Macbeth and Gladiator Essay Essay Example

Macbeth and Gladiator Essay Essay Example Macbeth and Gladiator Essay Paper Macbeth and Gladiator Essay Paper Although composed centuries apart, both Shakespearean Macbeth and Riddled Coots Gladiator explore the similar idea of ambition, through their villainous characters Macbeth and Commodes. Macbeth composed In 1606 for King James delineates a noble soldiers character transformation from an ambitious Individual to corrupted tyrant as supernatural Witches and Lady Macbeth Ignite his desire for power. Similarly, Gladiators vicious antagonist Is a malevolent personage, whose desire to be loved transforms into corrupted ambition. These similar ideas of ambition are presented in very different ways, one through the medium of drama while the other wrought film. Despite the differences, the texts establish, through literary and film techniques that ambition, without a moral framework will lead to destruction and downfall. Shakespeare portrays the destructive consequences of ambition, through the character transformation of his eponymous protagonist Macbeth. Macbeth is initially characterized as a brave and noble soldier, who is highly respected by many. However, through the interactions with the abhorrent witches, it is revealed that the physical courage he holds is Joined by a consuming ambition for power. The itches prophecies that Macbeth will be Thane of Castor and Shall be king hereafter tempt his latent ambition for power, metaphorically poisoning his psychological state, full of scorpions Is my mind; prompting him to perform treacherous acts. Macbeth believes committing regicide, ironically, Might be the be- all and end-all, although his ambitious usurpation of the throne results in destructive consequences such as remorse, paranoia and his demise. In contrast to the start of the play, Machetes characterization changes from good to evil, illustrated by Malcolm metaphorical comment This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our onuses. Shakespeare establishes through Malcolm inimical words, that Macbeth is no longer seen as a noble soldier, but as a tyrannical murderer whose name cannot be spoken of, depicting the consequences of unchecked ambition. Lady Macbeth Is the driving force behind Machetes Immoral acts and corrupted ambition. She Is ruthless, stronger and more ambitious than her husband. Her ambition causes her to go to extreme measures to gain power to the throne; Including neglecting her femininity to be able to perform acts of cruelty and violence of a man, Come to my mans breast and take my milk for gall, metaphorically revealing the evil and corrupted ambition within her. When Macbeth hesitates to murder, she repeatedly questions his manhood and calls him a coward; manipulating him into committing regicide. However, the psychological implications of murder result in her infected mind and she slowly descended into madness. Lady Macbeth is so plagued with guilt from her ambition that her hands become bloodstained and she is unable to wash the blood away, Out, damned spot! Out I say! Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him? Shakespeare utilizes a blood motif to symbolize the everlasting guilt for the murder of the king; a consequence of ambition without a moral framework. Machetes hamster, unchecked ambition, causes his rise as king, yet also leads to destructive consequences Initiating his downfall. Through Macbeth and Lady Machetes disruption to the Chain of Being, Shakespeare downfall. This is displayed with Machetes character foil Macadam. Macadams ambition was only for the good of Scotland, contrasting to Macbeth who only had fatal self- desires. Macbeth begins to erode the Chain of Being by murdering King Duncan, causing a storm that makes the earth ferrous and shake. The symbolism of the storm during Dunces murder reflects the disorder and chaos within the state from the disruption of the Chain of being. Immediately after Dunces murder Macbeth starts to unwind the natural world around. Restoration to the chain of being is returned by Macadam who kills Macbeth Shakespeare ends the play with Macadam killing Macbeth, restoring order to the country and chain of being, appeasing his audience. (Add quote) Riddled Coots 2001 film, Gladiator, utilizes film techniques and horse-trading to portray the destructive consequences of ambition without a moral frame. Commodes, Gladiators antagonist is the son of emperor Marcus Aurelias who desperately desires to be loved, yet also has a vaulting ambition to gain power to the throne. His characterization is comparable to Shakespearean Macbeth who also is corrupted by his ambition for power yet also desires to be loved. Commodes, who is not a moral man, is portrayed as an evil and corrupted character throughout the entire film, which is exemplified by the constant chiaroscuro lighting. Commodes irrupted ambition is initially depicted after he is informed that the emperors power will be passed to Maximum, causing him to murder the emperor in order for him to gain power. His ambitious usurper to the throne reflects the regicide of King Duncan by Macbeth. However, Commodes ambitious yearnings have physical consequences, metaphorically splitting [his] head to pieces depicting that corrupted ambition will lead to ones downfall. Maximum is Romeos greatest general, the antithesis of ambition which is portrayed through his humility and passion for his country. This is established through the motif of him rubbing dirt into his hands, metaphorically emphasizing that he is grounded and passionate towards his home land. His passion for Rome makes him comparable to Shakespearean Macadam who cares for the well-being of Scotland. Commodes character being told by the people to Go Away! delineates the disrespect he has through the low saturated scene. However, Juxtaposing Commodes, Maximum is adored by the people of Rome which is depicted through the brightly saturated longings and dietetic sound of the crowd repeatedly chanting Maximum! Reflecting Macadams character, Maximum is similarly humane, dirt cleans Off lot easier than blood, and respected by many. The pinnacle of Commodes corrupted ambition is represented through his duel with Maximum to gain the peoples adoration. His self-proclaimed invincibility and ambition exacerbates his hubris. As the dramatic , non-dietetic music crescendos, Commodes rises embracing light however in contrast Maximum has his head hung portraying his humility. The inversion of atypical costuming of heroes and villains depicts Commodes self-glorification- as he is dressed in white and Maximum in black. The white robes Commodes arrogantly wears become covered in blood portraying his insincere purity and corrupted ambition. Maximum, mirroring Macadam, restores order to Rome by killing Commodes. However, unlike Commodes, Maximums death is recognized -he was a soldier of Rome, honor him. A high shot reveals Rome honoring Maximum. Both Shakespearean Macbeth and Riddled Coots Gladiator development; however have differing contexts. Macbeth and Commodes are destroyed by excessive ambition which leads to their downfall, didactically conveying the importance of ambition being accompanied by a moral framework.