Macbeth Machiavellian Analysis
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play written by Shakespeare, an old English playwright, in 1606. It was published during the reign of King James I of Scotland and tells the story of a king and his tyrannical rise to power in Scotland. In 1513, Niccolo Machiavelli wrote The Prince, which is a written set of criteria that is supposed to be met by any good ruler. Focusing on chapters seventeen and eighteen of The Prince, one can come to conclude that King Macbeth does not meet such criteria. With that, Macbeth is not a proper Machiavellian Prince because he cannot mask his deeds with a pretense and is unable to keep his subjects united.
Towards the beginning of the play, Macbeth was an esteemed soldier, known to be brave, valiant, and nationalistic,
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However, Macbeth is unable to keep his people united, with or without the use of brutality. For example, Agnus, a fellow Thane to Macbeth, said “Those he commands move only in command, Nothing in love. Now does he feel his title hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe upon a dwarfish thief.” (V.II.19-20) Here, not only does Agnus belittle Macbeth by calling him a ‘dwarf’, highlighting how low he views Macbeth, but he also points out that Macbeth's armies do not love him. Unity, which Machiavelli point out, is the joining together of a group of people. If people close to Macbeth, such as his army, do not love him, then there is no possibility of unity or a joining together of a whole upon them. If Macbeth is not united with his army, then there is a very low possibility of him being united with the remainder of his people.
Machiavelli's book, The Prince, holds key criteria to becoming a successful prince or ruler. These criteria are meant to be followed by any ruler who wishes to be considered triumphant in a Machiavellian sense. Macbeth, an old scottish king, is debated to be a successful Machiavellian king. However, using evidence from chapters seventeen and eighteen of The Prince, one can conclude that Macbeth is not, in fact, a successful king. This is because he can not manage to put forward the fronts that he must in order to keep his subjects ignorant and because he is unable to keep unity among his
Macbeth Guilt Quotes
651 Words | 3 PagesThe play entitled Macbeth by William Shakespeare portrays Macbeth, a loyal and brave thane to the king. When a prophecy reveals he will become king, Macbeth is overcome with ambition and greed. Convinced of this prophecy and the encouragement from his wife, he is able to kill the king and take the throne. Although Macbeth was able to obtain the throne, he was was overwhelmed by power and guilt leading to internal conflict, which suggests that success is not desirable through cheating and corruption and ultimately cost more than its actually worth, Macbeth`s reckless pursuit of killing and becoming the king is representative of the power he has and what he is able to do with the power he's gained; therefore. His relentless ambition for king reveals the guilt behind power.
Macbeth Vs Beowulf
1562 Words | 7 PagesMacbeth clearly distinguished himself as a great warrior, but his battlefield heroics did not carry over into heroic behavior off the battlefield. It is ironic that he, who had defended Duncan from traitors colluding with Irish and Norwegian armies, himself harbored traitorous thoughts. As he was contemplating assassinating Duncan, Macbeth was having trouble in justifying what he was about to do. “I am his kinsman and his subject, / Strong both against the
Examples Of Greed In Macbeth
1516 Words | 7 PagesGreed for power has always been evil and even made a saint turn into a demon. As the quote goes “All power tends to corrupt and an absolute power corrupts absolutely” (unquote), which is true not only in the fictitious stories but also in real life and Shakespeare, th9e greatest writer ever known, has always been in habit of making fictitious character come alive and Macbeth is no exception to the rule. The character of Macbeth has two sides, one which is wholesome while other been dubious. He symbolized great ambition but went overboard and in the process not only became corrupt but also became a killer. Macbeth reflects great strength but within he has his own weakness and thus good over took evil resulting in its downfall and finally his own death.
Examples Of Syntax In Macbeth
919 Words | 4 PagesIn Macbeth, Shakespeare writes about a man named Macbeth, who has a very strong ambition to be the the king of Scotland. His credulousness led him into believing the prophecy from the three witches without thinking rigorously. Because of this prophecy, Macbeth is willing to do everything he can to gain the throne, even to the extreme of murdering someone. Shakespeare uses syntax, similes, and personification to convey the evolution of Macbeth’s insanity.
Macbeth Vaulting Ambition Analysis
1014 Words | 5 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s Macbeth was first performed for King James I of England and VI of Scotland in 1606. James was descended from Banquo’s line, and through which he had become king. Shakespeare told the story of Macbeth with minor alterations to the historical tale; one such change was he portrayed Banquo as innocent and uninvolved in King Duncan’s murder. This left the blame entirely on Macbeth.
Hunger For Power In Macbeth
760 Words | 4 PagesMacbeth’s impatience for power leads to drastic actions. He murders the king in the belief that “this blow might be the be-all and end-all” (1.7.5). This assassination could never “trammel up the consequence” (1.7.2-3), as Macbeth believes, but only leads to more trouble. Although Macbeth seizes the throne, Macbeth had to betray his loyalty to the king whose “virtues will plead like angels” (1.7.18-19), and his morality has paid the price. Macbeth has now lost all sense of what honor is by using such dishonest ways to become king.
Macbeth I Want It All Analysis
642 Words | 3 PagesThe reader is able to see this through Macbeth’s contemplation on whether or not he should kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth's lust for power and Macbeth’s final yet selfish decision. The overall comparisons are able to demonstrate the harmful physical and psychological effects of power throughout a community. As a result, the reader can learn from both Queen and Shakespeare that one's evil pleasure and desires can be a result of one's destruction all
Macbeth's Greed Analysis
1113 Words | 5 PagesThe fact that Macbeth believes the witches’ prophecies are not evil nor good foreshadows how he will go on to kill any other person standing in his way to more power. His ambition blinds his mind to make him even think about ruthlessly committing a murder. This forceful way of gaining power will only lead Macbeth to become a “tyrant” in Scotland and his “fantastical” desires of killing Duncan and receiving the crown will lead Scotland to failure. Under Macbeth’s rule, Scotland seems to be in a terrible condition. With distrust among the people, there is tension all within the country, as Macbeth’s totalitarian regime had rendered the prosperity of Scotland.
Who Is To Blame For Macbeth Analysis
999 Words | 4 PagesFrom honored soldier to murderous tyrant, Macbeth killed his way into power. He was informed of his “destiny” and stopped at nothing to achieve it. He had multiple chances to rethink his actions. He didn 't however, he kept on his march to power leaving only himself to blame. Macbeth is the only one to blame for his actions and ultimately, his death.
Deceiving Motifs In Macbeth
848 Words | 4 PagesTo fight for an individual’s country was a noble deed. However, in Macbeth’s case, it becomes a symbol of guilt and discomfort. In the beginning, Macbeth is a revered soldier and a confident nobleman but after murdering Duncan, he experiences a change in character, becoming uncomfortable and paranoid for committing such a horrible crime.
Motifs Theme In Macbeth
1525 Words | 7 PagesWilliam Shakespeare is considered as one of the best play writers in history. One of his most well known plays is Macbeth where a Scottish general named Macbeth has a strong desire to be king which leads him to betray and murder his king, Duncan. He also kills the nobles who have been loyal to him in order to maintain his title as king. Throughout this play, Shakespeare uses the motif of ambition, guilt, and fate to characterize the characters, show the different themes present within the play, and how the motifs are still relevant today.
The Importance Of Owls In Macbeth
715 Words | 3 PagesThe play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, is seen as one of Shakespeare 's greatest tragedies. It deals with a man named Macbeth, who is introduced as a brave, strong war hero. He has the respect of the king and his peers. The predictions of three witches that Macbeth will become king begin Macbeth 's descent into his own downfall. The play is set in Scotland, written for King James I.
Power And Corruption In Macbeth
931 Words | 4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare, playwright of Macbeth, shows the importance that power and corruption can hold on a person’s humanity. In order to prove the true effect of personal gains, he uses the main character, Macbeth, to show how evil people are willing to become. Personal power has the ability to be essential to greatness, but at the same time is able to destroy a person’s true nature. Believe it or not, Macbeth once was a man of honor. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth was loyal to King Duncan, a strong military leader, and a respected husband.
Macbeth's Strengths And Weaknesses
824 Words | 4 PagesAt the beginning of William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ the protagonist Macbeth is described as ‘brave’, ‘noble’ and ‘honourable’, however Lady Macbeth’s and Macbeths desire for power consumes them. Macbeth’s ambition overrides his conscience and transformed his greatest strength into his greatest weakness. Macbeth’s inability to resist temptations that led him to be greedy for power, Macbeth’s easily manipulative nature which allowed his mind to be swayed, Macbeth having no self control and his excessive pride was what allowed him to renew his previously honourable and celebrated title into one of an evil ‘tyrant’. Macbeth is led by the prophecies of the witches after they foretell he will become the Thane of Cawdor. Not only the witches, but also his wife easily manipulate Macbeth as she attacks his manhood in order to provoke him to act on his desires.
Macbeth Soliloquy Analysis
1122 Words | 5 PagesWilliam Shakespeare was a very famous playwright who was born in the 15th century. He wrote many comedies such as a comedy of errors, xyz, his other famous plays were tragedies including Othello, Julius Caesar and Romeo and Juliet. Macbeth is a play based on a true story and has helped Shakespeare tell his audience in an effective way how one tiny flaw in your behavior can be fatal. Macbeth 's soliloquy in Act 2 scene 1 describes his thoughts before he murders King Duncan. The extract serves as an important element in the play as it shows Macbeth 's feelings of hesitation before he commits the horrendous crime and how that doubt is resolved.
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