Macbeth Appeals to M
Macbeth continues to appeal to modern audiences
Explain why this is so.
Shakespeare’s Macbeth has appeal to modern audiences due to the universal themes portrayed in the play. Through Shakespeare’s exploration of thematic concerns such as: good and evil and human potential; Macbeth is a play that appeals to audiences 400 years after it was first performed. Shakespeare explores universal themes in Macbeth through the constant struggle between good and evil and appearances versus reality.
Shakespeare utilises the constant struggle between good and evil to display universal themes to his audience. The struggle between good and evil is introduced in Macbeth through the opening scene with King Duncan and the thane of Cawdor.
‘Duncan: No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive
Our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death,
And with his former title greet Macbeth.’ (Act 1 Scene 3 Line 65-68)
Through Duncan’s speech, Shakespeare introduces the deceitful nature of evil. Shakespeare has introduced Duncan as a noble king that is unable to sense the presence of evil. This trait of Duncan unable to see the presence of evil is repeated through Macbeth killing the ‘unguarded’ Duncan. The use of rhyming couplets is used to exemplify Duncan being aware of the deceitful nature of the thane of Cawdor and to later exaggerate the Duncan’s flaw of trust. Shakespeare introduces the struggle of good and evil through the disruption of the great chain of being. The modern audience is still able to find appeal in Macbeth due to the anarchy formed from this disruption. Shakespeare has constructed King Duncan to be a binary opposite of Macbeth. This use of binary opposition has been used by Shakespeare to highlight the human potential for both good and evil. Through Duncan trusting Macbeth enough to sleep unguarded and by Macbeth only seeing this as an opportunity to advance up the great chain of being, Shakespeare has made the binary opposition between both of his constructs
Explain why this is so.
Shakespeare’s Macbeth has appeal to modern audiences due to the universal themes portrayed in the play. Through Shakespeare’s exploration of thematic concerns such as: good and evil and human potential; Macbeth is a play that appeals to audiences 400 years after it was first performed. Shakespeare explores universal themes in Macbeth through the constant struggle between good and evil and appearances versus reality.
Shakespeare utilises the constant struggle between good and evil to display universal themes to his audience. The struggle between good and evil is introduced in Macbeth through the opening scene with King Duncan and the thane of Cawdor.
‘Duncan: No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive
Our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death,
And with his former title greet Macbeth.’ (Act 1 Scene 3 Line 65-68)
Through Duncan’s speech, Shakespeare introduces the deceitful nature of evil. Shakespeare has introduced Duncan as a noble king that is unable to sense the presence of evil. This trait of Duncan unable to see the presence of evil is repeated through Macbeth killing the ‘unguarded’ Duncan. The use of rhyming couplets is used to exemplify Duncan being aware of the deceitful nature of the thane of Cawdor and to later exaggerate the Duncan’s flaw of trust. Shakespeare introduces the struggle of good and evil through the disruption of the great chain of being. The modern audience is still able to find appeal in Macbeth due to the anarchy formed from this disruption. Shakespeare has constructed King Duncan to be a binary opposite of Macbeth. This use of binary opposition has been used by Shakespeare to highlight the human potential for both good and evil. Through Duncan trusting Macbeth enough to sleep unguarded and by Macbeth only seeing this as an opportunity to advance up the great chain of being, Shakespeare has made the binary opposition between both of his constructs