Comparative Essay - Macbeth
Both texts, William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Shakespeare retold: Macbeth directed by Mark Brozel contains parallel themes and subtle differences in concerning matters like purpose, context and language.
Both texts thoroughly explore Macbeths unlawful rise to power and his inevitable downfall. With power he becomes corrupt, a bloodthirsty tyrant and a victim of his own success and the use of imagery, language and stagecraft in the play infuse to create malevolent and malicious image of Macbeth. With the ideas of manipulation and ambition, he becomes ruthless, and his vision is fogged with ambition. This idea of ambition ultimately determines the fate of the texts characters.
The statement “power is the catalyst for corruption” is clearly suitable for Shakespeare’s Macbeth. In act one scene 3, Macbeth meets the three witches; from this moment in the play onwards, Macbeth has an insatiable lust for power. The supernatural element of the use of witches to expose the Macbeth and Banquo’s prophecies builds on the idea of darkness and supernatural both representing the imagery of evil.
The witches reveal to Macbeth he will become “thane of glamis”, “thane of Cawdor” and the last shocks him the most “all hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter”.
Banquo was also revealed a prophecy that he will be “not so happy, yet much happier” and “thou shalt get kings, though thou be none”.
Banquo continues to warn Macbeth “oftentimes to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths.” This demonstrating Banquo’s lack of ambition as he takes no more thought about the prophecies revealed.
Although for Macbeth, develop an indecisive mind, conflicting against his conscience.
Macbeth reveals “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition” revealing that he cannot spur himself into action, but his only motive for murdering the king is his‘ vaulting ambition’ to have the prophecy true.
Macbeth’s ambition fuels his thirst for
Both texts thoroughly explore Macbeths unlawful rise to power and his inevitable downfall. With power he becomes corrupt, a bloodthirsty tyrant and a victim of his own success and the use of imagery, language and stagecraft in the play infuse to create malevolent and malicious image of Macbeth. With the ideas of manipulation and ambition, he becomes ruthless, and his vision is fogged with ambition. This idea of ambition ultimately determines the fate of the texts characters.
The statement “power is the catalyst for corruption” is clearly suitable for Shakespeare’s Macbeth. In act one scene 3, Macbeth meets the three witches; from this moment in the play onwards, Macbeth has an insatiable lust for power. The supernatural element of the use of witches to expose the Macbeth and Banquo’s prophecies builds on the idea of darkness and supernatural both representing the imagery of evil.
The witches reveal to Macbeth he will become “thane of glamis”, “thane of Cawdor” and the last shocks him the most “all hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter”.
Banquo was also revealed a prophecy that he will be “not so happy, yet much happier” and “thou shalt get kings, though thou be none”.
Banquo continues to warn Macbeth “oftentimes to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths.” This demonstrating Banquo’s lack of ambition as he takes no more thought about the prophecies revealed.
Although for Macbeth, develop an indecisive mind, conflicting against his conscience.
Macbeth reveals “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition” revealing that he cannot spur himself into action, but his only motive for murdering the king is his‘ vaulting ambition’ to have the prophecy true.
Macbeth’s ambition fuels his thirst for