Shakespeare Comparrison

Comparing and contrasting
Both utilise dramatic monologues to present inner workings of the characters there by allowing the reader an opportunity to witness the loss of humanity. Shakespeare uses the monologue in act 2 scene 1 to show how Macbeth is a person who can rationalise and reason but becomes dark and deceitful. He appears to be a man who is rational and logical with the questions asking “is this…dagger…I see before me…toward my hand?” “Art thou not…sensible…as to sight?” reflecting that he has the ability to reason. Macbeth transforms into someone requesting evil to “hear not my step” presenting us with the fact that he is asking for support to be inhumane. Duffy structures the poem like a monologue so the reader can track Havisham’s descent into inhumanity, as she descends further into madness. It begins with “beloved sweetheart” presenting the potential off love to someone wanting a “male corpse”. The monologues track the progress of the characters as they descend further into inhumanity.
Each piece shows loss of humanity through the influence of external forces and how they are partly responsible for the characters’ loss of humanity. Shakespeare uses Lady Macbeth’s persuasion and the witches’ charm, both in act 1 to show the influence of others. Lady Macbeth uses different techniques to persuade Macbeth to kill the king. She accuses Macbeth of being “green and pale” like a coward. He is also accused of being “afeard to be the same in …act…as thou…desire”, telling us he might be weak or fearful. The witches are possibly linked as the “charms” seem to influence Macbeth and he begins to echo “foul and fair”. Whenever Macbeth seems at his most inhumane he uses rhyming couplets for example, “knell that summons…to heaven…hell” is used before killing Duncan in act 2 and “fight…heaven…find it out to-night” before killing Banquo in act 3. Duffy uses Havisham’s ex-lover to show influence of external parties. Her ex is a “bastard” and she “wished him dead”,...