Comparing Heroes In Shakespeare's Macbeth And Star Wars
The Parallels of Two Ambitious Characters
Heroes often have a tragic flaw that can lead to their downfall. In the case of Macbeth from The Tragedy of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, and Anakin Skywalker, from Star Wars Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith, by George Lucas, this tragic flaw is ambition. Macbeth is a heroic soldier, as well as the Thane of Glamis, at the beginning of the play. Anakin is a loyal Jedi. Both of these noble war heroes are destroyed by this tragic flaw and turn to a murderous evil. Coincidently, they are also both motivated by the same factor, their wives.
The Tragedy of Macbeth opens directly following a battle, in which Macbeth has slain Macdonwald and is a triumphant hero. Star Wars also opens with a battle where Anakin and his friend and master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, rescue the Chancellor Palpatine. While Macbeth is on his way back, he comes upon three witches who reveal the supposed future to him. The witches say, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!”(1.3.48-50). Because Macbeth …show more content…
Macbeth even has the upper hand in the fight, but because he believes so heavily in prophecy he lets Macduff go. He draws this from a previous encounter with the witches in which an apparition says, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute! Laugh to scorn the pow’r of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (4.1.79-81). Macduff reveals that he was born of a caesarian section and kills him. Because of Macbeth’s ambition, ignorance, and hunger for power, Macbeth loses his wife, friend, kingship, and his life. Anakin is defeated by Obi Wan Kenobi, but he lives. He is rescued by Emperor Palpatine and transforms into Darth Vader. Because of Anakin’s thirst for the Dark Side, he loses his wife in child-birth, is kept away from his children, and severs ties with
Heroes often have a tragic flaw that can lead to their downfall. In the case of Macbeth from The Tragedy of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, and Anakin Skywalker, from Star Wars Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith, by George Lucas, this tragic flaw is ambition. Macbeth is a heroic soldier, as well as the Thane of Glamis, at the beginning of the play. Anakin is a loyal Jedi. Both of these noble war heroes are destroyed by this tragic flaw and turn to a murderous evil. Coincidently, they are also both motivated by the same factor, their wives.
The Tragedy of Macbeth opens directly following a battle, in which Macbeth has slain Macdonwald and is a triumphant hero. Star Wars also opens with a battle where Anakin and his friend and master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, rescue the Chancellor Palpatine. While Macbeth is on his way back, he comes upon three witches who reveal the supposed future to him. The witches say, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!”(1.3.48-50). Because Macbeth …show more content…
Macbeth even has the upper hand in the fight, but because he believes so heavily in prophecy he lets Macduff go. He draws this from a previous encounter with the witches in which an apparition says, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute! Laugh to scorn the pow’r of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (4.1.79-81). Macduff reveals that he was born of a caesarian section and kills him. Because of Macbeth’s ambition, ignorance, and hunger for power, Macbeth loses his wife, friend, kingship, and his life. Anakin is defeated by Obi Wan Kenobi, but he lives. He is rescued by Emperor Palpatine and transforms into Darth Vader. Because of Anakin’s thirst for the Dark Side, he loses his wife in child-birth, is kept away from his children, and severs ties with