Kermena Ishak

Hon-1110: Interdisciplinary Sem

Prof. Yeo
11/08/2022
Differing Perspectives

Part 1: Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau

Malcolm, I am writing to you to introduce a new administration. A revolution never seen before
in Scotland's history or any other land. During Duncan's rule, your great father was a gentle ruler,
yet he also invested in wars and did not see fault in murder. As for Macbeth, he directed Scotland
to complete despair; the common people no longer had food, soldiers no longer had honor, cries
of grief appeared in the air, and tranquility was lost at the hands of a tyrannical man. The history
of Scotland has also seen many rulers use brutality to gather land, acquire people, or completely
exploit fear to compel individuals to kneel. I request you to look at history and the current state
of Scotland – not as a land, but the people who reside there. The Scotland monarchy has
constantly denied the people. Instead of peace, all they have attained are rulers battling for the
crown, only for authority and not the people of the country. You, yourself, have attained Scotland
through war; you were also a soldier during the battle against the previous thane of Cawdor and
the king of Norway. You have only interacted with monarchs or with substantial soldiers. I ask
you to consider the women and children of your land and the elderly who have not been
supported. The system needs to change. You have gathered counselors to advise you on
Scotland's recovery. Although that is reasonable, I must clarify that most times, the council
consists of "the work of a few individuals using the standing government as their tool." The
people expect a great ruler to fulfill their needs, but the system always fails. As long as you
receive word from only the official powers, the "majority" surrounding you, then nothing will
ever change. The most influential group always wins, no matter what is ethically honorable. I ask
you, "does a man come first or the subject?" You, indeed, see Scotland as a country in need of
aid, and you have slept and eaten with common soldiers; you have welcomed all people to your
home to celebrate a new reign, and you have sought the people impacted by Macbeth's
authoritarianism. As the new reign begins, I request that you include the people in your
decisions, a true revolution that gathers the community of Scotland in its time of need. Decisions
without restrictions to any economic, political, or minority groups.

I am not asking for the elimination of the council system or your title; you shall be a ruler. I ask
for a “better” government, a government “that governs least.” Following the circumstances that
Macbeth left Scotland in, the people require liberation. A country that allows all people the right
to their freedom, own opinion, own property, own body, and own economy is a country that
prospers. I ask you to look back before Scotland, when the people first discovered fire and only
focused on farming. When they only sought residency and food, they were at peace with no
interference from higher-ups. Such detail exemplifies that a land could stand when a limited
authority is present. People’s first obligation is to believe their actions are right and not follow a
ruler who does not consider them. We are all born the same; you should “allow the people to
rebel against injustice and consider their views without violence.” Many members who stand
beside you participate in evils you may not have heard of; people should be allowed to flourish
without government titles. Our history has often seen officials who were more “interested in
commerce and war than humanity.” During Macbeth’s reign, many soldiers and officials have not
acted, despite seeing his murderous actions. Although fear is a vital cause, indifference to
humanity is a more significant concern. Many people did nothing to end or question his reign,
and they let others remedy the evil, such as you. Any individual has a duty to “wash his hands of
his wrongs. If you or others devote yourselves to other pursuits and contemplations, you must
first see, at least, that you do not pursue them sitting upon another man’s shoulders. You must get
off him first.” An honest community is required, one that does not fear and has the right to
oppose. I must assert that no consciousness can be available if blood is shed. There will never be
a free and enlightened country until the “country comes to recognize the individual as a higher
and independent power.” A country needs to be just to all women, men, children, and to “treat
the individual with respect as a neighbor.” The people are the country. In your recovery process,
you might think of taxes or other means to gather money for the state’s recovery. I must warn
you that the condition of the people does not allow for incompressible support to the country that
has wronged them. You must show love, and you must not allow another war. People are
concerned with the alliance with Great Britain; we recognize that it gave us thousands of soldiers
to terminate Macbeth’s command. You must continue the alliance and consider the people’s
condition if another war ever occurs. People are already weary of the forests that have moved,
questioning whether a higher power exists in our world. You must assure them, investigate and
be truthful to your people, and provide aid for those who have faced catastrophe. You must
modify the system that allowed a cycle of constant blood in the fight for the crown. Assert a law
that will enable the people to choose their ruler and one that could easily allow the people to
change the ruler if mistreatment ever occurs.

From my point of view, the monarchy system should also be brought down. We, as humans, were
born in a world that did not chain us. Yet, we grow with other people who have limited our
liberty to speak, limited our economic position, and constantly enforced hierarchies in the world
(race, gender, status, wealth, ethnicity, religion). What Scotland needs and what Malcolm should
practice is the limitation of the government. A government should only protect people’s
fundamental rights and not intervene with issues that are not political (woman’s body, marriage,
etc.). A government should exist to guarantee less crime, but it needs to be “better.” Macbeth left
Scotland in defeat. People lost everything– soldiers, food, water, land, and family members.
They do not need another ruler; they need a supporter. People are born following an honest path;
through a proper system, they will continue to be genuine and communitive. It is only through
violence that violence persists. If Malcolm can start a revolution by breaking generational
vengeance and educating young youths to be more than just soldiers, the country will
tremendously change. Society needs to be brought together to learn how to value and have a
content heart; if unethical situations occur, why must we always act on them? Why can’t we find
a better solution, an alternative that can protect everyone? Following a war, most have the same
experiences and concerns, which can build empathy. With the right government system, that
presents everyone and listens to its people, such compassion can continue in society.
Part 2: Machiavelli “The Prince”

I write to you, Malcolm, ruler of Scotland, to advise you on the current state of your country that
Macbeth has demolished. I recite your words at the end of Scotland’s war, “We shall not spend a
large expense of time before we reckon with your several loves and make us even with you. My
thanes and kinsmen, Henceforth be earls, the first in Scotland in such an honor named. What’s
more to do, Which would be planted newly with the time, As calling home our exiled friends
abroad that fled the snares of watchful tyranny, Producing forth the cruel ministers of this dead
butcher and his fiendlike queen. This, and what needful else that calls upon us, by the grace of
grace, We will perform in measure, time, and place. So, thanks to all at once and to each one,
Whom we invite to see us crowned at Scone.” Many have also heard of your words concerning a
soldier’s death, sympathizing and claiming that he is “worthy of more sorrow” I have also heard
that you have supported King Duncan’s forces to victory against the traitorous Thane of Cawdor,
Macdonwald and The King of Norway, the same war that Macbeth was claimed “a brave” hero
and was named the new Thane of Cawdor. It had occurred to me that you had informed Duncan
of the occurrences in battle while King Duncan was residing further from battle. You have
bravely fought in the military and became familiar with the field. You must remember that a
great king should remain a direct attentive soldier on the battlefield. A ruler should “have no
other goal or idea but war and its laws and discipline, for this is the one art that belongs to him
who reigns. When rulers thought more of leisure than of armies, they lost their realms.” The
great war between you and Macbeth has been heard; you must acknowledge the military men
you have fought with and recognize that you are as familiar to them as they to you. In your war,
there have been many casualties. As you must be aware, Macbeth’s soldiers fought alongside
your side due to Macbeth’s incompetence. His overconfidence and pride have failed him; the
soldiers he commanded “only followed orders; they did not fight because they loved Macbeth.”
As you regain Scotland, you must present yourself with great promise as a strong monarch, with
not only fear to offer but respect.

Your father Duncan was known throughout Scotland as a "sainted ruler," he trusted Macbeth and
did not adequately prepare protection in a house that was not his own. As for Macbeth, you are
already aware of his tyranny. He "unleashed violent winds that tear down churches, made the
foamy waves overwhelm ships and send sailors to their deaths, flattened crops and trees, made
castles fall on their inhabitants' heads, and made palaces and pyramids collapse, and mixed up
everything in nature unseen before." You must have asked yourself whether it was better to be
loved, like your father, or feared, like Macbeth. I ask you to do both. To inspire fear in such a
way that, if you do not win love from the people of Scotland, you will avoid hatred; as long as
you abstain from the property of citizens, subjects, and their women. After your father's death,
you immediately fled before Macbeth could discover your weakness; in such a way, you have
shown great intelligence and efficient judgment as a ruler ought to do. I must also mention the
alliance between you and Macduff. I assume you had questioned Macduff, who was royal to
Scotland for many decades before you united. Whosoever, "either through timidity or from
following bad counsels, adopts a contrary course, must keep the sword always drawn, and can
put no trust in his subjects." You are forming a council currently; you must be cautious at all
times as you have been cautious with Macduff. Do "reward each as they deserve, build a new
era, call home the exiled friends, and punish the cruel ministers," as you have said in your
victory against Macbeth. However, do so by means that honor your strength; you should inflict
fear towards your enemies when Scotland is in disorder.

A good ruler "will always be able to maintain his position, unless some very exceptional and
unnecessary drive deprives him; and even if he be thus deprived, he will have the ability to
restore it." You showed such promise when you allied with Great Britain to overthrow Macbeth
efficiently and successfully. You must remain as allies, but remember to be cautious as you have
been before. You claimed you had not broken "your faith, would not betray the devil to his
fellow, and delight no less in truth than life, to fight for my poor country." One who is "reputed
generous, rapacious, cruel, compassionate, faithless" are qualities needed for a ruler to remain a
king. To "betray friends, to be devoid of honor, pity, and religion, cannot be counted as merits,
for these are means which may lead to power but confer no glory." You are a diplomatic
monarch; never show extreme cruelty or kindness. You shall remember the ancient and the
modern; an intelligent man ought to follow the paths of great men in the past while not
replicating past mistakes. Continue your devotion and security for Scotland as you continue to
invite friends home as "your people."

Machiavelli discusses the need for realism above righteousness in the conquest, establishment,
and expansion of authority. Machiavelli writes about what must be done as opposed to what
should be done. He adds in his proposals that an ideal ruler is an equitable individual—a man
who should be kind when appropriate and cruel when necessary. Personally, I view a person who
can readily go from perpetrating injustice to committing justice as impossible. Such constant
change in character cannot indicate a genuinely decent ruler. When a person commits particular
cruelties without responsibility or criticism, there is no restriction to how many cruelties that
person can conduct. Humankind is easily influenced; many people forget that rulers are only
human, even if they are monarchs. They quickly fall into ruin as more authorities are given to
them; more restrictions should be allowed if Malcolm was to ever recover from Macbeth’s reign.
What the people need is support– food resources, houses, economic recovery, work, and a
government that can be limited. After Macbeth’s reign, a ruler should no longer inflict war or
fear on others. A ruler can achieve respect with honorable actions and intelligence that does not
require absolute fear. A community needs to be built, and the line between the council and the
people needs to be demolished. Although the world of politics does require rulers to act on what
must be done rather than ethical action, the reign of Malcolm will never be successful if he does
NOT offer true/honest leadership.
 Reference Page

Machiavelli Niccolò, et al. The Prince. P.F. Collier & Son Corporation, 1938.

Thoreau, David. On the Duty of Civil Disobedience.

https://www.ibiblio.org/ebooks/Thoreau/Civil%20Disobedience.pdf.

Shakespeare, William, and Kenneth Muir. Macbeth. Bloomsbury, 2013.