Hamlet/Macbeth Compare&Contrast

1. Apparitions

Hamlet- The Ghost of King Hamlet appeared a few times throughout the play, telling Hamlet what happened in the past and what he should do about it. It offered advice and Hamlet believed the ghost to be trustworthy and credible.

Macbeth- He saw 4 apparitions before Macduff killed him. Each one gave him signs to watch for and Macbeth took them to heart. He listened to each one, and their prophesies came true. Like Hamlet he believed them to be credible.

2. Women

Hamlet- Ophelia, one of the main women in the piece, had a major transformation through the film. She started out as beautiful and innocent. She and Hamlet were in love. However, after many events she went insane. We don't know for sure, but Ophelia may have committed suicide.

Macbeth- Lady Macbeth played a very important role in the play. At the beginning, she became cruel and full of malice to help Macbeth carry out the murder of King Duncan. She and Macbeth clearly loved each other by the way they spoke to each other, besides a few times when she called him a coward. As the murders multiplied, Lady Macbeth went crazy. Doctors could not help her and she ended her own life.

3. Ambition

Hamlet- He had the ambition to kill Claudius, but he couldn't bring himself to do it until the very end. He had many reasons and he wanted to do it, but he kept making up excuses for why it wasn't the right time until the very end.

Macbeth- He didn't have ambition to kill Duncan, but his wife did. He was pushed into doing it, which led to many other deaths. He had horrible reasons for the killings, but he did it anyway, and this caught up with him at the end of the play.

MacBeth Pre-Discussion ?s

1. Agree
2. Agree
3. Agree
4. Agree
5. Disagree

I think it is natural for humans to strive for power. They naturally want to be in control of their own lives. It's uncommon for someone to willingly give up their life for something else, and lose control. I think that humans in general will do anything to maintain that power, because no one wants to give up something they have control of.