Is Macbeth a Political or Dramatic text Essay Example

A struggle between good and evil can be observed throughout "Macbeth" as both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth grapple with this idea.

There are different ways in which evil can appear, such as the direct portrayal of witches or its indirect presence within a person.

Lady Macbeth is not the typical embodiment of evil, yet she exhibits selfishness, self-centeredness, and a lack of love. The genuineness of her affection when addressing Macbeth as "my dearest love" remains uncertain. Although Lady Macbeth did not personally commit murder, she persuaded Macbeth to kill Duncan by advising him to appear innocent while harboring malicious intent. A parallel can be drawn between Lady Macbeth and Eve from the Biblical narrative since both influence their male counterparts into perpetrating violent acts that have dire consequences. Lady Macbeth's manipulation led to Macbeth's fixation with power after killing Duncan; similarly, Adam in the story of Adam and Eve craved power but required guidance and scheming from Eve prior to committing betrayal.Throughout the play Macbeth, there is a constant struggle between good and evil within the main character. Despite his desire to become king and reach his full potential, this ambition ultimately leads him down a path of wickedness. However, Macbeth still displays moments of goodness, as evidenced by his feelings of guilt before and after the murder of Duncan. The play portrays evil through Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and the witches while most other characters such as Banquo and Malcolm exhibit goodness. The witches play a significant role in the dramatic effect of the play as their entrance introduces an increasingly sinister atmosphere that highlights their malevolence. Shakespeare creates typical witch-like characters through their appearance and

language - "fire burn, and cauldron bubble" - even having them perform curses.

Shakespeare's "Macbeth" portrays Scotland as the birthplace of witches, who were blamed for all malicious behaviors. Thus, it is understandable why he featured them as the root of evil. They influenced Macbeth to commit evil acts, causing him to go against the Divine Right concept that illustrates God giving a man his status and resulting in a strict class system. Macbeth's murder of Duncan, influenced by the witches who represent evil and the devil, violates the Divine Right and God's will. As a result, he can never sleep soundly again due to his guilt, which is seen as punishment from God.

Shakespeare's works touch on political issues, such as his portrayal of the tragic consequences of treason. He also explores gender themes, with men usually occupying higher social status than women regardless of their professions. Lady Macbeth challenges her husband's manhood in Macbeth, using manipulation to do so. This is significant because Macbeth strongly identifies with being a man and thus feels compelled to prove himself and dismiss any doubts cast upon it. Additionally, Lady Macbeth expresses a desire to remove her femininity but still shows emotions by saying she would only kill the king if he resembled her father.

Lady Macbeth appears supportive of her husband, but her declaration that she would "dash'd the brains out" contradicts this. Her willingness to kill her own child suggests it would be effortless for her to take someone's life who resembles her father. Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to commit murder, just as he urges the murderers to kill Banquo by questioning their masculinity. Both characters believe that

men must possess qualities such as violence, anger, and strength - traits which ultimately lead to wickedness and chaos. These attributes are valuable on the battlefield and in achieving Thane of Cawdor status - proving one's manhood. The play also illustrates how women can be sources of violence and evil.

Macbeth is driven to pursue his ambitions by the witches' prophecies and Lady Macbeth's support. The women's encouragement leads him to violent behavior and plotting, as seen by "all hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter". Although Macbeth does not initially plan to kill Duncan, he is swayed by the witches and Lady Macbeth's persuasive tactics. Some critics argue that Shakespeare's portrayal of women as the root of chaos and evil in the play is highly misogynistic. This depiction is somewhat surprising as it goes against societal stereotypes of women. While Lady Macbeth employs deceptive manipulation, Macbeth resorts to violence to achieve their shared goals. Political power struggles are also a prominent theme in "Macbeth", exemplified by Malcolm's speech about kingship.

In this speech, he discusses the virtues that make a good king, such as justice and veracity, which were qualities possessed by James I. However, Macbeth lacks most of these qualities. Following the Gunpowder Plot, it appears that Shakespeare supports James. In "Macbeth," we witness Duncan's kindness as he warmly and politely welcomes his nobles with admiration.

Although praised as a "valiant cousin" and a worthy gentleman, Duncan is perceived as a poor leader due to his reluctance to fight in the opening battle of the play. Instead, he left it to his nobles which may have stemmed from fear of death or not being

skilled enough. Given that Duncan was an elderly man, it is questionable if he was fit to lead a country during a time of war. The play is rich with political undertones, evident in the vivid language used in the banquet scene with words like "gory".

The tense and thrilling tragedy of "Macbeth" is achieved through the use of language that juxtaposes with political themes and motifs. This play serves to both entertain and educate contemporary and Elizabethan audiences, which is why it remains relevant today. It is a typical tragedy written in the 17th century that portrays how men can be led down the path of evil and corruption, whether encouraged or not. While the political elements give the play some story lines, it is the dramatic elements that are more evident and make it exciting to read and watch. Without these techniques, "Macbeth" would not be the remarkable play still analyzed today.