Read this passage of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" and analyze how the author uses Macbeth's attitude to reveal the hunger for power in a monarchy.
THIRD APPARITION
Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquished be until
Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill
Shall come against him.
MACBETH
That will never be.
Who can impress the forest, bid the tree
Unfix his earthbound root? Sweet bodements!
Good!
Rebellious dead, rise never till the wood
Of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth
Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath
To time and mortal custom.
Yet my heart
Throbs to know one thing. Tell me, if your art
Can tell so much: shall Banquo’s issue ever
Reign in this kingdom?
The struggle for power within literature emulates the human experience. Humans at their cores possess cutthroat, power hungry attributes which guide their existence; some elect to harness said desire for good, while others opt to utilize this negatively. Macbeth, the title character of William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, grapples with his lust for power and influence within the Scottish monarchy throughout the duration of the work. Ignoring the many red flags, which appear by way of apparitions and other characters, Macbeth’s overwhelming desire to continue his reign as king, no matter the cost, becomes apparent through Shakespeare’s utilization of tone and diction in this scene with the third apparition.
ReplyDeleteWithin this relatively short excerpt from the scene, the third apparition warns Macbeth of looming danger- advice he should ideally heed in order to remain in his position of power. However, Macbeth’s judgment unfortunately falls victim to his lust and thus becomes quite clouded. In other words, any rational individual, in theory, would listen to this apparition and act upon its vision. But Macbeth, not so much. When confronted with the apparition’s predictions that “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him” (3,5) he cops a practically sarcastic tone, replying curtly “that will never be” (6). If he believes the apparition to be all knowing, why would he deny the validity of its claims? Simply because Macbeth believes he sits above any danger he may or may not encounter, or that when the time comes, he can alter his fate. Following this initial exchange, Macbeth continues to develop his tone by prodding the apparition for more information, while simultaneously questioning it’s power. For example, he asks “Tell me, if your art can tell so much: shall Banquo’s issue ever reign in this kingdom” (15,17). Due to his sarcastic tone, Shakespeare allows the reader (or viewer) to infer Macbeth believes himself above any threat- that his lust for power reigns so strong, nothing will cause him to falter.
Additionally, Shakespeare utilizes careful diction to convey Macbeth’s attitude toward power. In this excerpt, Shakespeare includes many short exclamations, such as “Sweet bodements!” and “Good!” (8,9) to illuminate Macbeth’s mocking nature towards the apparition’s predictions. By doing so, Macbeth gives the impression he will remain king for his natural life. Also, the inclusion of questions following the apparition’s dialogue again shows Macbeth fails to believe the apparition’s statements. When Macbeth says “yet my heart throbs to know one thing” (14,15) Shakespeare reveals Macbeth solely worries about the seed of Banquo challenging him, completely disregarding the truthful foretelling of the supposedly all knowing ghost. Using varying sentence and phrase structure, Shakespeare demonstrates Macbeth remains hungry for power, and hardly seeing a viable challenge to his rule.
This scene between Macbeth and the third apparition importantly sheds light on Macbeth’s true power hungry nature- so power hungry he fails to adhere to the warnings of an all knowing being because he views himself as untouchable. Shakespeare writes Macbeth with a sarcastic, condescending tone to reveal his opinion of the apparition’s advice. Shakespeare shows Macbeth corrupted by the idea of perpetual power.
"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die."
ReplyDeleteThis quote from George R. R. Martin's fantasy novel, A Game of Thrones, perfectly exemplifies the ruthless struggle for power and its dire consequences among humans. Long before the publication of Martin's series, William Shakespeare had exploit humans' innate thirst for power through his play, Macbeth. Through the development of his various complex characters, Shakespeare revealed the complications and dangers associated with the Scottish crown. Specifically, through the character development of his title character, Shakespeare revealed human selfishness when given immense power. While seated in the Scottish throne, Macbeth seeks security from the three witches regarding his position. Through the analysis of his attitude towards the third and last apparition, Macbeth’s excessive pride, paranoia, and desperation to remain king becomes evident to the audience.
When Macbeth was told by the third apparition that he cannot be dethroned unless “Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill/Shall come against him”, Macbeth launches into a short statement about the impossibility of moving an entire forest. Instead of pondering the implications of the third apparition, Macbeth dismisses the notion of any possible danger. Through his boastful declaration, Macbeth displays the tragic flaw of hubris, which will be his downfall. When Macbeth boosts, “Who can impress the forest, bid the tree/Unfix his earthbound root? Sweet bodements,” he is underestimating the abilities of his foes. By overestimating his abilities and competence, Macbeth losses touch with reality. Since contentment is the most dangerous when felt while in a position of power, Macbeth’s excessive pride will be the reason for his ultimate downfall.
Macbeth’s reign as a mad king is further revealed through his worries about Banquo. Although reassured by the third apparition he will remain in power until the whole forest moves, Macbeth still questions the possibility of Banquo dethroning him. Earlier in his statement, Macbeth mocks the idea of someone uprooting the entire forest, yet he still asks the apparition, “Tell me, if your art/Can tell so much: shall Banquo’s issue ever/Reign in this kingdom”? Through his worrisome attitude and hesitation, the readers can sense his desperation to stay king. The audience can further come to understand the paranoia and possible dangers associated with being in a place of power. Upon taking up the position of king, Macbeth was transformed from a loyal thane to a paranoid king who must worry about possible threats to his safety and reply on supernatural apparitions for reassurance.
Ultimately, this short, but powerful passage successfully depicts Macbeth’s corruption once he wore the Scottish crown. Crazy with power, Macbeth is unable to recognize his own fatal flaws: pride and paranoia. Through his inability to maintain clearheaded as king, Macbeth shows the audience how power can corrupt a person and lead to his downfall.