A Character Comparison of Macbeth and Prospero from...

These two Shakespearean characters, Macbeth and Prospero, from Macbeth and The Tempest can greatly compare to one another. From the very beginning, these two men are hard to understand and seem like your average warrior and ruler. Both of these characters are dealing with struggle of power; however, they both deal with this issue in different, interesting ways with different results. At the end of these two plays, we meet two entirely different characters than the ones that we were introduced to from the beginning. In Macbeth and The Tempest by Shakespeare, Macbeth and Prospero, the two main characters have a lot in common and can great compare to one another. Macbeth, the main character in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, is hard to†¦show more content†¦When Macbeth plots to kill Duncan, his cowardice and self-doubt takes over and he nearly aborts the plan. Bevington describes Macbeth in an interesting way when he states â€Å"Macbeth is portrayed throughout the play as an antihero.† However, when Lady Macbeth finds out she insists on doing the deed herself, as she thinks her husband is too soft to finish Duncan off. After the murder, Macbeth feels the need to secure his throne, thus plotting several more murders to ensure his power; however, a sense of guilt consumes him. Prospero, in The Tempest, is much different than Macbeth. The pursuit of knowledge is what gets him in trouble in the first place. By neglecting everyday matters when he was ruler, he gave his brother an opportunity to rise up and challenge him. â€Å"I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated to closeness, and the bettering of my mind.â⠂¬  (Act 1 Scene 2) To secure his position of power, he uses his magical knowledge and no mercy. In Macbeth and The Tempest, by Shakespeare, both of these interesting characters experience a change of heart. As Macbeth’s world falls apart in the end, Macbeth feels a sense of relief. Macbeth was never cut out to take someone’s life without feeling guilt and remorse. With the entire English arm surrounding the gates, he isShow MoreRelated The Supernatural in Shakespeares Works Essay1747 Words   |  7 PagesThe Supernatural in Shakespeares Works No one questions the fact that William Shakespeare is a pure genius when it comes to creating immortal characters whose characteristics transcends those of the normal supernatural beings, but most students of literature agree that his uses of the supernatural aren’t merely figments of his creative imagination. Every man, woman, and child is influenced by the age into which they are born and Shakespeare was no exception. Not only does his use of supernaturalRead More The Supernatural in Macbeth Essay3374 Words   |  14 PagesThe Supernatural in Macbeth       More than a few elements of the supernatural can be discovered within the action and dialogue of Shakespeares plays.   However, the extent and nature of those elements differs to a large degree.   There are traces of it to be found in Henry V, Pardon, gentles all,/The flat unraised spirit that hath dard...to bring forth/So great and object (Lucy   1).  Ã‚   There are also elements of it apparent in Winters Tale, What I did not well I meant well (Lucy  Read MoreShakespeare and Supernatural Elements1772 Words   |  8 PagesNo one questions the fact that William Shakespeare is a pure genius when it comes to creating immortal characters whose characteristics transcends those of the normal supernatural beings, but most students of literature agree that his uses of the supernatural arent merely figments of his creative imagination. Every man, woman, and child is influenced by the age into which they are born and Shakespeare was no exception. Not only does his use of supernatural elements within his works reveal theRead More Freedom and Servitude in Shakespeares The Tempest Essay3355 Words   |  14 PagesFreedom and Servitude in Shakespeares The Tempest What is slavery? Is it an institution? A mental state? A physical state? Is it human nature? Or is, â€Å"†¦slavery is†¦an inherent, natural and eternal inheritance of a large portion of the human race† (Ruskin 307). Whether or not any one of these options is true, the fact remains that each says something about humanity. Therefore, when a play like The Tempest comes along, centering on the themes of freedom and servitude, one must look for