horses ate each other an act that is not natural to horses.
Considering both of these, Macbeth had to decide whether it was right for him to change events, but also if he kills Duncan will it mean he, himself may fall victim to someone's vaulting ambition.
"Bloody instructions which, being taught, return to plague the inventor"
Macbeth Act 1 scene 4
Macbeth is also plagued with the idea of kingship. A bad leader will always equal unhappy times. When Maclom lists the qualities in a king ( Act 4 scene 3)he lists Justice, Verity, Temperance, Stableness, bounty, Perseverance, Mercy, lowliness, Devotion, Patience, Courage, Fortitude. How many of these qualities do we see in Macbeth?
The role of good and evil, another major theme in Macbeth is important, because although Macbeth and lady macbeth are comsidered evil, they show weaknessess. It is clear they have got in to deep. I consider the witches to be evil as they corrupted a good man leading him from the values he was brought up to respecthowerve, I do not see Banquo as good. For the reason he did not voice his beliefs that macbeth was the killer, nor Macduff, although he appears as a good man he did abandon his family, leaving them to the wrath and injustice of Macbeth
Macbeth starts out with good intentions but later on he ends up with evil ambition. There are people who will do anything to keep the power they have like Macbeth. Though people saw Macbeth to be an honorable person, he turned out to be a perfidious, disloyal killer who would do whatever it took to remain as king. The good versus evil theme was a theme that involved much conflict. There are many current events where good must go up against evil, and more of these events will occur.
Native Americans have been living on American soil for quite a while now. They were here before the European colonists. They have been here and still continue to be present in the United States. However, the way the media represents Native Americans disallows the truth about Native Americans to be told. Only misinterpretations of Native Americans seem to prosper in the media. It appears the caricature of Native Americans remains the same as first seen from the first settler’s eyes: savage-like people. Their culture and identity has become marginalized by popular culture. This is most evident in mainstream media. There exists a dearth of Native American presence in the mainstream media. There is a lack of Native American characters in different media mediums. When they are represented, they are misrepresented. They are easily one of the most underrepresented cultures and people in American media. Native Americans shouldn’t be confined to a stereotype, should have a greater presence in the media, and shouldn’t be misrepresented when they are presented.
It is evident that the Native Americans were unfairly removed from their homeland because the Europeans settlers saw them as savages not worthy to live among them. The Native Americans responded to their cruelty with pleads of desperation. These pleads of desperation were annoyed and instead excuses of doing what’s “best” for them both proceeded.
Two important themes in the play Macbeth are power corrupts good morals and unchecked ambition leads to destruction. Shakespeare uses Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to show how power corrupts good morals; and motifs to illustrate the self-punishment of crime. From the beginning of the play until his death Macbeth’s character changes drastically. At first he is seen as an honorable man, but becomes a power hungry, paranoid man. Lady Macbeth had an immense influence on the corruption of Macbeth. Her lust for power impacted Macbeth in many ways. Both characters were over taken by unchecked ambition and a greed for power.
Macbeth, Banquo, and Macduff are three examples of characters in the play differing from how they were and what they were like in history. In the play Macbeth was a cruel and greedy leader: "I'll call upon you straight...Banquo, thy soul's flight, If it find heaven, must find it out tonight"(III, i, 140-142). In history Macbeth was not as harsh as he was thought to be in the play: "Macbeth seems to have ruled equably, imposing law and order and encouraging Christianity"(Macbeth). Another one of Shakespeare's characters that contrasts with history is Banquo. Banquo is portrayed as a friend of Macbeth who knows too much about him and his secrets so he is murdered by people Macbeth hired to make sure his secrets were kept safe and Banquo was not in the way: "Is Banquo then...My Lord, his throat is cut; I did that for him"(III, iv, 14-17). When looking in history, there is no proof that Banquo even existed:(Catherine Wells). Macduff was also different from his Character in Macbeth. Macduff was a nobleman to King Duncan and he is the one who discovers King Duncan dead after he is murdered by Macbeth:"Banquo! Our royal masters murdered"(II, iii, 88-89). Like Banquo, there is no proof of Macduff existing in history (Wells). Macbeth, Banquo, and Macduff all differ from their characters in Macbeth.
MacBeth’s villainy is shown when he kills his king, friend, and innocent people and usurps the throne but he is not totally evil. His bravery loyalty and honour are qualities to be admired. He’s a man of action and remorse not just an evil villain.
The play Macbeth was written by William Shakespeare. This play tells of betrayal, temptations, ambitions, murder, treason and manipulation. The readers feels sympathetic for MacBeth, as he is stuck in the middle of a situation he can’t get out of. However, sympathy is lost when MacBeth commits evil deeds that he is only responsible for. Macbeth is only persuaded to commit treason, but due to his paranoia he kills many more people. The main focus is Macbeth, being the unfortunate victim, from the 3 evil witches to Lady Macbeth. His downfall is caused by other people around him.
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 is captured by his wild ambition at the opening of the play when he and Banqou meet the three witches. The witches tell Macbeth that he is the Thane of Cawdor, and later will be king. They tell Banquo that his sons will be kings. Instantly Macbeth started to fantasize how he is going to be king. He understood that in order for him to become king he has to kill Duncan. “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical”(Act 1 Sc. 3, p.23). He was pondering about the assassination until the moment that he could no longer control his emotions. “To prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself and falls on the other-“(Act 1 Sc. 7, p.41). Because of his “vaulting ambition” he killed Duncan.
Racialization of Poverty becomes concentrated among racialized group such as the Indigenous and inevitably it is socially constructed. In addition, “ colonization is the word most often used to describe the experience of Indigenous encounters with Settler societies.” In country like Canada, colonialism is the domination over Indigenous People by European colonizers and constructing that they are inferior. Furthermore, “ colonialism is the act of claiming sovereignty over the lands and resources of subject people.”(Burger, 2013) This manifests that the aboriginal are being targeted and they experienced terrible violence in the fight of natural resources, lack of power, and suppression with the states. Indeed, The more white settlers occupy, the more marginalized with the indigenous people. Comparing to the first nation, a white settler society continues to be structured by a racial hierarchy. Race and identity is interrelated among groups peculiarly like the First Nation. Most of the indigenous people still live a society which they are separate to the rest, but self- determination is rather essential. After huge assimilation, even though they are not self- governing, self- determination such as “ the right to determine [their] own membership; the right to protect [their] own culture and language; and the right to educate [their] children in accordance with the values of your people” ( Coe, 1994). Although their identity is socially constructed, it is critical for them to maintain their own culture because they are allow to identify themselves upon their interest and perspectives. Research by Eisenberg (2013) says that “in Canada, most Indigenous actors criticized the state for failing to be faithful to the treaties and not recognizing the Indigenous right to sovereignty and self-determination.” For instance, he mentioned that they should have the right to survive
Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" is considered one of his great tragedies. The play fully uses plot, character, setting, atmosphere, diction and imagery to create a compelling drama. The general setting of Macbeth is tenth and eleventh century Scotland. The play is about a once loyal and trusted noble of Scotland who, after a meeting with three witches, becomes ambitious and plans the murder of the king. After doing so and claiming the throne, he faces the other nobles of Scotland who try to stop him. In the play, Macbeth faces an internal conflict with his opposing decisions. On one hand, he has to decide of he is to assassinate the king in order to claim his throne. This would result in his death for treason if he is caught, and he would also have to kill his friend. On the other hand, if he is to not kill him, he may never realize his ambitious dreams of ruling Scotland. Another of his internal struggles is his decision of killing his friend Banquo. After hiring murderers to kill him, Macbeth begins to see Banquo's ghost which drives him crazy, possibly a result of his guilty conscience. Macbeth's external conflict is with Macduff and his forces trying to avenge the king and end Macbeth's reign over Scotland. One specific motif is considered the major theme, which represents the overall atmosphere throughout the play. This motif is "fair is foul and foul is fair."
The Native Americans who occupied America before any white settlers ever reached the shores “covered the land as the waves of a wind-ruffled sea cover its shell paved floor” (1). These Native people were one with nature and the Great Spirit was all around them. They were accustom to their way of life and lived peacefully. All they wish was to live on their land and continue the traditions of their people. When the white settler came upon their land the values of the Native people were challenged, for the white settlers had nothing in common and believe that it was their duty to assimilate the Native Americans to the white way of life.
Macbeth's flaw is that he feels the need to prove his manhood, which eventually leads to his downfall. Macbeth was not secure in his manhood. So he feels the need to prove hinself to Lady Macbeth. After he proves he is a man by killing Duncan, he thinks he has alot of power to do whatever he wants. After Macbeth commits the crime, he feels that his soul can never be cleansed, no matter what he does. He said "They pluck out mine own eyes, will all great neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red" (act II, scene III, l 58-62). This shows that he really doesn't want to kill Duncan, but he does it in order to prove himself to Lady Macbeth, and to become the king. By the end he has ne fear, and has not only killed Duncan but also many other people such as Siward, Banquo and Macduff's family. Macbeth proves that he can be a man by killing, but in the end he can not believe that he went through with all that. All that he did eventually leads to the death of his love, Lady Macbeth, which is the original reason he feels the need to prove himself.
Macbeth’s ambition to obtain power convinces him that it is his destiny to become King of Scotland, and that he should do anything to fulfill that destiny, even if it involves him committing tremendously immoral acts such as murder. After Macbeth realizes that the witches may actually speak the truth due to the second prophecy (Thane of Cawdor) becoming true, he begins to have an eerie and frightening thought of him killing his king and friend, Duncan, in order to ac...