Shakespeare's Masterpiece, Pico's Philosophy: Macbeth and Oration on the Dignity of Man Anonymous 12th Grade

Shakespeare's shortest tragedy, Macbeth, eloquently displays the wildness of human imagination and the consequences of rapid action. The play's plot is written by the ominous whispers of Macbeth's conscience, which lead to avaricious and selfish reasoning. Macbeth's character, as well as other pivotal characters in the book, reveals significant traits and dwellings of the human mind and its capacity. In Oration on the Dignity of Man, Italian scholar and philosopher Giovanni Pico discusses his view on the skills and level of existence of human beings. His philosophy revolves around the amazing capacity of human achievement as well as human failure. He describes his awe in the establishment of humankind as well and our ability of free will, making us the most wonderful of all creations. To a large extent, Shakespeare's view in Macbeth correlates with the view of Pico, as shown largely through the characters' actions and dynamics, mostly notably those of the Macbeths, in the tragedy.

The play begins with the character of Macbeth as an accomplished nobleman of King Duncan. He is known by the authorities of the kingdom as a honest and noble man, who is highly valued for his bravery. After the battle with Macdonwald and Sweno, a...