Macbeth and Machiavelli

Before many of the main events of Shakespeare's play Macbeth occur Duncan is King of Scotland. Many people see King Duncan in different ways I see him as a good loyal king. A few scenes into the play Macbeth kills Duncan to become the king himself. This wasn't easy for Macbeth though, he struggled with the thought of murder because King Duncan was such a good king. A quote from the play explains how Macbeth and  many others feel about King Duncan, "First as I am his kinsman and his subject,/ strong both against the deed; then, as his host,/ who should against his murderers shut the door,/ not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan/ hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been/ so clear in his great office, that his virtues/ will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued against/ the deep damnation of his taking-off." (1.7. 13-20) This quote is said when the first thought of killing Duncan enters Macbeth's head, although Macbeth eventually does murder him his first thoughts were shooed away because Duncan was such a good leader. This shows that King Duncan's personality almost withstood Macbeth's greed to be king. Another section in the play shows that even when Lady Macbeth harasses Macbeth at first he sticks up for himself and declares he wont kill King Duncan because of the greatness he brings to him and the people of Scotland. This is expressed in a quote from the first act, "We will proceed no further in this business,/ he hath honoured me of late and I have bought/ golden opinions from all sorts of people,/ which would be worn now in their newest gloss,/ not cast aside so soon." These pieces of evidence show that King Duncan was a very loyal and good king to the people of Scotland, one that shouldn't have been murdered out of greed.


After Macbeth kills King Duncan he is promoted to King of Scotland, his greed for power is what got him to that place. Macbeth lied and killed just to get what he wanted which is not an attractive quality as a leader. Machiavelli states in his book, The Prince "Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain." This describes the basics of human nature, when it comes down to it humans put themselves before others, they backstab to gain what they want, and also judge and criticize.  Macbeth does many of these things for example, Macbeth was loyal to King Duncan all throughout his life and when he first meets Duncan he sucks up to him but then he goes and stabs Duncan in the back, a person he has been loyal too and murders him. Another quote from The Prince that describes how Macbeth as a leader is, "The ends justify the means." This excerpt from the book means that as long as you get what you want it doesn't matter how you get there. Macbeth goes about murdering Duncan and Banquo to get what he wants but he doesn't truly think how much the consequences will effect him. Not just someone finding out and punishing but the tormenting guilt that has the power to drive many insane. Macbeth and Machiavelli's The Prince share common characteristics that are cruel and go against many of todays modern morals. 

Macbeth Act 1

The theme appearance vs. reality is present in many plays and books including Macbeth. Many characters in this play look at Macbeth in different ways. Lady Macbeth thinks that he appears to be a a noble and strong man but in reality lacks the wicked ambition that is needed to gain and maintain power as king. A quote from Shakespeare's play explains Lady Macbeth's view on Macbeth, "Thou wouldst be great,/ Art not without ambition, but without/ The illness should attend it." (1.5 17-18) In this excerpt illness means wickedness. The line is said when Lady Macbeth is alone explaining her husbands weakness. This quote connects back to Machiavelli because in The Prince quotes like, "the ends justify the means" and "hatred is gained as much by good works as it is by evil" are found. The Prince quotes are telling us to be a ruler or a king in Macbeth's case you must have wicked ambition to get what you want. If Lady Macbeth ever read the Prince I am sure she would agree with much that is said in it. 

A woman's role in society has changed drastically over the years. Today women can vote and provide for a family just as much as men can. In Shakespeare's time a women was supposed to be weak, obedient, and loyal to her husband. Women were expected to stay home and care for the children and when a woman didn't follow what society expected of her it was as if she committed a crime. Lady Macbeth was expected to fill that female role. Many see Lady Macbeth as two faced because when around Macbeth and others she acted how society wanted her too but really inside she was fighting against these general expectations of the female gender. A quote from Shakespeare's play Macbeth explains how Lady Macbeth feels about being a women, " Come you spirits/ that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,/ and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full/ of direst cruelty."(1.5 39-41) This quote lets us into Lady Macbeth's head it shows the audience how being a women could sometimes be a disadvantage back then. The theme of gender roles is highlighted throughout the play and Lady Macbeth is one of the stronger examples.

 When Macbeth's future was told by the weird sisters he was startled that he would someday be king. As the surprise soon became reality he started to really wonder how this would come to be. The first inkling of the thought of killing King Duncan is expressed in this quote, "If good, why do I yield to that suggestion/ Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair/ And make my seated heart knock at my ribs/ Against the use of nature? Present fear/ Are less than horrible imaginings./ My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,/ Shakes so single state of man that function/ Is smothered in surmise, and nothing is/ But what is not." (1.3 133-141) This quote is Macbeth first realizing that a way to become king would be to kill King Duncan this thought is quickly shooed away because he believes that it is terribly disloyal to kill the honorable king. At this point in the play Macbeth is very loyal because in this time period being loyal to your king is top priority. Although this loyalty disappears when Lady Macbeth manipulates him using his insecurities to kill Duncan it is important to know that Macbeth once was loyal and did honor the King. Human nature makes us think about ourselves before others so loyalty only goes so far Macbeth is a perfect example of this aspect of human nature. A quote from The Prince connects to loyalty and honor as well, "A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair." This quote can be interpreted in different ways but I see it as the sons loyalty and honor for his father only reaches a certain level until human nature gets in the way and the greed of wanting the inheritance overpowers the loyalty.