Macbeth Essay

English Essay Assessment Task

“Macbeth” is still relevant today because it deals with issues which still affect us.

Many of Shakespeare’s plays are still relevant today as they explore the humanity in individuals. Macbeth was desirous, envious and possessed a lack of fulfillment in his life. Macbeth was also particularly susceptible to pressure. Shakespeare managed to accurately depict many truths about human characteristics many of which exist in modern society and also fit the profile of Macbeth in certain aspects, mostly due to the fact human nature hasn’t revolutionised greatly since the Elizabethan era. The issues of ambition and corruption of power are both predominantly portrayed in the play and are also present in today’s society. Macbeth’s thirst for power is driven by his ambition, which to some extent is relevant in today’s world where people are striving to achieve greatness and occasionally superiority, but become overwhelmed by their position and use their power for benefit of only themselves.

Ambition is a notable issue seen in Macbeth. We see impulsive urges of ambition continually in both Macbeth and his wife, who try incredibly hard to fulfill their desires but in doing so, end up with a completely altered state of mind. Macbeth was originally a brave Scottish general who was not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds, yet he deeply desired personal power and advancement. Soon after the witches notify him of his prophecy he soliloquises “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man That function is smother'd in surmise, and nothing is but what is not.” (1.3.52-55). The fact that his first thought is about killing the king is unexpected and seems almost as though the witches uncovered a murderous ambition that's he has been holding back. He kills Duncan against his better judgment and afterward feels guilt and paranoia. Toward the end of the play he descends into a frantic, boastful madness. Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, chases after her goals with greater determination, yet she is less capable of withstanding the detrimental consequences of her immoral doings. In each case of ambition, the coercion by the prophecies of the witches is what drives the couple to ever more terrible atrocities. Similar to Macbeth's murderous epiphany, after reading the letter from her husband which recounts the witches' prophesy, Lady Macbeth's thoughts immediately turn to murder. “…Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be what thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it.” (1.5.15-20). The problem, the play suggests, is that once one decides to use violence to further one’s quest for power, it is difficult to stop. This relates to our lives today, as like Macbeth, many people aren't happy with what they have - they only want to attain power to attain more. Both today and in the Tragedy of Macbeth, ambition overthrows morals.

Corruption of power is something brought upon by greed to obtain what one desires. People are driven to get more, where nothing else matters except what they seek to gain. Their personality often becomes threatening and they can essentially