Is Macbeth a machiavellian character?

Macbeth would not be considered a good prince under Machiavelli's rules because he did a lot of things that Machiavelli would consider un-prince worthy. Macbeth for one gave the impression that he was greedy for power many times throughout out the play. The fact that every time the witches and apparitions told him to beware of someone he would kill them to make sure he stood at the top of the chain proves my point. For example in (Act 4. Scene 1. Lines 78-79) The first apparition appears and tells Macbeth to beware Macduff. Then after leaving the meeting with the apparitions Macbeth sends people to kill Macduff and his family , but Macduff wasn't home so Macbeth on accomplished half of the job. However, that example of the text proved that Macbeth was greedy for power and already let one of Machiavelli's rules.

Throughout history, numerous leaders of society have been labeled with stigmas such as the names of tyrant, immoral, and even diabolical, for their seemingly reprehensible acts; however, it is in very limited history textbooks that those that influence the infamous rulers are ever mentioned at all. Niccolo Machiavelli, a product of the Renaissance, is one of these historical figures not often mentioned in the stories of unprincipled leaders. In his most famous pieces of literature, such as The Prince, and Discourses on Livy, this man advocates unscrupulous actions if necessary to fulfill one’s objectives, yielding him to become associated with treachery and craftiness. Similarly, in William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth influences

Lady Macbeth’s strength of will persists through the murder of King Duncan as it is she who tries to calm Macbeth after committing the crime by declaring confidently that, “a little water clears us of this deed,” (2.2.67). Afterward, however, Lady Macbeth’s strong and ambitious character begins to deteriorate into madness. Her first sign of weakness occurred when she confessed that she could not have killed the king, revealing a natural woman’s feelings, “had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t” (2.2.13-14). Just as ambition has affected her before more so then Macbeth before the crime, the guilt plagues her now more effectively afterward as she desperately tried to wash away the invisible blood from her sin, “Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfume of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand,” (5.1.48-49). Lady Macbeth’s

Shakespeare employs a great deal of imagery to depict certain situations, for example he uses the image of blood many times. At this stage in the play Lady Macbeth is confident while Macbeth is subject to frightened loyalty. However, what Macbeth fears is evil of committing the evil deed rather than the evil deed itself. It is al this stage that one can first realise a chink of humanity in the originally confident and cold lady Macbeth. The murder has just been committed and Lady Macbeth relates to Macbeth how the assassinated Duncan appeared to her. “Ha he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done’t.” Suddenly through the hard exterior that Lady Macbeth possesses, she sees her father as the old man lying murdered on the

3. 157-159) Macbeth’s arrogance is made apparent with the immediacy of his thoughts of becoming king and it is clear that the supernatural has given him arrogant ambition as Macbeth is already beginning to think of how he will be crowned king. Macbeth eventually decides he will show his “Black and deep desires” (1. 4. 58) and murder Duncan, the current king of Scotland. This is a shift from Macbeth showing loyalty to Scotland and the king as he now has arrogantly, for the benefit of himself becoming king, murdered Duncan, the king of Scotland. Duncan was greatly admired and respected by the population of Scotland. Macbeth himself describes Duncan as “meek” (1. 7. 17) and being “so clear in his great office” (1. 7. 18). When Macduff first realizes the death of Duncan, he describes the scene as: “O horror, horror, horror!” (2. 3. 73) Macbeth acknowledges that the reaction to Duncan’s death would be mournful before murdering him: “Pity… / Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, / That tears shall drown the wind” (1.7. 21-25). However, Macbeth’s only goal is to become king, not to please the population of Scotland who admires their king greatly and sees him as a righteous person. After tempting Macbeth with the idea of becoming king, the supernatural gives Macbeth arrogant ambition, forcing him to contrast his loyal and courageous personality, which motivates him to kill Duncan.

Shakespeare uses light imagery to reveal Macbeth’s immoral personality which resulted from greed. Before Banquo was murdered, Macbeth laments to Lady Macbeth, "Light thickens, and the crow makes wing to the rooky wood: Good things of day begin to droop and drowse, whiles night's black agents to their preys do rouse" (III.ii. l50-53). Macbeth explains that eventually anything good will fall away and anything made of evil will rise and take control of the world. Shakespeare uses metaphorical imagery to make Macbeth admit how mentally mutilated he became by his ambition to remain in power by symbolizing him and Lady Macbeth as “night’s agents” or evil beings and Banquo as “good”. Macbeth’s immoral behavior indicates the desire and want for power as a sovereign and what limits he would go to just to ensure his vision, resulting in disfigurement of his kingdom. Furthermore, when Macbeth is debating whether it is alright for him to murder King Duncan, Macbeth notes, “Stars, hide your fires, /Set not light see my black and deep desires;/ The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be/ which the eye fears, when it is done, to see” (I.iv.51-53). Through his words, Macbeth directly admits that he has an immoral side to him and that he wants it to remain concealed to people while he portrays his virtuous persona. Shakespeare

In Act 1, Shakespeare wrote Macbeth with admired masculine qualities countered with Lady Macbeth criticising his idiosyncrasies. Lady Macbeth’s definition of a man is disparate to others’. In Scene 2, the captain labels Macbeth as “brave”. This is a venerated and respected quality on the battlefield. King Duncan later refers to Macbeth as “valiant cousin”. These pronouncements show that an

Shakespeare is unarguably famous for his creative and vivid use of imagery in his acclaimed plays. Animal imagery is one literary device he uses often to develop theme and characterize individuals in his plays. One of his most prominent tragedies, Macbeth, contains many examples of animal imagery, most of which characterizes Macbeth himself. Animal imagery at the beginning of the tragedy, such as the comparison of Macbeth to an eagle and a lion, characterize him as loyal, brave, and honorable. As the play develops, however, the animal imagery used, like a predatory bird and a ferocious beast, begins to characterize him as power hungry, violent, and truly inhumane. In his tragedy Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses animal imagery to reflect

Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, applies the Machiavellian principles of how princes should properly conduct themselves which is directly applied through Duncan, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and Malcolm.

In Machiavelli’s The Prince, he stats that it is better to be feared than loved, but that one should avoid being despised and hated. With these concepts at hand we can compare these philosophies to one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays Macbeth. This play can be analyzed through two important characters Macbeth and Duncan. They both have their own tragic flaws and how they came to power. But Macbeth had gained his title illegitimately.

24-29). When Macbeth decides not to continue with their plan to murder Duncan, his wife urges him to act on his desires or he will think of himself as a coward. She says, "Art thou afeard / To be the same in thine own act and valour / As thou art in desire?" (I, vii. 42-44). She then makes sure he will perform the deed by taking an active role in preparing for the murder. "his two chamberlains / Will I with wine and wassel so convince," (I, vii. 70-71) and cleaning up afterwards, "Give me the daggers: the sleeping, and the dead / Are but as pictures; 'tis the eye of childhood / That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, / I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal, / For it must seem their guilt." (II, ii. 69-73).

Power is something one can find in all aspects of life. Whether in a relationship between two people or over an entire country, many people hold power in their lives. What is done with that power is up to the person who holds it and can be a strong reflection of their character. Too many people in positions of power become so wrapped up in wanting total control, that they lose sight of what is right and wrong. In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, power is demonstrated many ways through many different characters. Power and ambition greatly affects the choices people make everyday.

In Act 1 Macbeth is troubled by his desire to kill the king that is countered by his morals that state he should not kill Duncan for the fact “First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,

The expeditions of my violent love Hear lay Duncan, his silver skin Laced with his golden blood ” In this quotation it is showing Macbeth is a liar and more of a tyrant, so the is going to despise him more for lying.

Many Shakespearian dramas, like Macbeth, are inspired by the ancient Greek notion of tragedy and the fall of man; much of which is powered by one’s lust for greater gains. Correspondingly, the play reveals how ambition creates the capability of deteriorating a man’s morality and world. This is presented through the titular character and his “dearest partner of greatness” (P. 23) and the consequences of their actions.