William Shakespeare’S Macbeth Remains As A Crucial Play

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth remains as a crucial play in understanding the central concepts that shape modern Western civilization. The novel dramatizes the mental and physical impacts of those pursuing political power. For centuries, medieval and Renaissance civilizations were assured of a harmony between political and religious ideals. Audiences during Shakespeare’s time were familiar with kingdoms that incorporated religious aspects into their political systems. In Scotland and England, the notion of a king’s divine right to rule became prominent during the rule of King James I. James I wrote The True Law of Free Monarchies, in which he explains his philosophy towards monarchy, saying that kings are beings that owe their kingship to†¦show more content†¦In this case, Macbeth does not have to ability to disguise his desires, as he attracts the suspicion of Banquo early on. Interestingly, Lady Macbeth instructs Macbeth to conceal his feelings as soon as she hears about the prophecy, in which she says: â€Å"Your face, my thane, is as a book, where men May read strange matters. To beguile the time, Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue; look like th’ innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t† (Shakespeare 1.6.73-77) The concept of concealing one’s feelings follows a Machiavellian ideal, as Machiavelli says: â€Å"Princes who have set little store by their word, but have known how to overreach men by their cunning, have accomplished great things, and in the end got the better of those who trusted to honest dealing† (Machiavelli 45). In this passage, Machiavelli asserts his belief that although one may understand how commendable it is for a leader to keep honesty and faith, this is essentially a weakness and eventually causes the downfall of a prince. Thus, Macbeth reflects upon Machiavellian ideals as he is instructed to mask his feelings from others. Since Macbeth’s acting abilities do not improve after he becomes a king, his command over Cawdor will eventually collapse. In this case, Macbeth follows a path which is in league with Machiavelli’s ideas. Machiavelli cautions against the risks of practicing neutrality when ruling over a kingdom. He believes that one must follow a practiceShow MoreRelatedTension in Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2 of William Shakespeares Macbeth1004 Words   |  5 PagesTension in Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2 of William Shakespeares Macbeth Shakespeares Macbeth is a play that develops around tension all the way through. Shakespeare manages to create tension in a variety of ways in terms of the thematic aspects, linguistic aspects and dramatic aspects. Act II (scenes I and 11) is the part of Macbeth where Lady Macbeth and her husband (Macbeth) actually carry out their plans and do the deed. 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