William penn
Machiavelli/Macbeth Essay
In The Prince by Machiavelli he describes three different ways that a Prince can acquire the throne; these include good fortune, merit, and crime. In Macbeth by William Shakespeare the reader can conclude that Macbeth obtained the throne through crime only. He does this by influence from the three evil witches, betraying his loyal king, and setting up the guards.
To begin with, in Macbeth three witches come to visit Macbeth and Banquo. Well they are there they inform Macbeth that he will soon become king. When the witches state, “You greet with present grace and great prediction of noble having and of royal hope that he seems rapt withal” (Act I, Scene III, Pg. 6), they confuse Macbeth because the living and grand King Duncan is still alive and well. The witches in Macbeth represent evil and misdeed because they make Macbeth start thinking about the treacherous deed that he would have to do to become king. This relates to Machiavelli when he describes a Prince committing wickedness to become king especially when he states “Yet it cannot be called talent to slay fellow-citizens, to deceive friends, to be without faith, without mercy, without religion; such methods may gain empire, but not glory” (Machiavelli), because he is illustrating that a Prince gaining the throne would be willing to kill, lie, and deceive anyone or anything that gets in his way. Machiavellis reasoning compares to Macbeth because Macbeth is willing to deceive his close companion King Duncan.
Additionally, as Macbeth keeps thinking about becoming king and being convinced by Lady Macbeth to become a real man, he finally decides to kill King Duncan. When he does this he is showing the audience that he cares more about becoming King and obtaining power than he does about a fellow friend and loyal ruler. After speaking to Duncan Macbeth has a soliloquy offstage and he states, “Let not light see my black and deep desires” (Act I, Scene V, Pg. 11), by
In The Prince by Machiavelli he describes three different ways that a Prince can acquire the throne; these include good fortune, merit, and crime. In Macbeth by William Shakespeare the reader can conclude that Macbeth obtained the throne through crime only. He does this by influence from the three evil witches, betraying his loyal king, and setting up the guards.
To begin with, in Macbeth three witches come to visit Macbeth and Banquo. Well they are there they inform Macbeth that he will soon become king. When the witches state, “You greet with present grace and great prediction of noble having and of royal hope that he seems rapt withal” (Act I, Scene III, Pg. 6), they confuse Macbeth because the living and grand King Duncan is still alive and well. The witches in Macbeth represent evil and misdeed because they make Macbeth start thinking about the treacherous deed that he would have to do to become king. This relates to Machiavelli when he describes a Prince committing wickedness to become king especially when he states “Yet it cannot be called talent to slay fellow-citizens, to deceive friends, to be without faith, without mercy, without religion; such methods may gain empire, but not glory” (Machiavelli), because he is illustrating that a Prince gaining the throne would be willing to kill, lie, and deceive anyone or anything that gets in his way. Machiavellis reasoning compares to Macbeth because Macbeth is willing to deceive his close companion King Duncan.
Additionally, as Macbeth keeps thinking about becoming king and being convinced by Lady Macbeth to become a real man, he finally decides to kill King Duncan. When he does this he is showing the audience that he cares more about becoming King and obtaining power than he does about a fellow friend and loyal ruler. After speaking to Duncan Macbeth has a soliloquy offstage and he states, “Let not light see my black and deep desires” (Act I, Scene V, Pg. 11), by