Macbeth – power of the monarchy essay
The power of the Monarchy was a major topic of discussion during the
17th Century. James VI was the first monarch of both England and
Scotland and the descendant of Banquo who is represented as the most
honourable character in the play. Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Macbeth was
written some time during this period, depicting power in a variety of ways:
Issues around gender roles, kingship, the supernatural and a belief in
witchcraft was widespread at the time, which may explain why
Shakespeare used it as a main theme of the play. A modern interpretation
could argue that Shakespeare explored the idea of the mind's power to
influence behaviour is represented in his play's narrative. The central
protagonist and tragic hero are Macbeth who at the beginning of the play
is portrayed as heroic and brave but by the end of the play, he has
become a heartless tyrant who abuses his illegitimate kingship and power
and therefore suffers a suitable fate, which would flatter King James as the
rightful monarch.
Women's roles were strictly controlled in the patriarchal society of the
time and therefore not allowed to contribute to positions of power outside
the home. Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as the antithesis of this
and positions her as a societal challenge to the typical gender roles
assigned to men and women of the period. She has a thirst for the power
promised by the witches’ prophecies to her husband ‘All hail, Macbeth!
Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!’. It could be argued that Lady
Macbeth receives her immoral ambition for power from the witches'
supernatural capabilities, after receiving her husband's letter 'I may pour
my spirits in thine ear’. Unlike Macbeth whose masculinity, is represented
by military power: ‘noble Macbeth hath won', Lady Macbeth's knows she
must become more masculine to achieve her ambition. Shakespeare's
use of imperatives like 'Unsex me here,’ suggests she believes shedding
her gender may grant more power. It is also of note that Shakespeare
uses phrases earlier in Act 1 scene 1, 'Fair is foul and foul is
fair’ suggesting a reversal of the natural order of things. Echoing the
shifting order of things; Fairness, power, gender. Macbeth reinforces the
image of Lady Macbeth's masculine strength by saying ‘Bring forth men-
children only’ suggesting that her desire for political power are the key
attributes of a stereotypical male. To a Jacobean audience, Lady
Macbeth's assertive and driven behaviour would reinforce the belief that
women are the weaker sex and therefore easier to be entrapped in the
gross snares of the devil.
Women in the play use Macbeth’s fatal flaw of ambition to gain power
over him. Macbeth's hamartia is having too much ambition and misusing
it. After hearing the witches' prophecies, 'All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be
king hereafter!', Macbeth is overcome by ambition and allows himself to
be manipulated as a result of the witch’s prophecies. Females in the play
are portrayed as temptresses using their ‘charms and everything beside’
to lead him astray. Their power is only gained by Macbeth's ‘spiteful and
The power of the Monarchy was a major topic of discussion during the
17th Century. James VI was the first monarch of both England and
Scotland and the descendant of Banquo who is represented as the most
honourable character in the play. Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Macbeth was
written some time during this period, depicting power in a variety of ways:
Issues around gender roles, kingship, the supernatural and a belief in
witchcraft was widespread at the time, which may explain why
Shakespeare used it as a main theme of the play. A modern interpretation
could argue that Shakespeare explored the idea of the mind's power to
influence behaviour is represented in his play's narrative. The central
protagonist and tragic hero are Macbeth who at the beginning of the play
is portrayed as heroic and brave but by the end of the play, he has
become a heartless tyrant who abuses his illegitimate kingship and power
and therefore suffers a suitable fate, which would flatter King James as the
rightful monarch.
Women's roles were strictly controlled in the patriarchal society of the
time and therefore not allowed to contribute to positions of power outside
the home. Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as the antithesis of this
and positions her as a societal challenge to the typical gender roles
assigned to men and women of the period. She has a thirst for the power
promised by the witches’ prophecies to her husband ‘All hail, Macbeth!
Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!’. It could be argued that Lady
Macbeth receives her immoral ambition for power from the witches'
supernatural capabilities, after receiving her husband's letter 'I may pour
my spirits in thine ear’. Unlike Macbeth whose masculinity, is represented
by military power: ‘noble Macbeth hath won', Lady Macbeth's knows she
must become more masculine to achieve her ambition. Shakespeare's
use of imperatives like 'Unsex me here,’ suggests she believes shedding
her gender may grant more power. It is also of note that Shakespeare
uses phrases earlier in Act 1 scene 1, 'Fair is foul and foul is
fair’ suggesting a reversal of the natural order of things. Echoing the
shifting order of things; Fairness, power, gender. Macbeth reinforces the
image of Lady Macbeth's masculine strength by saying ‘Bring forth men-
children only’ suggesting that her desire for political power are the key
attributes of a stereotypical male. To a Jacobean audience, Lady
Macbeth's assertive and driven behaviour would reinforce the belief that
women are the weaker sex and therefore easier to be entrapped in the
gross snares of the devil.
Women in the play use Macbeth’s fatal flaw of ambition to gain power
over him. Macbeth's hamartia is having too much ambition and misusing
it. After hearing the witches' prophecies, 'All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be
king hereafter!', Macbeth is overcome by ambition and allows himself to
be manipulated as a result of the witch’s prophecies. Females in the play
are portrayed as temptresses using their ‘charms and everything beside’
to lead him astray. Their power is only gained by Macbeth's ‘spiteful and
