Shakespeare’s Macbeth

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his own wife [The historical Mrs. Macbeth was not names ‘lady’, but Grouch… she was originally married to Gillacomgain].” Even though Macbeth had admirable characteristics, Macbeth also made some terrible mistakes such as killing Gillacomgain just to marry the love of his life. Both of the reigns have many differences. These differences can be seen through the events that marked Macbeth’s reign in both the play version, where Shakespeare states what it took for Macbeth to maintain his throne, and the historical version.

The final outcome of Macbeth’s reign in both the play version and the historical version contrast greatly. Shakespeare’s version of the final outcome of Macbeth’s reign was known to be a great tragedy. After all of the events that happened in Macbeth’s reign Lady Macbeth lives with the guilt, “here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweaten this little hand.” (V.i.51-52). Lady Macbeth feels as if there is nothing that can help her overcome that feeling and wash away her sins. Macbeth no longer can feel the fear of death because of the witches’ prophecy until he hears the news from Macduff and Macbeth wonders “Why should I play Roman fool, and die on mine own sword? Whiles I see lives, the gashes do better upon them” (V.viii.1-3). Macbeths lives with the fact that no one can harm him and not even once the thought of failure passes through Macbeth’s mind. In the other hand, in the historical version “according to accounts, Macbeth was a good king, strict but fair, for the first decade of his reign” because the people from Scotland realize Macbeth’s talents to govern and they all dedicate themselves to follow Macbeth. Macbeth had one of the best reigns in Scotland from the moment that “Thorfinn and Macbeth defeated and killed Duncan I in a battle in Elgin in August 1040. Thorfinn ruled northern Scotland, and Macbeth ruled southern Scotland.” Shakespeare shows how in the play version Macbeth’s reign led him to death while in the historical reign he succeeded, both of the outcomes contrast greatly because the play version led to a tragedy while the historical version was satisfactory from the people’s perspective.

In conclusion Shakespeare’s portrayal of the tragedy Macbeth compares and contrasts to the historical biography of Macbeth as the king of Scotland. A drastic difference takes place between both versions but at the same time they have their similarities. In the play version Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as an immoral human. On the other hand, in the historical version Macbeth is known to be an example to follow, a person filled with morals and knowledge. Their similarities are the ones that drive Macbeth in both the play version and the historical version to become the king of Scotland such as the desire to govern and attain power.

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