King Duncan
King Duncan was a not a very effective leader because his decisions were made quickly and on the spot not leaving much time to think about what he was doing. This is evident in 1.2 "No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death, And with his former title greet Macbeth."(1.2.70-72) In this scene the king though having some trust in Macbeth already before seeing Macbeth again and seeing if war had put Macbeth's mind in a unsafe state therefore rendering him unfit to lead. This decision was also made just after a loyal man of the king had just betrayed him so Duncan may not be thinking the way he normally would on a decision not related directly to his previous choices. The king in the same seen had to quickly make a decision to execute the man with no info other than a confession which could be easily due to the fact that their enemy had his family hostage so he had to do what they say. The kings quick choices may have lead to his demise or I might be overlooking that the witches may have done the same to anyone else who would become the Thane of Cawdor.
Macbeth
Macbeth followed many Machiavelli's quotes very well so far through the story. "A prince never lacks legitimate reason to break a promise" This quote from Machiavelli is followed by Macbeth when he kills the king who he says he is loyal to in 1.4. But Macbeth isn't always following Machiavelli. "The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it." This quote from Machiavelli does not apply to Macbeth because the more time that passes the foggier that his vision becomes. For example before he killed Banquo his mind was able to bear, but after his mind begins to drive him to insanity. He is seeing Banquo's ghost and this is leading him to a state not fit to lead in. In the end I believe that Macbeth does not follow Machiavellli enough and I feel that this will lead to his downfall.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Macbeth Act 1 Category Examples.
Appearance Vs. Reality:
"A prince never lacks a legitimate reason to break a promise." This quote from Machiavelli tells us that a leader should say whatever it takes to hold power. For example the Thane of Cawdor before Macbeth the king said "The most dismal traitor the Thane of Cawdor," (1.3.52-53), But the king chose the Thane of Cawdor and he was deceived by the appearance that the man had. But was unable to see through the appearance put on by the traitor until after the traitors damage was done. In this instance The traitor was in line with Machiavelli's ideas but still was not successful thus losing his role and failing to hold power.
Gender Roles:
"That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty!"(1.5.40-43) this quote from Lady Macbeth is showing her desire for cruelty with no remorse. But then Macbeth enters and Lady Macbeth continues with her thoughts she does not stop to appear as a woman should in those times caring and nurturing. But in 1.7.35-44 Lady Macbeth after Macbeth is saying that it wouldn't be right for them to do wrong to the king after the king has done only right to him. But lady Macbeth is saying that he should go through with what he started not acting caring at all acting out of gender not only but out of human she is acting like a monster.
Loyalty & Honor:
In Macbeth there are many examples of loyalty or honor. In 1.5 it's almost completely dedicated to loyalty. Macbeth gives his wife a secret that could put his future at risk. But because he knows he can trust her he tells her this. This info though because she is loyal and greedy she wants to not only keep the secret but wants to help Macbeth. She is loyal to Macbeth and trusts that Macbeth won't use her loyalty for personal gain. Just this scene shows that loyalty is often noticed through out Macbeth.
"A prince never lacks a legitimate reason to break a promise." This quote from Machiavelli tells us that a leader should say whatever it takes to hold power. For example the Thane of Cawdor before Macbeth the king said "The most dismal traitor the Thane of Cawdor," (1.3.52-53), But the king chose the Thane of Cawdor and he was deceived by the appearance that the man had. But was unable to see through the appearance put on by the traitor until after the traitors damage was done. In this instance The traitor was in line with Machiavelli's ideas but still was not successful thus losing his role and failing to hold power.
Gender Roles:
"That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty!"(1.5.40-43) this quote from Lady Macbeth is showing her desire for cruelty with no remorse. But then Macbeth enters and Lady Macbeth continues with her thoughts she does not stop to appear as a woman should in those times caring and nurturing. But in 1.7.35-44 Lady Macbeth after Macbeth is saying that it wouldn't be right for them to do wrong to the king after the king has done only right to him. But lady Macbeth is saying that he should go through with what he started not acting caring at all acting out of gender not only but out of human she is acting like a monster.
Loyalty & Honor:
In Macbeth there are many examples of loyalty or honor. In 1.5 it's almost completely dedicated to loyalty. Macbeth gives his wife a secret that could put his future at risk. But because he knows he can trust her he tells her this. This info though because she is loyal and greedy she wants to not only keep the secret but wants to help Macbeth. She is loyal to Macbeth and trusts that Macbeth won't use her loyalty for personal gain. Just this scene shows that loyalty is often noticed through out Macbeth.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Machiavelli and "The Prince"
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli or simply Machiavelli was a writer. Machiavelli lived from 1469-1527 in that time he did many different things he was a artist and a writer. During his life he was most known for a book he wrote called "The Prince" which was written in 1513. "The Prince" was about how to gain and keep power/leadership. The book is sometimes referred to as the first work of modern philosophy and has been read by many of today's well known leaders.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli
"He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command." In my eyes I view this as Machiavelli's most important quote. This is so important to me because you simply you can't expect results til you know how to get to those results. For example George W. Bush our previous president of the United States, many people thought he was unintelligent. But though they thought that they saw that he had the leadership skills need to govern a country so even though people did not always favor him many voted for him because they knew he could get the job done and lead. So to lead you must know how it's so simple, but without it you won't make any progress.
"A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise." This quote form Machiavelli is saying that breaking a promise should always be acceptable. In my mind i think that this is not the case, while there may be good times and good reason to break a promise there is not always. "When a man takes an oath... he's holding his own self in his own hands. Like water. And if he opens his fingers then - he needn't hope to find himself again." ~Robert Bolt, This quote represents how I feel about promises that letting them go shows what kind of person you are and will hurt you more than it can help.
http://www.quotegarden.com/promises.html
"Before all else, be armed." For the Incas this would have been a valuable tip. This would have maybe even saved the Incas because it in a way tells them that you must be ready for what ever lies beyond. For example people have created bunkers designed to withhold radiation in area that have never seen powerful radiation. They did this because though they have never had the issue they want to know that they are ready to deal with that problem if it ever arises. If the Incas knew that you should be ready for anything or anyone they would have been much better off. Machiavelli's quotes from "The Prince" are very simple ideas that simply need to often be put in effect to help leaders control and hold power.
Helpful Link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli
"He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command." In my eyes I view this as Machiavelli's most important quote. This is so important to me because you simply you can't expect results til you know how to get to those results. For example George W. Bush our previous president of the United States, many people thought he was unintelligent. But though they thought that they saw that he had the leadership skills need to govern a country so even though people did not always favor him many voted for him because they knew he could get the job done and lead. So to lead you must know how it's so simple, but without it you won't make any progress.
"A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise." This quote form Machiavelli is saying that breaking a promise should always be acceptable. In my mind i think that this is not the case, while there may be good times and good reason to break a promise there is not always. "When a man takes an oath... he's holding his own self in his own hands. Like water. And if he opens his fingers then - he needn't hope to find himself again." ~Robert Bolt, This quote represents how I feel about promises that letting them go shows what kind of person you are and will hurt you more than it can help.
http://www.quotegarden.com/promises.html
"Before all else, be armed." For the Incas this would have been a valuable tip. This would have maybe even saved the Incas because it in a way tells them that you must be ready for what ever lies beyond. For example people have created bunkers designed to withhold radiation in area that have never seen powerful radiation. They did this because though they have never had the issue they want to know that they are ready to deal with that problem if it ever arises. If the Incas knew that you should be ready for anything or anyone they would have been much better off. Machiavelli's quotes from "The Prince" are very simple ideas that simply need to often be put in effect to help leaders control and hold power.
Helpful Link
"A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise."is not always the case.
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