Download Rachel Kazimer Walker English III 21 October 2010 Modern

Rachel Kazimer
Walker
English III
21 October 2010
Modern Macbeth
Shakespeare is known for is brilliant plays written several hundred years ago that find
their way into relating to modern life. Macbeth, his shortest tragedy is no exception. Though
Shakespeare’s work has not been matched since its composition, the same themes play
throughout contemporary music on a daily basis. More recent songs that portray these archaic
themes include “Go Slinky Go!” by UTKF and “Those Cannons Could Sink a Ship” by A Skylit
Drive. Even though the play is out dated, these songs modern day songs relate to the play
through lyrics that connect to the themes of ambition and guilt.
Ambition plays a menacing role in the play Macbeth, causing the main character to
partake in a murder spree to gain power. “So bring the noise, we’ve got the voice to make a
scene” (writer) relates to the three Weïrd Sisters, or witches, who begin the drama by relaying a
prophecy to Macbeth about his future success. “Why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid
image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs, against the use of nature?
Present fears are less than horrible imaginings.” (Act 1 Scene IV) shows that Macbeth is
overcome by the thoughts of possibly having to murder King Duncan to take his place as king.
“It’s not a ‘Let’s just make a deal’ It’s now a ‘Welcome to the real world” (write) displays his
thoughts convince him that he cannot simply make a deal to take King Duncan’s place as ruler,
but he must take it himself, even if that means murder and setting himself up in the path of
destruction. He writes a letter to his wife, Lady Macbeth, explaining the witches and their
prophecies and she agrees that the only way to rise up to power is to take it themselves. In Act 2
as Macbeth is on his way to murder Duncan, he runs into Banquo, his dear friend, whom the
witches predicted his descendents would be future kings of Scotland. Dramatic irony plays in the
dialogue as they meet each other in the hallway, “’Who’s there’ ‘A friend’” (Act 2 Scene I),
because the reader knows Macbeth becomes wary of Banquo, finds him a threat and has him
murdered. In both songs there is a reference to this type of dramatic irony involving false
friendships. “I am your friend in all of this; I have you right here where I want you.” (Writer) and
“Remember what you said about being a friend now?” (Jagmin) Manipulating a friendship shows
his lust to gain the power since he no longer cares about friends, just himself. “The movement of
her hips strikes the hour when the poison sets in,” (Jagmin) explains, even though he kills many
people, Macbeth is murdered, ending his reign of tyranny. Killed by the venom of ambition
coursing through his veins.
Symptoms of a healthy human mind involve the ability to have a conscience for crimes
committed and feel guilt about the wrongs done. From this stand point, Macbeth is healthy to
some extent. Throughout the play, before or after he commits a devilish deed he feels the
horrible weight of the murder. As Macbeth is on his way to murder his first victim, King
Duncan, he begins to hallucinate that a bloody dagger appears and leads him towards Duncan’s
room. He talks to the dagger, but as he does his courage begins to fade and he becomes
frightened with which he is about to do; “Whiles I threat, he lives. Words to the heat of deeds too
cold breath gives.” (Act 2 Scene I). After the murder Macbeth returns to his wife, so distraught
by what has happened he did not leave the dagger amongst the servants to frame them. He tells
of how the servants said prayers before going back to sleep and he could not say “Amen” along
with them because of his horrible crime just committed. “Methought I heard a voice cry ‘Sleep
no more! Macbeth does murder sleep!’” (Act 2 Scene II), although this might not have actually
been said, it shows that Macbeth is already paranoid about what he’s just done and fears he will
be sought out. “This doesn’t happen as I’d like to pretend, ‘Cause we’re here to bring the
madness and we’re here to the end,” (writer) relates how Macbeth chickened out of killing
Duncan because it was not as easy to take the life of someone as good of a man as Duncan, but
he kills Duncan anyways because Lady Macbeth calls him a coward. Macbeth gets away with
murder, or at least that is what the official report says, and he is crowned King of Scotland.
Many people, including Banquo, do not believe the official report and believe Macbeth is
responsible for Duncan’s murder. Macbeth hires two henchmen to execute Banquo and his son
Fleance soon after. A third murderer joins and is able to kill Banquo, but Fleance escapes. At a
banquet held in his dear friend’s honor, one of the murderers arrives to update Macbeth. He
becomes scared by Fleance’s escape but makes sure Banquo is done for. “But Banquo’s safe?”
(Act 3 Scene IV) is Macbeth asking if he is truly dead and the body shall not be found. “They’ll
never find where I buried you,” (Jagmin). He is reassured when the murderer tells him so, but
becomes frightened when he sees Banquo’s ghost sitting in his seat. “The secret’s out now…
Can you see it’s me?” (Jagmin) Macbeth is sure everyone can see the bloody ghost and they will
now know he is responsible for the murder.
Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, illustrates several key themes to life, in the past or in the
present. Themes such as ambition and guilt that plague the mind of every human being trying to
rise up and survive in the world. “Go Slinky Go!” by UTKF and “Those Cannons Could Sink a
Ship” by A Skylit Drive do excellent jobs expressing the everyday feels of those themes that are
important enough to be written about over again.
Rachel Kazimer
Walker
English 3
21 October 2010
DeLost, Anton. “Go Slinky Go!” Welcome to the Real World. Lost Sudios, 2009.
Jagmin, Micheal. “Those Cannons Could Sink A Ship.” Adelphia. Fearless Records, 2009. CD.
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Ed. Barbra A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. New York: A
Washington Square Press, 1992. Print.