House Of Cards Macbeth Analysis

Superior Essays
Power is a great strength to carry in your luggage. It gives us the capability of accomplishing our dreams and hopes. But what happens when we are no longer in control of our own power? And if our power gets out of hand are we still able to look ourselves in the mirror with dignity? This is shown in the highly rated Netflix series House of Cards which some might believe has roots from one of the greatest Shakespeare stories Macbeth. Robert Snow is one of those who believe that House of Cards is an adaptation from Macbeth. In his article “Why ‘House of Cards’ is One of the Best Shakespeare Adaptations of All Time” he discusses this prospect.

Everyone who knows the story Macbeth is certain of the factum that Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are eager
…show more content…
As Snow explains the similarities between House of Cards and Macbeth I concede to agree with him. It especially becomes evident looking at the main characters. As the Macbeth couple wanted to rule Scotland and the Underwood’s is doing everything to rule The United States Of America by making Frank Underwood president. Is it clear that both of the stories main themes are hunger for power and determination, which is seen through the main characters. For this they will do anything. Even get blood on their hands. Furthermore are both relationships in a state of decomposition. The resemblance of Claire Underwood and Lady Macbeth is distinct. As Snow says do both of the ladies support their husbands through everything which only makes them more power hungry than their husbands. When Frank Underwood becomes president of The United States is it still not enough for Claire Underwood. She is not satisfied with her being the first Lady and thereby having to be under her husband. This is where the difference between the two ladies becomes clear which is their conscience. Lady Macbeth suffers from guilt for her part in the crimes that she and her husband has done. And Claire Underwood cannot seem to be satisfied with her power that she has gained by plotting, killing and lying. Even though House of Cards is not yet finished is it doubtful if the series will play by the plot of Macbeth, which

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Macbeth wants power but isn’t fully willing to do what it takes. On the other hand, Lady Macbeth’s manipulative aggressive behavior provides the motivation for Macbeth to commit terrible actions. These characteristics foreshadow that Lady Macbeth will persuade Macbeth to kill for the crown. Along with the foreshadow of murder, the contrast in their characters also foreshadows that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's characteristic will change overtime. After Macbeth killed Duncan, it is expected that he will be changed.…

    • 572 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    This is an image i found online and to be it seems as if Macbeth is holding or seeing the invisible dagger infront of him. His facial expression seems weariy to me in the image. This pictures was meant to depict ACT 2 scene 1. This the scene where macbeths paronia causes him to think and see things he shouldn't. I shows his mentally instability that has been caused by the evil thoughts he has been thinking recently about killing duncan.…

    • 81 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It is a natural human inclination to achieve success; however, any desire in excess can become a destructive force. This is what happened to William Shakespeare’s tortured protagonist Macbeth in one of the Bard’s most unsettling tragedies. Although Macbeth’s ambition initially appeared to be typical of a soldier’s need to succeed and receive recognition from his leader, it would eventually take over his life, obliterate his conscience, and transform his character from hero to villain. Macbeth was clearly his own worst enemy, but there were others in his life who contributed to the orchestration of his downfall. The witches and his equally ambitious wife fed his ego and whetted his appetite for power.…

    • 253 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This is shown through characteristics of Macbeth and Scar throughout the book and the movie respectively. Macbeth’s awful doings prove to us that he became so hungry for power that he began to murder the Scotland’s officials, people who trusted him. Scar’s wrongful doings prove to us that became so greedy for power that he murdered his own brother, so he could rule the kingdom and satisfy his greed. The authors in both texts have used symbols to further prove their plot. In the play, Macbeth, Banquo’s ghost symbolizes Macbeth’s guilt for all the sins he has committed to gain power.…

    • 1107 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Macbeth, three witches visit the successful general Macbeth, with the promise that he will be king. His wife, Lady Macbeth, then takes matters into her own hands by killing off King Duncan with Macbeth 's help. Eventually Macbeth grows just as ruthless as his wife and murders anyone he worries may challenge his position as king. However, their plan eventually backfires and the play ends with both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s deaths. Both books commonly explore the relationship of power between a man and a woman through reversing what is generally expected and how the quest for more power often leads to a character 's downfall.…

    • 1961 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In this situation, unfortunately, she has found herself pinning for other men as she feels her husband does not treat her the way she desires. On the other hand, Macbeth has decided to stray from the hero he had just been ordained as and chooses murder and deception to attain the position of king. Both characters seem like they have no choice to follow their newfound…

    • 569 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The relationship of an of husband and wife should always be a partnership. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth had a plan for the death of Duncan because of the prophecy giving by the witches. Lady Macbeth drove Macbeth to murder Duncan so that he become the king. In the story lady Macbeth was more of the leader about the murders that transpired in the story.…

    • 377 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Anger In Macbeth

    • 499 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Looks While I was reading the play “Macbeth” I started to notice that Lady Macbeth is beginning to see that her husband Macbeth is getting to some extent agitated. Who is then exasperated seeing as her husband, was not being a man about the state of the circumstance. “Your constancy hath left you unattended.” Actions Seeing as though her own husband, Macbeth did not terminate the arrangement that was previously made between her and himself, which then caused Lady Macbeth to get extremely exasperated with him!! “Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead are but as pictures; ‘tis the eye of childhood.”…

    • 499 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Who Is Lady Macbeth Evil

    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the true evil personalities of both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are portrayed. After learning that Macbeth could one day possibly become king, the couple decides to do whatever it takes. Lady Macbeth is very manipulative and convinces Macbeth that the only way he will ever be king is if he kills Duncan, the king at the time the prophecy was given. After killing Duncan Macbeth begins to show his evil tendencies by killing many innocent people without the help of Lady Macbeth. Throughout the play both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth struggle with their need for power making them both evil; however, Macbeth is shown to be more evil due to his lack of emotion and sanity.…

    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Manipulation of Macbeth Within Shakespeare ’s play Macbeth the character of Lord Macbeth is manipulated by the powerful females throughout the drama. Macbeth 's character is weak in the beginning and is easy prey to the demanding threats of his wife, Lady Macbeth, as well as the witches’ manipulation throughout the telling of the prophecies. As the play unfolds Macbeth becomes more confident and more reckless while depending on the witches’ prophecies.…

    • 816 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Macbeth Dishonest Analysis

    • 1096 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Ambitions control much of society. The struggle to achieve goals often leads individuals to become arrogant once their dreams are realized. It is only when these desires are achieved through dishonest means, that humans express true regret. William Shakespeare’s masterpiece, Macbeth, is the embodiment of excessive vanity and ambitions to accomplish the inconceivable. Particularly, the protagonist attempts to send a powerful message to the Elizabethans; when something is achieved with dishonesty, an individual, such as Macbeth illustrates paranoia intensively increasing due to his sins.…

    • 1096 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have a true love for each other; “Despite their childness, however, there can be no doubt that the Macbeth’s relationship is -- initially at least -- a happy one” (Hopkins 6). The Macbeth’s depends a lot on each other. “Lady Macbeth’s role is completely determined by her husband’s” (Ancona 5). They act off of each other like a good married couple should.…

    • 1077 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The theme of power throughout the play affects not only the plot, but also his relationship with Lady Macbeth and his desire to kill. The plot throughout the play Macbeth is impacted by the theme of power. An example of this is when Macbeth wants to kill Duncan so that he will be…

    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Macbeth And Hamlet Analysis

    • 2741 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Madness is a state of wild, chaotic behaviour and loss of reality, a theme that is common amongst the characters of Shakespeare’s plays. It lends a distinctive suffering of inevitable self-destruction in tragedies, some form of downfall or breaking point reaction such as traits of madness is essentially what is used to develop the storyline and show the contrast between the many personas in the story. He adequately explores many roots that lead towards madness as well as various forms of it, two plays that exhibit this issue perfectly are Hamlet and Macbeth. In order to achieve a greater understanding of William Shakespeare’s timeless Hamlet, the roots of the madness that Hamlet and Ophelia endure must be understood.…

    • 2741 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the character Lady Macbeth does not conform to the gender expectations of her time. Her nonconformity is shown through the actions she takes—rebelling against the common notion of feminity by inciting violence—to ensure her husband's, Macbeth's, place as king. The character Lady Macduff serves as a foil to Lady Macbeth and displays how women are expected to behave. Because it seems that Lady Macduff is put forth as an example of the ideal woman, it is expected that she would meet a fate different than Lady Macbeth's, however, both women die by the end of the play. Even though both women die, Lady Macduff's life is sacrificed for the greater good, (halting Macbeth's ruination of the kingdom) and therefore, more honorable than Lady Macbeth's.…

    • 1122 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays