Ethical values are often thrown to the side when certain individuals are given the choice between right and wrong. In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the characters struggle with their sense of morality. Throughout the course of the play, characters perform unethical tasks in order to gain and secure their glory. According to Niccolo Machiavelli, Italian philosopher and political realist, “rulers cannot be bound by morality” in order to be successful (Burnham, Hill, King, Marenbon & Weeks, 2011, p.106)1.The Machiavellian philosophy suggests that the most suitable ruler is determined through their efforts to strive for success, how their civilians feel towards them, and through their personality – these ideas are reflected in the Shakespearean
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Machiavelli’s philosophy states that he who governs must strive to secure his or her own glory and strive to secure the success of the state (Burnham, Hill, King, Marenbon & Weeks, 2011, p.104)1. The protagonist of the play, Macbeth, is fueled by his ambition and his fear to gain and secure his position as king of Scotland. For instance, Macbeth executes immoral deeds such as killing Duncan with the intention of becoming king. To elaborate, murdering the king is considered to be such an obscene action since it involves both killing a person and destroying the natural chain of being. Once the king was put to death by Macbeth, several unnatural omens began to occur, Lennox states, “‘The night has been unruly. Where we lay / Our chimneys were blown down and, as they say … The obscure bird / Clamored the livelong night. Some say the earth / Was feverous and did shake’” (Shakespeare II.iii.61-69)2.The occurrence of these omens mean that the natural chain of being was abolished since Macbeth, a noble who is not at the top of the chain, murders somebody who is above himself and close to God. Additionally, Macbeth makes the decision to kill his friend, Banquo because he
Machiavelli’s philosophy states that he who governs must strive to secure his or her own glory and strive to secure the success of the state (Burnham, Hill, King, Marenbon & Weeks, 2011, p.104)1. The protagonist of the play, Macbeth, is fueled by his ambition and his fear to gain and secure his position as king of Scotland. For instance, Macbeth executes immoral deeds such as killing Duncan with the intention of becoming king. To elaborate, murdering the king is considered to be such an obscene action since it involves both killing a person and destroying the natural chain of being. Once the king was put to death by Macbeth, several unnatural omens began to occur, Lennox states, “‘The night has been unruly. Where we lay / Our chimneys were blown down and, as they say … The obscure bird / Clamored the livelong night. Some say the earth / Was feverous and did shake’” (Shakespeare II.iii.61-69)2.The occurrence of these omens mean that the natural chain of being was abolished since Macbeth, a noble who is not at the top of the chain, murders somebody who is above himself and close to God. Additionally, Macbeth makes the decision to kill his friend, Banquo because he