The understanding of Shakespearean tragedy specifically the 1606 play ‘Macbeth’, written by the popular playwriter William Shakespeare, and their conventions, is crucial to the audience’s understanding of the more contemporary 1998 film ‘A Simple Plan’, directed by Sam Raimi. Both texts demonstrate the common theme of ambition for power and wealth, this theme plays a significant role in both protagonists’ lives. Ambition is demonstrated through the Shakespearean conventions of the snowball effect, the inclusion of internal conflict, and the manipulation of males by women. These conventions, enable the audience to understand that the movie A Simple Plan is a contemporary film when compared to the play Macbeth.
Through the Shakespearean conventions and the inclusion of the snowball effect in the plots of both texts, the audience can view and understand A Simple Plan as a contemporary film of the play Macbeth. Both texts demonstrate the consequences ambition has on the snowball effect, through the conventions of Shakespearean tragedy. The snowball effect refers to a chain of reactions that are caused by a first immoral decision, as demonstrated in both the play Macbeth and the film A Simple Plan. This element of Shakespearean tragedy is evident in the text with the initial murder causing Macbeth to have an internal conflict between ambition and his morals resulting in the snowball effect to occur as explained by (Writing Bros (n.d.). Shakespeare’s Play Macbeth: The Dark Side of Ambition) “… He begins to plan his first devious, morally compromising act. Macbeth plans to kill the current king, Duncan, in order to ascend the throne and take over. This marks the first domino in the domino effect of Macbeth’s ambition…” This initial act is analogous to that of A Simple Plan with the first immoral act being Hank giving in to taking the money. This similarly leads to ambition controlling the character’s morals. This is described by Holben, J.H. (2020) “The subsequent lure of instant wealth and a well-heeled life leads Hank and Jacob… into a downward spiral, as their seemingly sensible notion to keep the money…triggers a chain of events…”. This academic source states the impact ambition has through the snowball effect with the first immoral act in the film causing a violent chain of events to follow. Throughout both texts, it is evident that ambition of power and wealth is the cause of the snowball effect. Through this convention, the audience can apprehend the importance of Shakespearean tragedy elements and the role of ambition leads them to understanding that the film A Simple Plan is a contemporary version of the play Macbeth.
Ambition plays a prominent role both in the play Macbeth and the film A Simple Plan, and is demonstrated through internal conflict, a Shakespearean tragedy convention. Internal conflict is the internal struggle a character, often the protagonist has between his beliefs. Both protagonists experience internal conflict between their moral and immoral beliefs that is caused by the presence of ambition in their lives. This is evident in Macbeth when the protagonist is contemplating whether to murder the king for his own gain. “If chance may have me King, why, chance may have me, without my stir.” (Macbeth Act 1, Scene 3) William Shakespeare. This quote states the internal conflict the protagonist has on whether to follow his morals or to fulfill his ambition. This is similar to the film with the protagonist facing an internal conflict between his morals and immorals. “By doing one wrong thing, I thought I could make everything right.” ( Hank A Simple Plan) This quote demonstrates the internal conflict Hank has throughout the movie on whether to stick to his morals and leave the money or choose an immoral decision and keep the money. Parallel to this the protagonist in the play is shown to be ‘battling an inner conflict as demonstrated in the essay quote, “Act 2 Scene 1, Macbeth is therefore intended to be portrayed as battling an inner conflict of whether or not to follow a route of potential corruption and divine condemnation, or remain in his loyal position as King Duncan’s subject.” ( Tutorhunt (2020). How Far Does Shakespeare Present Macbeth’s Inner Conflict In The Act 2 Scene 1 And In The Rest Of The Play?) This essay shows the internal conflict the protagonist faces due to his ambition for power. The film also incorporates internal conflict in the protagonist’s character with the individual struggling between what is right and wrong, and on whether to follow the law or his ambition. Through the convention of internal conflict, the audience is able to understand that the film A Simple Plan is a contemporary version of Macbeth.
The emasculation of men is demonstrated throughout the two texts demonstrating the role of ambition and the illustration of A Simple Plan being a contemporary film towards the play Macbeth with the inclusion of Shakespearean tragedy conventions. In both texts, the men start off as highly respected and well-liked in society until their downfall. Women are hardly visible with only a couple of female figures being present in both the movie and play. Though women are seen in society as weaker than men this is untrue for these texts as both main female characters manipulate the male characters to achieve their own ambitions. As seen in Macbeth “When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man” (Lady Macbeth Act 1, Scene 7) This quote demonstrates the power the female figure has over the male figure. She is manipulating him by questioning his manhood and emasculating him. She did this so she could fulfill her own ambition for power. This is also seen in the film with the main female character listing off multiple negative outcomes of not keeping a large amount of money when the male character wants to follow his morals “…do you think she’s gonna like growing up with somebody else’s hand-me-down clothes? Playing with some kid’s old toys because we can never afford to buy her anything new? …You think that’s gonna make me happy?… Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Everything like it used to be.” (Sarah A Simple Plan) This quote demonstrates how the main female character manipulates the male protagonist character by stating that he cannot look after his family and cannot make her happy so the male character will fulfill her ambition. The emasculation of men by women to achieve the ambition of power or wealth is demonstrated in both texts to illustrate the film A Simple Plan as contemporary to the play Macbeth.
The 1998 film A Simple Plan is illustrated as a contemporary film towards the 1606 play Macbeth through the theme of ambition which is evident throughout both texts with the inclusion of Shakespearean conventions in the plot. These conventions include the snowball effect, internal conflict, and the manipulation of males by females to achieve ambition. Through these conventions, it is evident the role ambition for power and wealth has on the characters and how it can lead to negative consequences. This portrays to the audience that the film A Simple Plan is a contemporary version of the play Macbeth.