The human condition has always been defined as the characteristics and situations which compose the essentials of human existence. Whilst some of these connotations have been reshaped in the modern age, guilt remains present and is a crucial characteristic of the human condition. A Simple Plan by Raimi and Macbeth by Shakespeare enhance the understanding of the human condition by challenging moral frameworks through context, showing the essential pertinency of how guilt causes a tragic downfall. Guilt is objectified in Macbeth and A Simple Plan through, Macbeth and Hank, who both have tragic downfalls due to their fatal flaw. Therefore, my understanding of the human condition has been heightened, as both shows how guilt stems from evil actions.
Guilt is a feeling of remorse for decisions. Macbeth’s context is during the Elizabethan Era when life was defined by the Great Chain of Being. A Simple Plan was set in the ’80s, a time when many farmers committed suicide. As such, through the strong contextual values, money, and power can be compared as both are crucial, further shaping the text in relation to the methods and feelings provoked such as guilt through which these are achieved. In A Simple Plan, this guilt is revealed by Hank through the juxtaposition between his worries and Shara’s indifference towards the burning of the money. This suggests that money promotes a feeling of remorse in Hank. An eye-level camera angle is used to show Shara’s and Hank’s indifference through the fireplace where the money is present in the foreground, demonstrating that money was the ‘fuel to the fire’ in causing Hank’s guilt. It is seen how context shapes the purpose through Shara’s indifference, highlighting the importance of money during the ‘80s which enhance my understanding of the human condition through the context. Macbeth’s guilt ultimately drives him to paranoia. Macbeth's guilt is first shown in Act 2 Scene 2. Guilt is significant in this scene, with expressions of remorse from Macbeth in light of his murder of King Duncan. This is shown when Macbeth questions Neptune... “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood from my hands” The mythical allusion, stimulates an association of Duncan's blood symbolizing Macbeth's guilt. Through the contextual value of power, Macbeth's guilt has heightened my understanding of the human condition. Through power or money, guilt has been re-imagined in A Simple Plan, through contextual values, which is one way my understanding of the human condition has been enhanced.
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The guilt the protagonists face is demonstrated by the author's use of form and plot in their texts which enhances my understanding of the human condition. The purpose of both is seen through guilt. Both show how a desired contextual value such as power or money can lead to more than desired when obtained unnaturally. This is exemplified in Act 5 Scene 5 where Macbeth is certain that he does not have a future left. “And all our yesterdays have lighted fools, The way to dusty death.” The alliterative declamation shows how Macbeth’s guilt leads him to his downfall. In A Simple Plan, Hank loses everything because of his guilt. Both texts use context to show when obtained un-naturally how important desires lead to more than originally planned. Macbeth is a traditional tragedy, whereas A Simple Plan is a pastiche that is founded on the themes of Macbeth such as guilt, however, readapted in a modern context. Both share characteristics of a tragedy, where characters' fatal flaws are highlighted by their actions leading to downfalls. This is seen through the oxymoronic title of “A Simple Plan” which alludes to the inevitable downfall of the protagonist. The magnitude of Hanks's plan cannot be as minute as it implies. This plays a key role in deepening meaning through Hank’s guilt. The paradox reveals how Raimi has reshaped guilt through the contradictory-yet-interrelated human characteristics that exist simultaneously. The authors’ use of the form and plot, is an effective measure in improving my understanding of the human condition.
In conclusion, Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Raimi’s films differ in approach between context, purpose, and form through guilt. Shakespeare and Raimi enhance the understanding of the human condition by challenging moral frameworks, which shows the essential pertinency of how guilt stems from evil actions.
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