External Influences In Macbeth And Memory Police

The art of influence is a powerful asset in the pursuance of control. Control comes through personal influence over another, compelling them to act a certain way. It can also be, conversely, by tyrannical influence through authoritarian or government-related force. Macbeth and Memory Police both integrate these themes to depict the negative impact of these external influences on its characters. Through personal manipulation and authoritarian influence, both Ogawa and Shakespeare skilfully illustrate how our perception can be subtlety altered and corrupted, suggesting the influence external factors have on our beliefs and reactions. The following essay will analyze and compare the theme of influence in its diverse representations in these two

In the first act of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth uses her personal knowledge of Macbeth to agitate him, stating “When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man” (Shakespeare, 1.7. 49-51). In this proclamation Lady Macbeth exercises authoritarian power over her husband. This quote exhibits her ability to personally manipulate him, ultimately persuading Macbeth to commit murder, in order to secure his place as king. Lady Macbeth uses her knowledge of Macbeths fragile masculinity, exclaiming that only when he murders King Duncan, “then you were a man”. Lady Macbeth repeatedly uses Macbeth's insecurities regarding his manhood to influence him to kill King Duncan. She states “Unsex me here” (Shakespeare, 1.4), and subsequently, how she wishes to swap her milk for “gal”, so she can be a man so and kill King Duncan herself. This statement emanates the idea that murder is a man’s job, meaning that if Macbeth does not go through with the murder he has surrendered his manhood. Macbeth exercises the societal standard of masculinity as a reoccurring theme which expedites Macbeth to kill the king. Ultimately, Lady Macbeth takes advantage of this theme of Macbeth’s need to prove his manhood, and influences his characters plot. Similar to this intimate manipulation, the typing teacher in Memory Police also uses a personal connection to manipulate and influence the typing student. The typing student is abused mentally and physically by the typing teacher however, the student still is under his control and relies on him. The teacher somehow manipulates the student into “losing” her voice forever, and eventually losing her bodily presence, and attachment to the outside world. This is prominent in the statement “I could no longer understand