Essay on Macbeth vs. Satan - 695 Words

Macbeth vs. Satan How can two authors write stories almost half a century apart where the characters have comparable qualities? William Shakespeare and John Milton wrote a play and a poem, respectively, where two characters share qualities. These characters are Macbeth from Macbeth and Satan from Paradise Lost. Despite the similarities between the characters of Macbeth in Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Satan in Milton’s Paradise Lost, which include their strong will, pride, and insatiable greed, they have qualities that set them apart. Their differences are Macbeth’s overall righteousness, human characteristics, and being controlled by fate. Satan on the other hand, is evil, superhuman, and acts on his free will. Shakespeare’s Macbeth and†¦show more content†¦Overconfidence is another attribute they share, Macbeth showing it when he disregards Rico 2 the witches’ prophecies about bewaring Macduff: â€Å"Then live, Macduff. What need I fear of thee?† (Mac 4.1.90). Satan shows it by believing he will able to defeat God: â€Å"†¦by fate, the strength of gods and this empyreal substance cannot fail†¦we may with more successful hope resolve to wage†¦eternal war†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (PL 116-121). Their ambition and greed is also another outstanding similar characteristic. Macbeth’s greed is shown in his soliloquy in Act I of Macbeth: â€Å"I have no spur to prick the sides of my intents, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on the other—† (Mac 1.7.25-28). Although Lady Macbeth had to push Macbeth to commit the murders, he already had the desire for the title of king. Satan’s greed is noted in his actions by trying to overthrow God in the Kingdom of Heaven: â€Å"†¦aspiring to set himself in glory above his peers, he trusted to have equaled th e Most High†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (PL 38-40). Although God created all the angels equal, Satan’s greed makes him believe that he is greater than the rest of the angels and tries to put him above them. Even more important than their similarities are the differences between Macbeth and Satan, Macbeth being overall good, human, and