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The Tragic Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare Essay

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Absolute power corrupts absolutely… unless, of course, your absolute power is a God-given right. The iconic tragedy Macbeth is arguably one of the most recognised literary works of William Shakespeare, centered on the idea of illegitimate power. Throughout the text, Shakespeare explores the destructive nature of power through various representations and characters, conveying an unceasing struggle for power amongst the main protagonists that causes devastating consequences. Though Shakespeare conveys many different representations regarding the nature of power and the way it operates throughout Macbeth, in particular he represents power as a divine right with which one should not tamper, in order to avoid disaster. Written during the seventeenth century when belief in a divine-ordained hierarchy prevailed, this representation of illegitimate power acted as the driving force of the play and distinctly reflects certain socio-cultural views of the era. It was thought during this time that if monarchial power was gained through illegitimate means, destruction of the mind and state would result; Shakespeare foregrounds the idea that if one does indeed tamper with the divinity of power, the resulting control will be fleeting. This interpretation subsequently allowed the audience to anticipate Macbeth’s usurper of the Scottish throne to ultimately lead to a collective pain, loss and suffering. Whilst examining the play Macbeth, the representation of illegitimate power will be

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