Extent To Which Macbeth And Jay Gatsby English Literature Essay

Jay Gatsby and Macbeth are in many ways responsible for their ain ruins, though I believe that Macbeth contributes more straight to his ruin than the comparatively indirect actions of Gatsby. Both characters are in some ways besides to fault for the death of other characters and their unrealistic hopes, dreams and aspirations bring about their ill-timed decease. Furthermore, the influence of cardinal characters, particularly adult females, whom are associated with Macbeth and Gatsby contribute to some extent to the two supporters ‘ ruins.

By records, Macbeth is thought to hold been written by William Shakespeare around 1603 and 1607, during the reign of James I, who became king in 1603. James was one of Shakespeare ‘s playing company ‘s frequenters, The Lord Chamberlain ‘s Men, and this drama shows Shakespeare ‘s ideas towards the male monarch. Fitzgerald began ‘The Great Gatsby ‘ in June 1922. It was written and takes topographic point during the ‘Roaring Twenties ‘ in a station World War One America, described as “ a clip when gin was the national drink and sex was the national compulsion ” . The novel was eventually finished and published in 1925.

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The presentation of Gatsby and Macbeth at the start of their narratives to the reader are contrasting to that at the terminal. The fist reference of Macbeth at the start of the drama is by enchantresss. To the audience, this automatically associates Macbeth with evil and witchery. To magnify this connexion, Macbeth is given similar lines to the enchantresss, “ Fair is disgusting, and foul is just ” ( 1:1:10 ) from the enchantresss and “ So disgusting and just a twenty-four hours I have non seen ” from Macbeth to Banquo. Yet Macbeth is described by the bloody captain as a valiant and weather soldier on the battleground, like “ Valour ‘s minion ” ( 1:2:19 ) and whose blade “ smoked with bloody executing ” ( 1:2:18 ) ; demoing that Macbeth is worthy of the name “ weather Macbeth ” ( 1:2:16 ) . But through the drama, the character of Macbeth bit by bit deteriorates into a frail, cowardly adult male who is deeply disillusioned, wholly in contrast to the portraiture of him by the bloody captain.

A similar alteration occurs during ‘The Great Gatsby ‘ , where ab initio the character of Jay Gatsby is portrayed by Fitzgerald as “ cryptic ” , and who represented to Nick “ everything for which I have an unaffected contempt ” . Throughout the novel, Gatsby comes across as forlorn and lonely, and this feeling of isolation is emphasised during Gatsby ‘s party at the beginning of chapter three in which he invites other lonely blue bloods, in the off opportunity that Daisy might look. Nick feels as though there is more to this adult male than the narratives Gatsby tells him of a gallant war hero, stating that “ every Allied authorities ” gave him a “ ornament – even Montenegro ” , whom earned 1000000s in the spirits concern. But Gatsby is merely rip offing himself as he lies about his yesteryear, his household and his travels around the universe. As the narrative goes on, Gatsby ‘s end becomes of all time clearer, finally making a point in which is similar to that of Macbeth ; hapless, dishonest, and desperate.

The influence of adult females in the characters ‘ lives contributes towards the initial rise and so dislocation of their hopes, dreams and aspirations. During ‘The Great Gatsby ‘ , the influence of Daisy dramas on Gatsby ‘s head until his decease. In a past life, Gatsby and Daisy had really strong feelings for each other before she and Tom became married. These feelings have long since left Daisy yet she still has a strong influence in Gatsby ‘s life delivery to illume the ultimate ground for his ruin. Fitzgerald uses Gatsby waiting at his phone and skulking outside his house as a metaphor for his and Daisy ‘s relationship. Gatsby ‘s feelings for her are non realistic or worthy but this is what drives him on through life and it comes across that he would make anything to hold her love him once more. Nick observes “ He wanted nil less of Daisy than that she should travel to Tom and state: ‘I ne’er loved you ‘ ” . Nick states that Gatsby found “ what a monstrous thing a rose is ” , a rose normally being associating to beauty, which despite Gatsby stating Daisy that he loved her for other grounds, would hold effected Gatsby ‘s ideas towards Daisy.

Macbeth, though ab initio worthy of his rubric of Thane of Cawdor, is ironically overwhelmed by the great power that his married woman, Lady Macbeth, has upon him. She comes across as a really influential adult female of great strength and finding as of act three scene two in which the syrupy program of converting Macbeth to kill Duncan is masterminded. But around act three, scene two, Lady Macbeth undertakes a dramatic alteration to take the visual aspect of a friendly character towards Macbeth. Her degree of influence over Macbeth bit by bit deteriorates and the guilt manifests inside her, turning her mad, finally taking to a interruption down when she commits suicide. To guarantee and underscore the hopes and aspirations of Macbeth, the enchantresss besides play a direct function in act uponing Macbeth by making a anticipation of the hereafter. An illustration of these anticipations is the rubric of ‘Thane of Cawdor ‘ that Macbeth is to have “ All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee Thane of Cawdor! ” at which Macbeth answers in incredulity “ But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives ” . The enchantresss besides foresee Macbeth going male monarch, which Macbeth uses to convert himself to do this happen.

Ultimately the gradual diminution of the characters leads straight onto their deceases. The manner in which Macbeth falls is important to his isolation in the palace during the onslaught. The most important factor to which contributed to Macbeth ‘s ruin was paranoia. The fact that Macbeth had committed lese majesty by killing Duncan fed his paranoia and could merely guarantee his safety by more action. Macbeth was cognizant that Banquo could surmise him of perpetrating this offense and could non afford to allow him be which lead merely to one decision, the decease of him and his household. In this manner Macbeth takes on a more oppressive position towards those he believes might win or even kill him. By the onslaught of the palace near the terminal of the drama, there are few who would stand for Macbeth during the conflict. Shakespeare so gives the reader a sense for Macbeth ‘s state of affairs utilizing really poetic linguistic communication in the improbable state of affairs of combat, “ I have liv ‘d long plenty. My manner of life is fall’n into the sere, the xanthous foliage, and that which should attach to old age. ” This shows that Macbeth realises that he has brought about his ain ruin, and realises that there is small or no point in seeking to deliver himself of his wickednesss other than being killed and hence about allows Macduff to kill him. But he is proud at decease.

In some ways, the manner in which Gatsby falls is similar to that of Macbeth in the sense of dishonesty. Yet the most important facet of it is the go oning construct up of prevarication upon prevarication by Gatsby to those around him and himself. His life and support are based upon his hopes and aspirations of one time once more being together with Daisy. Gatsby does non truly see Daisy for who she is, but has instead built up an idealistic image of her. This build up of prevarications leads Mr Wilson to believe that Gatsby is the 1 that is holding an matter with Myrtle and to Tom connoting that he ran her down in the street, and hence these rumors lead Mr Wilson to kill Gatsby for what he thinks Gatsby has done. Gatsby ‘s romantic feelings are lost for Daisy by her rejection, and so decease is more or less accepted by Gatsby.

For Macbeth, Banquo is another influence, but in contrast to the influence of the enchantresss and Lady Macbeth. In act one, scene three, after the anticipations of Macbeth ‘s hereafter are made, the enchantresss foresee the hereafter for Banquo every bit good, comparing it to that of Macbeth “ Lesser than Macbeth, and greater ” , “ Not so happy, yet much happier ” and “ Thou shalt get male monarchs, though thou be none ” Subsequently in the drama Macbeth portrays these anticipations as a danger to his power, anticipating them as a treachery by Banquo. This fuels Macbeth ‘s paranoia and leads to the slaughter of Banquo and his household “ And the right-valiant Banquo walked excessively late ; whom, you may state, if’t please you, Fleance killed, for Fleance fled ” . This paranoia finally leads to Macbeth ‘s ruin.

Another influence in Gatsby ‘s life is the cryptic character of Meyer Wolfsheim. The reader is non presented much about this character, but from Nick ‘s observations we see that he has had concern dealingss with Gatsby. From what we do cognize, he is involved in the spirits concern, of which Gatsby besides seems to be a portion of. To Gatsby, Meyer Wolfsheim is his evident wise man, who could perchance hold influenced Gatsby into his concern. But it becomes evident that Meyer Wolfsheim is involved in illegal concerns, taking repairing the World Series for illustration, which brings to illume the possible truth behind Gatsby ‘s luck.

In drumhead, the similar effects of the characters leting themselves be influenced by adult females, and the characters ‘ unrealistic and unworthy hopes, dreams, and aspirations are the ways in which they are responsible for and bit by bit take to the deceases of other characters around them and to the ruin and eventual prematurely death of the characters themselves.

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