Macbeth Comparison

Sometimes in literature, a main character’s ambition oversteps moral and ethical boundaries, especially when the setout plan is evil. Two clear examples of this idea can be seen in the play Macbeth and Julius Caesar, both by William Shakespeare. In Macbeth it is Lady Macbeth that catapults her husband into capturing the crown. In Julius Caesar it is Cassius that plans the historic extermination of Caesar. In both plays, the characters’ selfish ambition for power is so extreme, that they’re willing to sacrifice innocent humanity, and their morality to accomplish their deepest desires.

Throughout the play Macbeth, ambition becomes a central theme after Macbeth receives a prophesy saying that he shall be King of Scotland from the witches. Although he thinks about killing the King, Macbeth ultimately abhors the idea and hurting him. When a new heir is announced to take the King’s Place, Macbeth writes a letter to his wife Lady Macbeth who rekindles the ambition of kinghood within him. Lady Macbeth is by far the typical woman of the Elizabethan Age. She oversteps the accepted moral boundaries on multiple occasions, which go on to expose her inner selfish ambition.

Reading Macbeth’s letter puts Lady Macbeth in a “state of authority” mentally, by making regicide her primary agenda so that she could advance up in the world as Queen. The fact that she manipulates her husband into committing a horrendous crime like regicide shows that she is way past the point of sanity and morality. She also displays a though masculine nature that trumps that is her wimpy husband when it comes to crime and death. Her prowess for blood and the crime can also be seen through her soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 5, as she says “Make thick my blood,” as she calls upon spirits to aide with her evil plot. Her masculinity is displayed through this quote, as she seems to be asking for her menstruation to be stopped so that she could take on a manly-heartless attitude that’s immune to guilt or fear of murder. Unlike a moral, submissive woman of her time, Lady Macbeth seems to be the dominating force in her marriage and thus the ultimate catalyst for convincing Macbeth to follow through with the murder of the king.

The theme of ambition also manifests itself in Julius Caesar. Lady Macbeth’s equivalent in this play is Cassius, who becomes the main conspirator in the death of Caesar. Like Lady Macbeth who was ambitious for the title of Queen and Duncan’s kingdom, Cassius deep down long s for the same type of power and respect that Caesar had received from the Romans. Even early in his life, Cassius never saw Caesar as a strong and worthy leader, and went through life thinking he was superior. Both Cassius and Lady Macbeth’s ambition for murder also seems to be strengthened right when a political change is to take place. In Macbeth it was the naming of Duncan’s heir and in Julius Caesar it was the offering of the “crown”. Nevertheless like Lady Macbeth, Cassius also finds a prey that can be manipulated in carrying out the fundamental ambition to the end. In this case it is Brutus.

Like Macbeth, Brutus is hinted to have had contemplated Caesar’s death, a feeling that he is at first “at war” with like Macbeth. Similarly at first, Brutus never really saw Caesar as a poor leader and is even good friends with him. However it is Cassius’s propaganda and convincing that eventually turn Brutus over to the “dark” side.  Once again, ambition fueled by jealousy and social-status is what overstep moral boundaries.  Both plays also revolve around similar symbols, a prophesy, a letter, and cold-blood which like in Macbeth represents evil plans. In Julius Caesar the prophesy is the Ides of March which proclaim that Caesar will be assassinated. Likewise a letter is used on behalf of Cassius to further instill in him the ambition of immorally murdering the innocent Caesar. Lastly, a “warning” dream which Caesar’s wife has before his assassination deals with his statue being covered in “blood”.  However it is one of Cassius’s conspirators who reassures him not to take the dream’s meaning to heart and come to Senate. The cover-up and “bloody dream” prove that evil has in fact infiltrated another realm. This then goes to show the degree of wicked ambition on part of Cassius and eventually Brutus as they surpass the ethical boundaries of life and decision making by parting in the murder of Rome’s greatest dictator.

ap practice test 5 essays

ESSAY 1

The poem “I have a rendezvous with Death” by Alan Seeger deals with a man coming to terms with death, and realizing that at any given moment, death could take his life away. The speaker seems to be a soldier in the military as he notes to meet up with death at a “barricade” (line2) or a “battered hill” (line 12). The speaker seems to be fully aware of his position in the military and the price he must eventually pay, which will be sacrificing his life by means of dying. Nevertheless like most soldiers, he doesn’t seem to be afraid of dying, and welcomes the idea with open arms; although the speaker brings up the thought that he would rather be sleeping next to his beloved.  The multiple repetition of “I have a rendezvous with death” supports this idea.

When it comes to diction, the poem is written in a typical easy to follow form. It doesn’t possess many poetic irregularities or complex rhyme schemes. This provides for the poem to flow smoothly and be logical to grasp. The uniform diction is also crucial when it comes to setting the tone for the poem. The tone seems to be calm yet anticipating. The speaker does not seem to be in any worry to die, but awaits it. The figurative language is characterized by personification, irony, and imagery techniques. Death overall seems to be personified as being a real-live person, that the speaker has a rendezvous with. The speaker also uses imagery when describing Spring and “the first meadow-flowers appearing.” This adds a lighter tone to the poem, and serves to counteract any emotion that the idea of Death may inflict on the reader. The poem also employs irony in lines 3-5 when it is said that a rendezvous with death will follow spring, a time that is usually associated with new life.

The poem “Because I could not stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson similarly deals with a “positive” outlook when it comes to death, and waiting for it to strike at any given moment. The tone like the previous poem seems to be blithe and reflective. The speaker in the poem already seems to be dead. It is then death that comes to her and takes her on a reflective journey towards places that used to probably be of sentimental value to the speaker when she was alive. Thus the revisiting of special places adds acknowledgement and closure on the fact that she’s dead.

The structure of the poem seems to be melodic, as a rhyming pattern can be seen within the stanzas. Like seen in the previous poem, this poem uses personification when it comes to death. Death is personified as being almost a type of boyfriend for the speaker, that makes time for her and takes her out driving around special places, and then delivering her home (to her grave). The sun also seems to per personified in lines (12-13) by “passing” the couple. There also seems to be a frequent use of alliteration, which adds a more harmonious touch to a poem that ironically deals with death.  Symbolism is also used by means of the “house” and “carriage”; typically in olden times it was a carriage that carried the diseased into their eternal home and that would be their grave. Although the symbolism may be dark, the diction and tone are designed to evoke a tone of impartiality.

ESSAY 2

In the excerpt, a young girl eagerly awaits the appearance of an actress she has looked forward to seeing. Over the course of time, the speaker’s opinions about the actress change. At first the speaker expects the speaker to be a plain woman, of “bony harshness”. However she is pleasantly surprised when the actress appears to be grand looking, “a shadow of a royal Vashti queen.” Nonetheless the speaker’s opinion of the actress’s radiating graceful appearance soon changes again, as she finds her to be devil like. Being captivated by her theatrical performance as an evil figure, helps strengthen the speaker’s mind about the true nature of the actress.

Most of the passage consists of the look at the actress from a negative demonic appearance. The speaker even notes that she was “torn by seven devils.. who refused to be exorcized.” The actress’s performance portrays her in a more negative perspective, than she may actually be like in reality. For example she seems to lack feelings, when it comes to tears and pain. Phrases like “before calamity she is a tigress” reinforce her powerful spirit as an actress. However the speaker does come to see to some degree a different side of her, claiming that despite her wickedness she is strong. Despite how the speaker might feel about the actress’s vile nature, her personality and aura can also be viewed as an overall act.

ESSAY 3

Sometimes in a novel a minor action or event has a disproportionate impact upon the character that experiences it. A good example of this would be in the in the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. In the play, an evil teenage girl Abigail has unrequited feelings for a man which she previously had an affair with named John Proctor. When John ends and abhors the relationship, Abigail gets caught in the middle of a scheme in order to revenge and recapture the man she loves. This manifests itself in the form of conjuring she does in the woods one day with her fellow friends. Once caught in the act Abigail blames a known servant named Tituba for making her conjure up evil. However Abigail then begins accusing other people in town of conjuring up evil including John’s wife Elizabeth.

The fact that Elizabeth is blamed is crucial to this play. John for months tries to rebuilt trust and a better relationship with his wife after she finds out about his indiscretions with Abigail. Despite his adultery, John does still in fact love his wife, however she does not seem to believe this fact. Abigail’s lie meanwhile continues to snowball out of proportion, as she forces her friend Mary who is also John’s servant to bring into his house a “trick” voodoo for Elizabeth. The doll is then used as a manipulation tactic for the public to sully Elizabeth’s good name, and have her arrested so that Abigail could forever be with John.

In order to protect his wife and restore their marriage John takes it into his hands to clear his wife’s name in court, by squashing the lying hysteria started by Abigail in the whole town. He sacrifices his reputation and reveals his adultery to the townspeople. Nevertheless the revelation doesn’t stop Elizabeth from being released from jail. The blame is then thrown upon John, who is said to have been part of witchcraft, and is put in jail. Unlike other people’s, John’s ability to stay true to himself and his dignity empower him to never confess to witchcraft, even though it would guarantee him freedom. He also swears not to incriminate anyone else in town for witchcraft, knowing that a simple lie has already taken the life of multiple innocent victims. Thus heroically, John proves his genuine character to his wife, redeems himself by symbolically dying for what he believes in.

Being that it was based on the Salem Witch Trials shows how far a little dirty lie can go in term of causing harm. In terms of this literary work, multiple innocent victims died because they were accused yet stood up for what they believed in, justice and honesty. Overall this novel shows the corrupt nature, and intolerance or society as a whole, by acting irrationally and not placing truth above all else.