Macbeth Appeals to M

Shakespeare’s Macbeth has appeal to modern audiences due to the universal themes portrayed in the play. Through Shakespeare’s exploration of thematic concerns such as: good and evil and human potential; Macbeth is a play that appeals to audiences 400 years after it was first performed. Shakespeare explores universal themes in Macbeth through the constant struggle between good and evil and appearances versus reality.

Shakespeare utilises the constant struggle between good and evil to display universal themes to his audience.The struggle between good and evil is introduced in Macbeth through the opening scene with King Duncan and the thane of Cawdor. ‘Duncan: No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death, And with his former title greet Macbeth. ’ (Act 1 Scene 3 Line 65-68) Through Duncan’s speech, Shakespeare introduces the deceitful nature of evil. Shakespeare has introduced Duncan as a noble king that is unable to sense the presence of evil.This trait of Duncan unable to see the presence of evil is repeated through Macbeth killing the ‘unguarded’ Duncan.

The use of rhyming couplets is used to exemplify Duncan being aware of the deceitful nature of the thane of Cawdor and to later exaggerate the Duncan’s flaw of trust. Shakespeare introduces the struggle of good and evil through the disruption of the great chain of being. The modern audience is still able to find appeal in Macbeth due to the anarchy formed from this disruption.Shakespeare has constructed King Duncan to be a binary opposite of Macbeth. This use of binary opposition has been used by Shakespeare to highlight the human potential for both good and evil.

Through Duncan trusting Macbeth enough to sleep unguarded and by Macbeth only seeing this as an opportunity to advance up the great chain of being, Shakespeare has made the binary opposition between both of his constructs evident. Through the contrasting actions of Duncan and Macbeth, Macbeth’s actions are exaggerated and used to show the consequences for these actions.CTS analyses Macbeths actions as ‘attempting to create something- a kingship which is whole and secure- out of an act which will plunge him further and further into nothingness’. This analysis of Macbeth is supported through Macbeth wishing to be king by killing Duncan and in order to maintain this kingship he is forced to murder, whilst knowing his reign as king will eventually come to an end. Through the binary opposition of Duncan and Macbeth and the downfall of Macbeth after he murders Duncan, the audience is given insight into evil and the constant struggle between good and evil.This constant struggle is shown through events after Duncan’s death, the death of good, when Macbeth, evil, is still overcome with an inner war.

The binary opposition in Macbeth is used by Shakespeare to exemplify the constant struggle between good and evil and due to this constant struggle Macbeth appeals to modern audiences. Shakespeare has used appearances versus reality to convey universal themes to his audience. In Macbeth appearance versus reality is displayed through Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s relationship.In the play it is shown that men hold dominance and power over women through the leader being a man, King Duncan, and the men that go to war being referred to as ‘brave’. This ideology in the play that men hold dominance is contrasted through Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s relationship.

Through the murder scene in which Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill Duncan and the dinner scene in which Lady Macbeth has to take care of Macbeth by making reasons for his actions; it is evident that Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s relationship is different to its appearance.Through analysis of CA writing it is shown how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth become submissive to the stereotypes put on them by society and each other. This submissive nature of Macbeth is shown through his expression of manhood by killing Duncan and by Lady Macbeth in which she is unable to kill Duncan due to her stereotype but manipulates Macbeth into doing so. Contrasting CA, it is evident in the text that both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth become aware of their flaw to adopt the stereotype placed on them.Through the recognition of the stereotype being placed both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth realise their flaws resulting in a cathartic response by the audience.

Shakespeare has constructed this relationship to contrast typical Jacobean relationships to create controversy and explore the unknown human potential of females. Through Shakespeare exploring this relationship, modern day audiences learn that appearances don’t always display reality.Appearance versus reality is also explored through the witches and their prophecies. ‘First Witch: All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! Second Witch: All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! Third Witch: All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter! ’ (Act 1 Scene 3 Line 48-50) Through the anaphora of ‘All hail’ the witches give a false sense of respect towards Macbeth. This false sense of respect Macbeth believes the witches have towards him causes him to believe he is invincible.

Macbeth only becomes aware he has been duped by the witches in Act 5 Scene 8 in which Macduff tells that he was ‘untimely ripped’, thus allowing Macbeth to be killed and still have the prophecy abided by. This sudden realisation that he has been duped results in pathos felt by the audience. Shakespeare has constructed this sudden realisation to portray appearances versus reality and allow the audience to have a didactic response towards the play.Macbeth appeals to modern audiences due to the intellectual lesson of appearances versus reality and the didactic response felt.

Macbeth continues to have appeal to modern audiences due to Shakespeare’s portrayal of universal themes. Shakespeare’s exploration of good and evil and human potential through the constant struggle between good and evil and appearances versus reality allows the audience to go on an intellectual journey and emotional journey. The intellectual and emotional journey that the audience is taken on is why Macbeth still has appeal to modern audiences.