Shakespeare's Macbeth A Play example essay topic

In two of the most famous plays of William Shakespeare: Hamlet and Macbeth, imagery is a common, and often undiscovered aspect of his writings. From the subtle imagery, which provides for much of the personalities of the character, to the blood imagery in Macbeth. In Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, animalist ic imagery is seen throughout the play and intertwines many characters. There are many ways to associate animalist ic qualities with people, and often people disassociate themselves with this, the essence of their being.

The common predator-prey relationships that are visible in all societies, each animal playing their part, acting as either the cunning or the canned. Just as the complex web combining all of the animals in the animal kingdom, combines the humans of Shakespeare's plays. The idea that the people in the play are similar to animals by being devoid of morals or rational thought is justly proved (Whalen 107). Many characters act as if they have no morals at all.

They exemplify the way not to be, as if they have no heart or soul, thus, providing the essence of animal nature. The two most benevolent predator-prey relationships were between Claudius and Hamlet and vice versa. The two characters were both scheming of when and where to kill the other one. First there is Hamlet. Hamlet becomes a predator of Claudius when he gets confirmation from the ghost to kill Claudius regarding the revenge for his father. When Hamlet comes upon Claudius while he is in the confessional Hamlet has the chance to kill him.

He doesn't, for if he killed him while he was praying Claudius would go to heaven. Wanting Claudius to go to Hell, shows that Hamlet does not care about the welfare of Claudius. Hamlet thinking it was Claudius attacked Polonius behind the curtain. He is seeking the revenge of his father, but kills the wrong man do to him not knowing the fact that it was Polonius.

Claudius is not really the prey of Hamlet. He himself is a predator of Hamlet. Claudius realizes that Hamlet knows about the murder he committed. At this point he takes on a predatory mind set toward Hamlet.

He sees that he must eliminate Hamlet which he attempts when he sends Hamlet off to England for his death. He sent him off to be killed, but luckily Hamlet escapes. A few characters show little to no morals during certain parts of the play (Whalen 82). The first characters are Claudius and Gertrude.

Throughout the play they are seen to be immoral. Both characters go hand in hand since they are married. Shortly after the death of Hamlet Sr. both were drinking and having a great time. This shows that Claudius and Gertrude are partying very shortly after the death of Hamlet Sr. which shows very little remorse, care, or concern to the deceased Hamlet (Bloom 61). Laertes is a character that has very little morals and seems to have no rational thought until the very end of the play.

He comes back from France, to find his father had been murdered (Bloom 15). Being very angered, Laertes goes on a rampage seeking the death of Hamlet. While consumed in fiery angst, he throws aside all ideals of self-preservation and concern. He abandons religion, and choose to chance the rapids, with his soul.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, characters easily viewed as animals, in their simplistic, self-satisfying urges (Bloom 27). As the befriend Hamlet, yet at the same time, spying and manipulating him to further their own wealth and prestige. The constant backstabbing, cutthroat attitude can only be attributed to the pure i dian emotions. Shakespeare has no equal of bringing characters into the play with an animal parallel, showing that he wanted these people to be seen as animals which are immoral, not trustworthy, and blood hungry.

To sum up the social darwinism attributes of Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, All of the players either wind up dead, or progressed, by stepping on the backs of the fallen. In Shakespeare's Macbeth a play, the protagonist goes through a great transformation; from being a heroic general in the king's army to an assassin and a tyrant. The theme of the play is never give into evil because it destroys no matter what the benefits are. Blood Imagery is very important in the play; it shows Macbeth's evil ambition in the beginning, middle, and end of the play. In the beginning of the play, blood imagery is very important.

Macbeth has just killed the enemy and become a hero; Macbeth killed the enemy not for fame or fortune but to defend his land and people. Macbeth's selfish and evil desires have grown; he kills his own king in order to obtain the crown; this is no act of a heroic general but a selfish cold-hearted man. Macbeth slaughters these two men to conceal his actions and to remove suspicion from him; Macbeth's evil spirit is growing; he must commit more evil crimes in order to cover up his others. In addition to the beginning, Blood Imagery is very important in the middle of the play. Macbeth's actions are not as direct as in the beginning; he now plans murders and hires murderers to kill for him; Macbeth kills his good friend Banquo to protect his position. Banquo's ghost haunts Macbeth, and Macbeth is unable to face it.

Macbeth's evil ambition usually leaves Macbeth feeling at peace or safe, but now his ambition has left him with a painful vision of his dead friend (Scott 98). Macbeth has sent his men to catch and kill Macduff, and instead Macbeth's men kill Macduff's innocent son and later his wife. Macbeth is now giving orders to kill woman and children; he has become a complete tyrant. In addition to the middle, blood imagery is important to the end of the play. Lady Macbeth's guilt has overcome her; every night she scrubs her hands to remove the blood, the guilt of killing.

Lady Macbeth pays for her husband's crimes with her life. The evil Macbeth killed the good young Siward. Young Siward's blood was spilt for good; he did not die in shame; young Siward died with honor as a soldier should and for that his father was proud. 'They hailed him father to a line of kings. Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown and put a barren scepter in my gripe. ' (Scott 60) Macduff has defeated Macbeth and returned with his head; he hails Malcolm as king.

Macbeth's blood signals the end of his reign of terror and his own suffering from worry and pain. His evil ambitions cost him his dreams and his life. Blood Imagery in this play shows Macbeth's change from good to bad because of his evil ambitions (Scott 121). Using both animals and blood, Shakespeare creates beautiful imagery that can hit at the essence of being. The way he uses the most common images in the world, the ones that everyone can identify with, proves his worth as perhaps the best playwright of all time.