Similarities Between the Philosophies from Machiavelli's The Prince and the Characters from Shakespeare's Macbeth

William Shakespeare wrote Macbeth with the influence of Machiavellian principles in accordance with his characters. This statement can be supported by the characteristics he carefully coordinated within

The Prince, by Machiavelli, expresses principles on how a prince is expected act is directly applied through Shakespeare’s characters in his play, MacBeth. The more vital principle to any prince is how to avoid being hated at all costs. The other includes the correct use of clemency and cruelty, as well as if it is better to be loved or feared. MacBeth and Duncan illustrate the polar sides of the principles Machiavelli presents. MacBeth represents a corrupt prince through the the misuse of cruelty, killing those who present themselves as threats. Duncan shows, through his naive nature, that it is better to be feared than loved. Through Machiavelli’s applied principles in MacBeth, it’s simple to analyze how a proper prince

If th’ assassination / Could trammel up the consequence and catch…” (1.7.1-3). Here Macbeth looks at the pros and cons of the murder, he doesn’t want to do it. Macbeth knows that Duncan is such a humble leader and also trusts him. To Macbeth the only thing that is motivating him is ambition, but that is what causes disaster because it rushes to peoples head without thinking twice. But Lady Macbeth does not care about her husband's decision, what she truly cares about is her own self becoming queen.

In Act I, Macbeth says: “ If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well It were done quickly: if the assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch, With his surcease, success; that but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all here, But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, We'd jump the life to come. But in these cases. We still have judgment here; that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice. Commends th' ingredience of our poison'd chalice To our own lips. He's here in double trust; First, as I am his kinsman and his subject. Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door” (Macbeth, I.VII. 1-29). The meaning of this quote is that Macbeth thinks it would be best to kill Duncan quickly. This also foreshadows Duncan’s death and will lead to Macbeth’s downfall.

They both based their tactics of influence on their knowledge of the people they tried to convince. Lady Macbeth, cognizant of Macbeth’s concern for his masculinity and appearance in front of others, she emasculates him with her words, “What beast was’t then,/ That made you break this enterprise to me?/ When you durst do it, then you were a man;/ And to be more than what you were, you would/ Be so much more the man” (Shakespeare 1.7. 48-52) Lady Macbeth takes advantage of her knowledge of Macbeth to convince him to kill Duncan like she wants him to, demonstrating the power she has over his decision making and her success in making him think the same way she does. Machiavelli also utilized his knowledge of those he wanted to persuade to his benefit, as he “...observed and tried to influence the shifting alliances between the Italian city-states” (“Historiography”). He utilized the information he had about the Italian city-states to manipulate them into taking action the way he wanted them to, similarly to Lady Macbeth’s influence on Macbeth’s decision to kill Duncan by pandering him with what she knew about him. The philosopher has been acknowledged by a modest amount of scholars for his impact on the Florentine militia of 1506. “The fact that Machiavelli was the real instigator and the driving force behind the project inaugurated in 1506 seems to be a matter beyond doubt. His central role in the venture is corroborated by a number of independent sources [from] Francesco Guicciardini… Francesco Soderini, Filippo Casavecchia, Agostino Vespucci, and Leonardo Bartolini. Today, most scholars also agree that Machiavelli was the real promoter of the operation” (Hornqvist); without a doubt, Machiavelli was highly successful in persuading people into acting the way he wanted them to. Eventually, Lady Macbeth also succeeds in convincing Macbeth to

Macbeth, an ironic tragedy of the 17th century, is perhaps one of the most appraised works by renowned playwright William Shakespeare. Such fame, though, can be justified through the play’s effective utilization of themes and their evocative subtext; however, Shakespeare particularly focusses on the theme of power and has done so with intent. Macbeth visualises power in two forms, being that of divine and supernatural. The play forms a representation that, alike with the socio-cultural beliefs of the Elizabethan era, divine power should not be tampered with. Otherwise, the consequences can be detrimental, as demonstrated by the painful ends of characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Both individuals use the process of illegitimate power to

Through the soliloquy, the audience gains insight into Macbeth’s innermost thoughts. He names multiple reasons as to why he should not kill King Duncan, noting that Duncan is his guest, kinsman and a good king. He also admits that the only motive he has is the “Vaulting ambition” residing inside of him. Here he names his own hamartia, his fatal flaw, and acknowledges that to give in and commit such a deed, would result in his “deep damnation”. While still undecided on the matter, Lady Macbeth enters, and, seeing his indecision she decides to manipulate him into the decision that suits her; for after all, she is almost if not as ambitious as her husband. By questioning his manhood, his bravery, even their marriage, she successfully leads him to make the choice to kill the king. We now must realise that although the witches’ prophecies and Lady Macbeth’s taunts were a catalyst for Macbeth’s treachery, they never force him to make these errors in judgement; it must have been something that was already inside of him that caused him to decide this. There must have been some inherent evil already a part of his character.

The tragedy, Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare details Macbeth’s expeditious rise and looming fall from power through his several wrongdoings and dark crimes across the play. Power as seen in Macbeth pushes the plot towards the downfall of the protagonist and often creates an image of struggle, whether it be portrayed internally or between characters. The juxtaposition of power and womanhood, uncommon for it’s time, used to emasculate Macbeth shows the peculiarity of his path to the throne, while he grapples with the results of his actions motivated by the hunger for power. Shakespeare uses the idea of status and recurring power struggles between characters in Macbeth to present a warning of the subsequent results of gaining power and shows the change of character Macbeth has through his acquiring of power.

The string of murders which Macbeth feels the need to perpetuate, from Duncan to Young Siward, follows the pattern that Machiavelli warned would occur with the misuse of cruelty and which Machiavelli wished to prevent. Machiavelli almost explicitly foretells the progress of Macbeth's life, saying:

Machiavelli’s The Prince majorly conveys his feelings that a prince should be feared rather than loved, but that he should never do anything to be hated (The Prince, 61). However, he should utilize cruelty if it is the best interest of the state (The Prince, 60), regardless of morality. He often mentions that the ends justify the means, so the prince must do whatever is needed to keep power and control because to be morally good often leads to bad ends (The Prince, 56-57).

Machiavelli, a brilliant Italian writer who brought the question “Is it better to be loved or feared?” caused us to think how Shakespeare interpreted that question. Through Shakespeare’ s play Macbeth he brought his feelings and his interpretation. In multiple accounts he shows that there has to be a balance between love and fear and not just skewed to one. Shakespeare shows some appreciation for what Machiavelli is saying.

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.

Niccolo Machiavelli is a very pragmatic political theorist. His political theories are directly related to the current bad state of affairs in Italy that is in dire need of a new ruler to help bring order to the country. Some of his philosophies may sound extreme and many people may call him evil, but the truth is that Niccolo Machiavelli’s writings are only aimed at fixing the current corruptions and cruelties that filled the Italian community, and has written what he believed to be the most practical and efficient way to deal with it. Three points that Machiavelli illustrates in his book The Prince is first, that “it is better to be feared then loved,”# the second

The book The Prince brought a different outlook on political stands but one of the most important one is one about how it is better to be feared. In The Prince Machiavelli would go on to write,” It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both”. This quote can be looked at different ways but he point comes off as be a strong ruler and show no compassion. Machiavelli would go on and even give an example of Cesare Borgia. Borgia was the man who restores Romagna by being

The themes of ambition, insecurity and the power of the ego are prevalent not just in current society, but also in Scotland during the period in which this play is set. Macbeth’s own interpretation of these emotions, provoked since the first encounter with the witches, is what makes him commit ruthless and immoral actions. The supernatural provokes