Macbeth

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William Shakespeare effectively conveys time less,universal ideas,relatable in both shakespearean and modern day times through the themes of manipulation and ambition. These themes are heavily explored throughout the play. In Shakespearean times these these would have been both shocking and intriguing,similarly to modern times.

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Ambition is one of the most dominant themes through out the play, and can still be related to today. Ambition is the desire for some type of achievement or distinction,such as power, honour, fame, or wealth. Macbeth displays this when he says “Glamis, and thane of Cawdor: the greatest is behind” this is stated in an aside, to allow the audience to connect with his deeper thoughts.

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Macbeth displays this when he says “Glamis, and thane of Cawdor: the greatest is behind” this is stated in an aside, to allow the audience to connect with his deeper thoughts.Giving a clear, untainted perspective of his slowly rising ambition to be king. This intrigues audiences as it is the slow unraveling of macbeth that makes the play a tragedy, a genre very popular in elizabethan times and even today.

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As the play progresses we see the idea of ambition beginning to eat away at Macbeth, “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” here the audience can see macbeth is trying to hide his corrupting ambition, the idea has become disturbing but yet attractive to him.

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his desire becomes obvious to the audience as a result of the vivid imagery of his heart racing to the idea of power,and being king. Ambition starts to become an overpowering force over not just Macbeth but his wife, Lady Macbeth. “Leave all the rest to me” this is said by lady macbeth when discussing the plot to kill Duncan.

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This strong, forward response conveys her desire for immediate power. Ambition as something everyone has maybe not o level Macbeth displays but nevertheless. This play is an exaggerated idea of ambition,but yet it is still done in such a way that would have been relatable in Elizabethan times and still is.

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As well as ambition, a very large portion of the play is focused on the idea of masculinity, which is constantly challenged by lady macbeth,using it as grounds for manipulation. The play would have shocked but intrigued elizabethans as women were to be seen as kind,gentle people not manipulators.

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First of by attacking Macbeths manhood, Lady Macbeth convinces him to commit the first of his evil deeds. He becomes less human as he tries over and over to establish his manhood.

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“Are you a man? ,O proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear; This is the air-drawn dagger which you said Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts, Impostors to true fear, would well become A woman's story at a winter's fire, Authorised by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all's done, You look but on a stool.”

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when lady macbeth says this she is questioning his masculinity, saying he is weak, tying to the universal idea of a woman’s manipulation of a man. Lady macbeth also says “hie thee hither,that i may pour my spirits in thine ear”

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here Shakespeare has used the metaphor of “pour” to address the theme of manipulation, lady macbeth is infecting his mind making him commit the evil deeds. This pure evil manipulation is shocking to hear by the audience in any era, as it is not socially accepted.

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Countless times throughout the play Lady macbeth can be seen manipulating her husband. she states “My hands are of your colour; but I shame to wear a heart so white” Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's hands are of the same colour, that is, red from the blood of Duncan.

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Yet Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth into acting innocent, she accuses him of being weak and her words suggest that they will be found out if he cannot pull himself together and collect himself. This twisted manipulation is disturbing but at the same time enticing for both modern and elizabethan audiences.

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In conclusion Shakespeares Macbeth is a play full of timeless ideas such as ambition and manipulation, which relate to the audience no matter when or where they live. He conveys themes that were relevant and always will be. Macbeth is one of those classic plays that will forever entertain and engage audiences over the course of time.

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