Shakespeare's Macbeth is a politically centered play, it dramatizes the contrasted effects of power and authority upon a land. It is a play of political figures and ambition, of power and authority, of order and disorder, and of the restoration of peace. The central concern of the play is the issue of legitimate and illegitimate kingship; Shakespeare concentrates upon succession, regicide, usurpation, and the abuse of power, or tyranny. The leadership and thereby kingship of Macbeth and Malcolm are evaluated through all of the characters presented on stage. All of the characters, including witches, serve the play in acting to make, support, or destroy a king. This evaluation of kingship extends to all three Kings within the play, a victim in Duncan, an ambitious tyrant in Macbeth and a steady-handed heroine in Malcolm. Shakespeare holds the play to this focus through the simplicity of the plot. The dramatized struggle between the dictatorial regime of Macbeth and the more heroic movement led by Malcolm to perform what is seen today as a political shift to the left from right wing is a timeless focal point that allows for comparisons between Shakespeare's Ma

Macbeth is wary of Banquo not because Banquo is a menace to the crown, but because Banquo is a reminder of his own corruption. Macbeth's regression feeds off fear; when there is nothing to fear, Macbeth conjures fear to satisfy his regressive appetite, "My strange and self abuse / Is the initiate fear that wants hard use" (III.iv.142-43). Macbeth kills Banquo because his unquenchable fear alters Banquo into the "grown serpent" which he wrongly perceives as dangerous (III.iv.29). Macbeth is also driven to murder because he is afraid to right his wrongs. Macbeth is "in blood/ Stepp'd in so far that . . . Returning were as tedious as go o'er" (III.iv.136-38). He is so afraid of losing his crown that he feels he must murder Banquo in order to hide his atrocities. Moreover, his deed is not motivated by the desire to safeguard the land or cleanse it of enemies.

Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares,

The Shakespearean perception of a "true" monarchy was a tightly knit government that in the most romantic sense, transfered the wish of god through rightful succession. Althought the word of the true King cannot be questioned as it is in essence the wish of god, the monarch can be scrutinized by men of social stature if it can be argued that the King is not a just ruler. The same process socially disqualifies a ruler from the Kingship if the people, or persons of stature in opposition are great enough in number and strength to successfully oppose the tyrant. In Macbeth, any wrongdoing on the part of the King is considered tyranny; and an unjustice that clearly does not serve to benefit the people is one that has been comitted to serve only the ruling monarch. Shakespeare's Macbeth excludes the general population from the role of "the people" in favour of the ruling elite as is the case in all government systems of the time. Clearly, dramatic imagery presented throughout the play demonstrates that Macbeth was not the true and just leader of the land; Macbeth was an imposter who had to be removed and Shakespeare presented his characters so as to demonstrate that the new King should not have been placed on the throne. Shakespeare ensures that Macbeth is not considered a satanical leader just because of his momentary lust for power during the murder of Duncan, the tyranny of Macbeth is shown throughout the play and then only as a tragedy; Macbeth is a man fallen from greatness who has alienated himself through his own paranioa and ambition. Ironically, by the time that Macbeth has fallen from greatness he is socially higher than he was when he was considered a great man. When describing the heroics of Macbeth and Banquo, Duncan states that "They smack of honour both"(I,ii,45); how unfortunate it is that Macbeth is forced through external power to bow to his fatal flaw, ambition. By starting the play with two recognized heroes, Shakespeare is able to demonstrate the real character of the protagonist through the differences between Banquo and Macbeth. The prophecies of the witches interest both of them but Banquo considers them to be only half-truths and warns Macbeth of his conclusion, indicating that he sees a disconcerting ambition within Macbeth that may pay testament to the character that he knows. The fact that Macbeth seriously considers the prophecies of the witches while Banquo does not is the first major difference between the characters that is concentrated upon in the play, it is therefore scrutinized carefully by the audience. Macbeth is clearly a very ambitious character and Shakespeare very breifly introduces a subtle thought of regicide on his part, although this is lost to the audience in the recent honour from Duncan. The involvement of Lady Macbeth in Duncan's murder is that of the instigator, without Lady Macbeth it is entirely possible that Macbeth himself would have become King honourably and le

Some common words found in the essay are:
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