Corruption in The Film Wall Street and The Play Macbeth

In the film Wall Street directed by Oliver Stone (1987), and the play Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare (1623), it is shown that corruption plays a large role in the lives of everyone. To begin with, the director and playwright both suggest that the ambitious are easily corrupted; furthermore, they believe that corruption is contagious; however, in Wall Street, Stone suggests that there can be redemption for those who are corrupted, whilst Shakespeare indicates that the ambitious are doomed due to their rebellion against nature.

The Ambitious Are Easily Corrupted

To begin, in both Macbeth and Wall Street, the ambitious are easily corrupted. This is shown through Stone’s characterization of Bud. Bud is initially shown to be ambitious but unsuccessful. Stone depicts this through the motif of the phone call to show Bud’s desire to be “on the other end”. However, Bud is corrupted by Gekko, who manipulates him. This is shown in the cab scene. Stone uses lighting to show Bud’s cooperation, knowing he is losing his morality. Similarly, Macbeth becomes corrupted after learning about the prophecy from the witches. This causes his “black and deep desires” to fester within him, as he devises a plan to move up the social hierarchy. By killing the king, Macbeth begins his path which corrupts him as a result of being ambitious. Through Bud being corrupted by his actions led by Gordon Gekko and Macbeth doing the same, Stone and Shakespeare demonstrate that the most ambitious people are the ones who are the easiest to be corrupted. However, ambition, while driving individuals toward success, can also lead them down a path of moral decay if not checked by ethical considerations.

Corruption is Contagious

Secondly, Wall Street and Macbeth both suggest that corruption is contagious. In Macbeth, the protagonist begins as someone who is seen as a “valiant… and worthy gentleman”. Shakespeare shows this through his comparison to a lion, considered in Jacobean times as the most noble of animals. However, after Macbeth meets the witches, they pass their corruption unto him, causing him to turn from “fair to foul”. Shakespeare ultimately portrays corruption as passed to the ambitious through supernatural intervention. Similarly, in Wall Street, Bud begins as being just like everybody else and uncorrupted. After meeting Gordon Gekko, he is increasingly more corrupted but still questions Gekko’s ways, questioning “how much is enough”. Over time, Gekko passes his corruption on to Bud leaving “him changed” as he does whatever it takes to make money. After being corrupted himself, Bud attempts to corrupt others, such as Roger, whom he attempts to convince by saying that “everybody’s doing it” when he is unsure. This hints towards the fact that corruption has not only spread to Bud, but to all people. As the Witches corrupt Macbeth and Gekko corrupting Bud, Stone and Shakespeare demonstrate that corruption is passed on from one person to another in a never-ending chain. The pervasive nature of corruption suggests that it is not only a personal failing but also a societal issue that requires collective moral vigilance to combat.

Redemption and Irredeemability

Finally, Stone suggests in Wall Street that someone who is corrupted can still redeem themselves, while through Macbeth, Shakespeare says he believes otherwise. In Wall Street as Bud gets increasingly corrupted, he begins to harm those around him, hurting his reputation with those people in the process. After some time, he begins to see the error in his ways as he tries to right his wrongs and follow in the footsteps of “the only honest man I know”. By doing this, he gains back the respect of his friends and family, showing Stone’s view that you can always redeem yourself if you try. However, in Macbeth, after the protagonist becomes a corrupt murderer, he realizes that he “stepp’d in so far that, should he wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er.” Macbeth believes that stopping and repenting would not do him any good as he believes that what he has done is irredeemable. It is shown that while Stone believes that one can always redeem themselves through doing good for others, Shakespeare believes that those who are evil and corrupt deserve no mercy. The contrasting views on redemption highlight differing philosophical perspectives on human nature and morality, with Stone offering a more optimistic view of personal transformation and Shakespeare presenting a cautionary tale of the irrevocable consequences of unchecked ambition.

In conclusion, Oliver Stone and William Shakespeare show through Wall Street and Macbeth that corruption is a controlling trait that is a large part of everyone's lives. Through their works, both creators illustrate how ambition, if not tempered, can lead individuals down a path of corruption, ultimately affecting not only themselves but those around them. Their narratives serve as timeless reminders of the moral complexities and societal impact of corruption.

References

• Shakespeare, W. (1623). Macbeth.
• Stone, O. (Director). (1987). Wall Street [Film]. Twentieth Century Fox.