The Challenge and Reality in Reading Macbeth and Shakespeare

The Challenge and Reality in Reading Macbeth and ShakespeareIn a recent study it was found that students rated the Macbeth appearance vs reality essay topics highly. Overall, both the theoretical and the practical aspects of the topic were rated quite highly. However, one concept that was different between the two topics was the perspective students had on them. The students rated the theory of these two questions higher than the reality tests.To begin, Macbeth is the personification of a king and is an excellent example for students to examine when they are learning about the personification of kings. It is a part of Western Civilization that students should be familiar with and explore as much as possible. However, one aspect that was different was the difference in the scores when it came to the theory versus the reality questions. The students scored the tests higher when it came to the theory of the questions and ranked them as more difficult than when compared to the reality.St udents also liked the way Macbeth looks in the plays where he is portrayed. Students liked the fact that he is a personification of kings and is representative of a person with both strength and grace. Another aspect that students found appealing was the fact that it was no surprise in the case of the King's death, as it was a means of keeping the chaos in his kingdom under control. In the end, however, the story goes by with the same ending that occurred in the Macbeth play.One key difference between the appearance vs reality question is that while Macbeth looks like a king, he is actually a man who was married three times. He has no children and although he was rumored to have many mistresses and lovers, none of them were permitted to step onto the stage for his work. This highlights the absurdity of a fictional character and the kind of subject matter that are usually interesting to students. A subject that has a multitude of options with which to research is something that is in high demand and one that is very interesting.One aspect of reality that was discussed by students and often viewed by teachers was the choice between the two. Students, not surprisingly, tended to choose the looks and beauty aspect when it came to this aspect of the test. Although it can be debated whether the King really did look like a queen or if it was Shakespeare's imagination, the fact remains that the truth is always an element of the theory. Students especially liked the fact that it gave them the opportunity to explore their own imagination. There are times when students who were better at writing would have to abandon the ideas they originally came up with because it would not fit with the reality of the situation.Another aspect of the Macbeth theory that students appreciated is that it provides a challenge for students. Although the choice is often made by some students to leave out the looks, many of the other questions in the set are far more difficult and allow studen ts to really look at the characteristics of the subject. In the Macbeth essay question, the character is a king and therefore a subject of a theory that is based in reality. Although it is only fantasy, the test is more realistic because the student is faced with many different scenarios that would otherwise be impossible to tackle in a variety of ways.It is interesting to note that the overall opinion on the essay topic by students appears to be based on the general preference for the theory and the reality. However, students did reveal one concern with their essays. A concern with which all students appear to agree is that the essay should focus on what the author thinks the student will find most interesting.