preview

Ignorance In Macbeth And Romeo And Juliet By William Shakespeare

Decent Essays

Lee Sigelman once eloquently wrote about the emotional effect knowledge has on human beings. Sigelman proves the notion “Ignorance is bliss” to be inaccurate evidenced by recent scientific studies. Lee expresses that ignorance can often be the cause of feelings of discontent and suffering. This can be proven wrong in the plays, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Both works show that knowledge has the power to make people feel unhappy and can be the reason people take drastic measures. Macbeth set in Scotland demonstrates that the notion “Ignorance is bliss” is indeed accurate. After discovering his fate from the three clairvoyant witches, Macbeth’s ambition and greed consumes his rationality. Macbeth lack of self control and morale was the root cause of the creation of his plan to kill his friend, Duncan, the King of Scotland. Macbeth’s knowledge of his fate compels him to kill and deceive many people, including his best friend, Banquo. Had Macbeth not known of …show more content…

Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet of Verona, Italy were two lovers that came from rival families. Unaware of eachother’s identity, the couple carelessly fall in love. After discovering the household the two came from, Romeo and Juliet take many risks to be together. Romeo and Juliet sneak behind the backs of their family and friends ands elope together. However, an obstacle has once again arisen as Romeo is banished from Verona. Juliet desperately creates a plan to fake her death but because of the lack of communication and fate’s intervention, Romeo does not receive the message about the plan. Romeo and Juliet’s knowledge of eachother’s identity had caused them many misfortunes. This knowledge had given both “star crossed lovers” feelings of restlessness and heartache and their deaths had brought great sorrow upon their beloved. Information has the ability to cause misfortune and

Get Access