Similarities Between 1984 And Macbeth

Comparative Essay | 1984 and Macbeth | Question 1

In George Orwell’s 1984 and William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, human degradation can be seen but in slightly different ways to each other. Orwell connects with the values and beliefs of his readers by showing unjust social practices in the way of The Party. Shakespeare shows this when Macbeth is being degraded by the witches and Lady Macbeth. Orwell shows a large population being degraded whereas Shakespeare illustrates only one individual. As shown in each piece, the population of Airstrip One and Macbeth himself are both expendable due to certain unjust social practices. Some of these actions include control and despotism, unfair psychological manipulation, which in turn lead to paranoia and guilt, making it easier to degrade these certain people. This is how Shakespeare

In each case, unjust social action is taken to gain control. One of these is psychological manipulation and is demonstrated in both pieces. It is shown in 1984 quite clearly due to the fact that Big Brother is always watching. It can also be found in Macbeth and how Lady Macbeth and the Witches have a mental impact upon him. The population of Airstrip One is under constant surveillance and is always being watched. The immense power that Big Brother and the Thought Police acquire makes it extremely easy to keep control of the people. They are slowly and constantly degraded over time, dulling their minds and actions with the use of telescreens and posters everywhere. Macbeth is also affected by manipulation from his wife and the Witches. They tempt him into his actions and take over his thoughts. All the Withes had to do was consider the fact to him, that one day he would be King and then let Lady Macbeth do the rest. She continues to drill into Macbeth and pressure him into murdering Duncan until he is completely expendable, just like The Party and Big Brother make their population easy to