Comparing Macbeth And Richard III

Macbeth and Richard III are two men who desperately wish to rule the world. They both possess evil tendencies and will go to any degree to achieve authority. The two men use violence to purge whoever is in their way of supremacy. Although both men ultimately achieve kingship, they both also tragically fall out of power. Macbeth and Richard each have soliloquies where they deliberate their feelings towards their killings and their intentions for their futures. Right before setting foot in his final battle, Macbeth is informed of his wife’s death. Macbeth responds to the news saying "She should have died hereafter” (5.5.16). Macbeth was expecting Lady Macbeth to die, however, he believes she should have died at a more fitting time. As Macbeth proceeds with his soliloquy, he expresses such cynicism that it appears he knows he is going to die soon. Rousing from his …show more content…
At first Macbeth is hesitant about murdering Duncan, however, he eventually reasons that, “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me / Without my stir” (1.3.144-145). Macbeth tells himself that he is just carrying out the three witches’ prophecy. Macbeth tries to justify his actions by accusing a supernatural force. For Richard, the significance of ghostly apparitions culminates in Act 5 scene 5, when the ghosts of Richard’s murder victims appear. These apparitions predict the fight between Richard and Richmond. Even with the ghosts forecasting Richard’s death, Richard appears accepting towards the supernatural forces and does not dispute their existence. Macbeth has anxiety and apprehension towards the supernatural, whereas Richard seems accepting and fearless. In Macbeth, the three witches’ prophecies that Macbeth will be overthrown came true. In Richard III, the prophetic dreams, ghosts, and supernatural aspects signify imminent