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What Is Mao Tse Tung's Letter To Macbeth

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Every society has a set of principles with the expectation that everyone should follow them. In Mao Tse-Tung’s letter, he writes about his own personal beliefs. However, they greatly contradict what is known to be moral. William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth reveals an ambitious man prepared to carry out any action in order to achieve what he wishes, no matter how inhumane his actions are. Macbeth’s motives and actions coincide with Tse-Tung’s views. Therefore, Macbeth would agree with Tse-Tung who refuses to believe “that the motive of one’s actions has to be benefiting to others” since Macbeth’s own reasons follow Tse-Tung’s beliefs. Macbeth would agree with Tse-Tung because Macbeth only cares about himself. When it was prophesied that he would become king, Macbeth was “only concerned about developing [him]self” as the one to be titled the next king (Tse-Tung). It even came to the point where he decided to murder the king since he could only focus on “[t]he greatest [being] behind” (Macbeth.I.iii.126). However, the only benefit out of murdering the king …show more content…

As no one should be “building achievements to leave for future generations”, Macbeth’s actions are justified to himself because whatever he does as king is only purely for himself (Tse-Tung). Not only that, but as “[n]o son of [his is] succeeding”, he does not need to be afraid of his actions affecting his lineage, and therefore his name, as he has no kin to be affected (Macbeth.III.i.68). Also, as a “good name after death cannot bring…any joy”, Macbeth is not interested in what his actions will have future generations recognize him as, because as long as he can achieve his own way while he is alive, he will enjoy his life (Tse-Tung). “Even till destruction sicken” Macbeth is intent on attaining his own way and surviving long as king, even if there are destructive consequences

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