Macbeth Essay

Macbeth Essay “Look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under ‘t” (I.v.76-78)These words, whispered with the sound of greed and need for power were the beginning of a domino effect of many treacherous affairs. Lady Macbeth throughout the story of Macbeth is affected by her previous gluttonous actions. In Macbeth (Patrick Stewart), Throne of Blood, and Scotland PA, this dominating character is behind many tragic events. In Macbeth (Patrick Stewart) Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill Duncan for the throne, which was the beginning of three horrific occurrences. The first being the murder escalating to the murder of Banquo, for the couple became obsessed with power, and would kill anyone who even slightly suspected them (Lady Macbeth’s evil energy rubs off on Macbeth). Secondly, Lady Macbeths stress builds up over time and brings her to complete insanity – the end result being suicide. Eventually Macbeth’s time for death comes when Macbeth murders Macduff’s family as a warning, and Macduff seeks revenge – slaying King Macbeth. “I have no words; my voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain than terms can give thee out.” (V.viii.8-10)
The three main events that occur as effects to Lady Macbeth’s first action in Macbeth (Patrick Stewart) are also shown in the play. When Macbeth kills Duncan and Banquo becomes suspicious, Macbeth must then kill Banquo to cover up his first action. The large amount of things that begin to go wrong drives Lady Macbeth mad. “You see her eyes are open.” “Ay, but their sense is shut.” (V.i.26-27) ending in her death. Macbeth soon after is slain by the vengeful Macduff. Each event comes from the first words that Lady Macbeth spoke to Macduff in the first scene, beginning the set of violent murders. In Throne of Blood Asaji is the wife of Lord Washizu, and by convincing him to murder the king she causes the downfall of her life. Asaji brings up the idea that Lord Washizu should kill Tsuzuki, which at first he is against but then he is influenced by Asaji’s words. Asaji’s harsh manner is very convincing. Lord Washizu then kills his acquaintance Miki because Miki became suspicious. “Thou has it now – King, Cawdor, Glamis, all as the Weird Women promised, and I fear thou played’st most foully for ‘t.” (III.i.1-3) Lord Washizu’s army then turns on him once they find out all he has done, and they murder Washizu. Lady Asajii however is not killed, and therefore has to face her husband’s death and how it all began with her idea. There are some similarities and differences between Throne of Blood and the play Macbeth. For example, the themes connect to the play, but there are different characters. The same main idea of a man killing for power, convinced by his wife, occurs. Then pays the price and is eventually killed. However, they have different names and there are some cultural differences between the way the characters act between the movie and the play. The movie is set in Japan, and so the characters move very slowly and dramatically, rarely looking at each other. They also tend to not speak unless completely necessary and shout when angry, whereas the play they communicate more efficiently. Lady Asaji does not die in the Throne of Blood as she does in the play. “The Queen, my lord, is dead.” (V.v.19) It can be interpreted that she would eventually find out of her husband’s death and fully realize what her actions have caused, something that does not occur in the movie. In Scotland PA, Patty makes Macbeth plot to kill their boss (Duncan) so he can climb in the ranks of his job. Once the boss has been killed, the couple becomes successful but not necessarily happy. “Nought's had, all's spent, Where our desire is got without content; ‘tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.” (III.ii. 5-7) By killing Duncan, the characters of Donalbain and Malcom lose their father, and Macduff investigates the case. Over time though, Banquo becomes suspicious. Macbeth then kills Banquo, his good friend, for that sole reason. Macduff finally figures out that the murderer was Macbeth, and kills him. Patty becomes paranoid, cuts off her hand, and dies. The two deaths are the final result of all the tragic events Patty began. In the Macbeth play, Lady Macbeth wants power and a higher rank for her and Macbeth, the same thing that Patty wants in Scotland PA. This greed and want brings both the characters to convincing their husband to do a treacherous thing. Lady Macbeth dies in a slightly different way from Patty, but they were both suicidal and both were driven mad by the murder. Both the play and the movie shared the theme of Lady Macbeth’s actions leading to the demise of both her and Macbeth. Once the action was done, there was no going back. “I am in blood stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more ,returning were as tedious as go o'er” (III.iv.135-137) Lady Macbeth’s gluttonous actions destroyed the future of her and her husband. Throughout the play and the three films we watched; Macbeth (Patrick Stewart), Throne of Blood, and Scotland PA, that same main event happens. The simple evil decision that Lady Macbeth made to benefit herself destroyed not only her life, but the lives of all those around her.