Marxist Criticism In Shakespeare's Macbeth

Within Macbeth, there are many possible valid approaches to reading the play, however, the Marxist approach incorporates a part of the social order that others do not. While other approaches can be worthwhile, the Marxist approach best transcribes the writings of Shakespeare in a way that can be understood in the modern world. The approach better describes social situations of the common man, along with noticing and understanding the class system prevalent in Macbeth. Due to Shakespeare’s creation of characters in Macbeth, there are many valid approaches to the novel, that each exemplify a different viewpoint. Macbeth can be read in many different ways, with each interpretation receiving portions of the novel differently, such as the incantations …show more content…
The particular situation of Macbeth is due a specific period in history where the nobles were on a different plane. Smirnov comments on the “optimistic tone,” even though Macbeth’s fate was inevitable (Smirnov). Smirnov comments on the unavoidability of Macbeth’s fate, and the “lofty tragic pathos of this drama,” that leads to “emphasizing its gloominess” when discussing the basic theme and situation within Macbeth (Smirnov). In the paper, he comments on the impossibility of an alternative in “If not Malcolm, it would have been Donalbain; if not Donalbain, any other lord” (Smirnov). The fate or destiny is considered unavoidable, where it is impossible to change the fate, when even if it is changed, someone different will rise to take Macbeth’s place. In Macbeth, the king speaks lightly, asking if the “execution is done on Cawdor,” exemplifying the difference between the common folk and the people of royalty (1.4.1). For the time period, Duncan’s lightness of speech was expected by the royalty, taking major situations and simplifying them. Unlike the peasants in the period, Duncan was presented with greater problems, and he was quickly desensitized by the situations he faced and the decisions that he