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Essay Comparing Macbeth And Selma

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Both "Macbeth," a play written by William Shakespeare, and Selma, a film directed by Ava DuVernay, explore distinct narratives centered around different themes. Selma focuses on real-life historical events, highlighting the struggle for Black Americans' voting rights and how those in positions of authority use their power to harm innocent people without fearing consequences. Meanwhile, Macbeth portrays a fictional man pressured by his wife to murder his friends to seize and maintain power. Despite these narrative differences, both stories share an underlying theme of "abuse of power": those in power will resort to extreme measures to remain in control. In both Macbeth and Selma, individuals who attain power are driven to extreme measures to …show more content…

The bell invites me to. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell” (Macbeth, 2.1.61-65). This soliloquy shows that Macbeth believes that merely threatening to kill the King is not enough; action is necessary to achieve his desired glory. Similarly, at the beginning of "Selma," when Martin Luther King advocated for Black People's voting rights to President Johnson, Johnson tells King, “It's a simple matter of political priorities” (Selma, 0:00:00-0:30:00), illustrating his reluctance. When King leaves the room, they consider what he discussed, immediately concluding that they should not let black people vote. This is because giving black people this right would lessen white supremacy, giving them more control and reducing the control of those in power. These events in Selma and Macbeth demonstrate that those in power seek more control and fear losing the power they hold. Furthermore, the perceived invincibility of those who hold power leads to reckless behavior. Macbeth and Selma demonstrate this, as Macbeth himself believes that he is safe from harm, as do the police and government in Selma. The second apparition tells Macbeth, “For none of the women born shall harm Macbeth” (Macbeth,

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To make his audience believe he was on their side could have manipulated the audience into thinking what was about to unravel was more constructive criticism than anything, but in reality, a constant way to remind the white moderate of their apathy and laziness brought on by their privilege. Martin Luther King assured his audiences recognized their privilege by expressing the injustices all children of color must go through when growing up in a world based on racism: constant self-deprecation, fatal hate-crimes, various humiliating racial signs everywhere they go (Letter From Birmingham City Jail) and ultimately living in a world where the color of their skin, something completely uncontrollable, determines whether or not they must undergo the myriad of discriminatory actions throughout the rest of their life. Adding on, King made sure this was brought up to their attention because they had constantly been told to wait their turn yet emphasized the fact that delayed justice will never change anything. For King, every child of color is taught the melanin they have been given is what causes other individuals to act the way they do before them, creating an environment of inferiority and self-consciousness (Letter From Birmingham City Jail) all caused by the white moderate because they have not done anything to change it. Blaming the white moderate for the reason various colored people fear for their life, it is sure to stir up various sentiments of denial and

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Through the comparison and contrast of characters, key plot events, and resolutions in literature the audience/reader is capable of better understanding the work. The play written by William Shakespeare, Macbeth, represents how the corruption of power and greed can turn someone evil. This can be compared to the film, The Tragedy of Macbeth, produced by Joel Coen, Frances McDormand and Robert Graf which has the same theme. The film and play can be compared to one another in many aspects, as well as, differ from each other to either create intensity or leave out unimportant details.

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Achieving power is essential, but how one gains power is just as imperative to sustaining it. This theme is acutely underscored in Shakespeare's Macbeth and Ava DuVernay's Selma. Both Macbeth and M.L.K. steer down different paths in the pursuit of power. Violence, treacherous acts, and sinful deeds mark Macbeth's movement, leading to him becoming the architect of his demise; in contrast, Martin Luther King led a movement marked by peace, idealism, and aspirations that built a better future not only for King but accomplished incredible feats for the African American community. By comparing and contrasting methods of maintaining power, the support received by each movement, and the movement's effectiveness, it is explicitly displayed that nonviolent

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King relies on his audience’s positive emotions towards his stance to gain support for his argument. For example, King reaches to the audience when he states “ When will you be satisfied?” This question was in reference to the police brutality against African Americans. King then goes on to answer his own question by stating “ No, no we are no satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” King builds his case on emotion of the situation by signifying the importance of what independence should be and how black people should take a stand towards it.

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1239 Words | 5 Pages

This quote exemplifies how blacks have been put down and beat upon for years without the ability to fight back. King detailing the constitutional and god given rights shows that blacks have been denied basic rights that our country has been structured around. The American ideology that “all men are created equal” has not applied to the black race, illustrating their denial of God-given and constitutional rights. The stinging darts of segregation is an example of blacks continuous enduring of

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William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a testimony to the difference between greed and ambition, good and evil, and right and wrong. The story shows that when one becomes obsessed with power, they will often resort to methods of manipulation and retaliation to achieve their desired outcome. In the case of Macbeth, he is approached by the Three Witches who inform him that he will one day become Thane of Cawdor and the King of Scotland. Additionally, they inform Macbeth’s comrade Banquo that his sons will one day be kings.

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Compare and Contrast Macbeth and Film Act 1 scene 1: The 3 witches recited a spell or curse right away instead of starting with the first line in the play, “When shall we meet again..” (Shakespeare, 302). The second version we watched was less dramatic than the 1948 movie.

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In many stories evil triumphs but never concurs. In the novel of to kill a mocking bird from Harper lee, evil is triumphed by ignorance and racism. How ever in the novel of Macbeth from William shake spear, evil is triumphed by greed, jealousy and ambition. Both have their own scenario and we will compare how both protagonists for both novel fight the evil that triumphs in their life’s. for the novel ‘Macbeth’ the protagonist is Macbeth and the protagonist for ‘To kill a mocking bird’ is Atticus both will be compared on how big of an impact was created by their decision and how they face evil.

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Making a movie from direct content that is more than a hundred years old is easy because all the scenes and script is there for your use. Some directors like to make some drastic or minor changes based on their own interpretation of the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. While watching both Goold (2010) and Polanski (1971), I have noticed a lot of major differences between the two movies and the original play Macbeth written by William Shakespeare. Some of the differences I have noticed is that is in Goold (2010), Macbeth actually comes to kill Lady Macduff and her children. Another difference in Goold (2010) is that the witches are shown throughout the film.

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“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown” (H. P. Lovecraft). In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird and Shakespeare’s Macbeth, many characters are shown to be primarily driven by this emotion. Characters such as Mayella Ewell in To Kill A Mockingbird or Malcolm and Donalbain in Macbeth are shown to act drastically because of fear. Actions such as Macbeth killing Banquo in fear of being exposed or Mayella accusing an innocent man, display how humans are primarily driven by fear.

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Woman Macbeth is driven however does not have the ethics of her better half, so in the outcome,

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The quote, “The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust… to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny… They have to come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom” is filled with many diction like “destiny” and “freedom.” King uses a significant amount of strong diction to make his speech effective. Additionally, his word choice has a way of reaching out to the audience. He believes “freedom” is extremely important and it is an obligation to create a justice

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685 Words | 3 Pages

This prophecy tells Macbeth that Macduff’s intentions toward him are not good. The second apparition lures Macbeth into a false sense of security as it tells him that he cannot be harmed by anyone one born of a woman. It says “Be bloody, bold and resolute. Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” (1329)

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1111 Words | 5 Pages

This reference in particular evokes the strongest emotional response from black people because many African Americans revered Lincoln for his decision to sign the revolutionary Emancipation Proclamation, and how the document symbolized a free future for slaves--the ancestors of the blacks in the crowd. But the next few lines following this allusion also persuades those ignorant of how little things have changed by highlighting the “manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination” that blacks still suffer from despite the hundred year gap. Here, he uses the connotations of “manacles” and “chains” to evoke a negative emotional response from the audience, especially from those unaware of the need to change, causing their opinion to match the speaker’s: against segregation. Additionally, King weaves biblical allusions into his speech to appeal to the Christians within the crowd. He uses the “dark and desolate valley of segregation” to illustrate the injustice African Americans have endured for centuries and juxtapositions it with the “sunlit path of racial justice” to exemplify a future where true freedom exists for

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He incorporated a lot of biblical allusions to insist the audience that his speech is in accordance to the Bible, as King writes that he has a dream that one day, “every valley shall be exalted,” every hill and mountain “made low,” all rough places will be “plain” and crooked places “straight” and that the “glory of the Lord shall be revealed.” (Isaiah 40:4-5). On another occasion he paraphrased one of biblical statement “weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalms 30:5 ) in his words as “It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity “cite .King’s allusions to past events help to create unite both races and inspire them to tackle this problem collectively as both colors experienced American history in some form or another. King not only references the Biblical allusions which emotionally appeal to people but also mentions legal statements like declaration of independence and Emancipation proclamation by mentioning “Five score years …” to refer to Abraham Lincoln’s address and “promissory note” to direct their attention towards their legal rights as mentioned in the constitution.

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