“Trust me, such men deceive themselves."- (1)
Roger Chillingworth never kept his sins secret, showing the potential for good in his heart. He would have had many secrets had he been made up purely of evil. Roger’s fatal flaw was his revenge, which lead to his death. Chillingworth dies at the end of The Scarlet Letter because of his own weaknesses. He dies from the pure evil which is led into his life. His goals of vengeance make him a pure tragedy.
Both characters were seen as heroes in the beginning; however their actions and fatal flaws lead them to their downfall, which make them both tragic heroes.
Betrayal is a discourse in many modern contemporary text and Shakespeare plays. Betrayal can be defined as the breaking or violation of a presumptive social contract, trust or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship amongst individuals. In order for betrayal to be apparent, some components such as treachery, manipulation and deceit must be seen. This discourse could be seen in Macbeth where Banquo, the loyal friend of Macbeth, has been betrayed when he was ordered to be killed by Macbeth.
Macbeth was suspicious that Banquo knew about Duncan’s murder and would notify the community. Though Banquo was Macbeth’s loyal friend, he thought that Banquo would violate his trust, leading Macbeth into believing that his loyal friend would betray him. The social network shows similar discourses of betrayal as the main character Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin.
“Eduardo Saverin: “It was insanely stupid for me not to have my own lawyer look over all the… the uh… I thought they were my lawyers. I was a Harvard business major. I was your only friend. You had one friend.” – (2)
The components of treachery, manipulation and deceit can be found between the relationship of Mark and Eduardo. Even though he was not murdered, Mark betrayed the trust of Eduardo as he diluted his shares of Facebook until he basically was not a part of the company. Mark manipulated Eduardo thinking that when he signed a business contract, that he could put his into the lawyers and get a fair and just amount of shares. Eduardo states he was the only friend of Mark’s, he felt betrayed as to why he could commit such disloyalty to his only friend. The two close friends wonder how a common dream came to be in such an adversarial situation by betrayal. Macbeth and The Social Network are both intertextually linked as both texts show betrayal between loyal friends.
The discourse of lust for power is another element of the Shakespearean play, Macbeth, which establishes its relevance to modern society. Power can be defined as ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something. Macbeth’s lust for power develops into his fatal flaw which destroys his morality. Macbeth is given responsibilities and duties, yet he is teased with the promise of one day becoming King. This is done because he has a flaw; he is too determined. He doesn't let anything in his way of the goal, to be king.
“The Prince of Cumberland! I must fall down on that Step, or jump over it, or it’s in my way. Stars, put out your light! Don’t let anyone see my black and deep desires. It could happen in an instant yet let that go, that thing that the eye is afraid to see when it is done”. – (3) Act I, Scene iv, line 48-50
Anakin Skywalker/ Darth Vader can be intertextually linked with Macbeth. Although Anakin was looking for power to help his wife, he also loses his morality.
His lust for power soon increases as he began to use violence to look for that power. As his power started to increase, he joined the dark side, becoming Darth Vader.
“Padmé Amidala: I was so worried about you. Obi-Wan told me terrible things.
Darth Vader: What things?
Padmé Amidala: He said you turned to the dark side. That you... killed younglings.
Darth Vader: Obi-Wan is trying to turn you against me.
Padmé Amidala: He cares about us.
Darth Vader: Us?
Padmé Amidala: He knows. He wants to help you. Anakin, all I want is your love.
Darth Vader: Love won't save you, Padmé. Only my new powers can do that.
Padmé Amidala: At what cost? You're a good person, don't do this!
Darth Vader: I won't lose you the way I lost my mother. I've become more powerful than any Jedi has ever dreamed of. And I'm doing it for you, to protect you.
Padmé Amidala: Come away with me. Help me raise our child. Leave everything else behind while we still can.
Darth Vader: Don't you see? We don't have to run away anymore. I have brought peace to the Republic. I am more powerful than the Chancellor, I can overthrow him. And together you and I can rule the galaxy. Make things the way we want them to be.”-(4)
Darth Vader chose power over his love for Padme. He states that would rather rule the galaxy than raise a family with his wife. Due to his lust of power, he has lost morality to gain a higher status. Darth Vader disposes all of his potential threats, such as the younger Jedi’s, so that they would not block his path to gain power, not matter what the consequence. Both Darth Vader and Macbeth had a fatal flaw of power. Therefore intertextual links made via discourses still show the relevance between Elizabethan era and modern society.
Archetypes are typical example of a certain person or thing. The archetypal character, Lady Macbeth, can be intertextually linked to Julia Guillard who both have the archetype of a seductress.
During the play, the audience can figure out that Lady Macbeth is a seductress. A seductress can be defined as a woman who seduces or manipulates a man to get what she wants. Lady Macbeth can be seen as a seductress by manipulating Macbeth’s thought – telling Macbeth that he is not a man because he could not provide her with any children and if he was unable to go through with the plot to murder Duncan.
Macbeth was a man with a proud lineage and a reputation that has granted him the opportunity to be given titles and lands. Lady Macbeth had saw an advantage to this and convinced Macbeth that he could achieve more. Lady Macbeth wanted power and a higher status, but the only way was to force Macbeth into committing murders of higher statures. Lady Macbeth has a very prominent flaw that was her undoing. She was a partner of Macbeth in the killing of Duncan. Though she was not at the murder scene, she convinced her husband to kill Duncan as she could not commit such crimes herself.
Julia Gillard can also be considered as a seductress. She meets the criteria of manipulation in order to achieve what she desires.
“If Gillard (along with others) had not convinced Rudd to slay the ETS, the polls wouldn't have been as terrible. Rudd wouldn't have got the chop and he may have survived, with Gillard to have logically succeeded him in time. By then climate wouldn't have been a problem for the government. But if the issue dominates the next national vote (whether it be a referendum or a general election), Gillard may, like Lady Macbeth, have created her own undoing.”- (5)
Julia Gillard manipulated Kevin’s into slaying the ETS, which has lead to Kevin’s downfall. It was not necessary for Julia to lead Kevin to his downfall as she would have become Prime Minister in time. However, her ambition of having a higher status in politics was strong, hence creating a flaw in her government, leading to her downfall. Both women have “seduced” their partners into becoming something greater, leading to their downfall. The audience can easily identify both women being the archetypal character of a seductress.
Despite the fact that it Shakespearean plays were written over 400 years ago, it is still relevant to modern society. It is evident that the genre of tragic hero can still be found in modern texts such as The Scarlet letter. In addition, discourses of betrayal and lust for power apparent to films such as Star Wars and The Social Network which can intertextually linked to Macbeth. The audiences are able to recognise the archetypal seductress in Julia Gillard and Lady Macbeth. Through genre, discourses and archetype characters, the audience can still identify the intertexual links between the Elizabethan era and modern text.
Reference list
- The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Published on March 1981
- The Social Network directed by David Fincher Columbian Pictures, 2010
- Macbeth by William Shakespeare
- Star Wars episode 3: revenge of the sith directed by George Lucas 2005
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, The age, Bella Counihan, Lady Gillard must confront climate change
