Moneybags and Macbeth

A former employee of Bank of New York Mellon recently admitted at his trial last week to embezzling on numerous occasions.  Joe Graziano, a twenty-nine year old who was living in New York City, has been in police custody since February of 2014 on counts of fraud towards various companies, banks, customers, and the IRS and for distributing fake money made in Uganda.  Graziano’s acts were excessive, and committing fraud seemed to have become a compulsion for him.  The recent confession that Graziano gave at his trial means that he certainly felt guilty about all of his illegal actions.  He owes $2,400,000 to the Bank of New York alone; he also owes more than $600,000 to various other banks, $29,000 to eBay, and $920,000 to the IRS.  The man’s fraud became more of an issue over time, as he eventually started bragging about his luxury cars, gorgeous women, and expensive watches online.  Graziano had the wrong idea to begin with, but when he became overly conceited with himself, boasting online, it aided in his ultimate downfall.

A similar theme comes into play in Shakespeare’s Macbeth with the main character, Macbeth.  While Macbeth never admits to anyone that he killed King Duncan (though Macbeth’s wife was aware because she aided Macbeth in killing Duncan) he let his role after the death of Duncan cause him to become full of himself.  Macbeth originally had some guilt over the crime that he committed, but he enjoyed the power that came with the crown more and exercised that power regularly.  He showed off to his subjects by portraying himself as brilliant and a skilled and fearless warrior.  When suspicions arose over Macbeth’s outlandish behavior, Macduff determined that it was Macbeth who killed Duncan just to have the throne for himself.  When Macduff and Macbeth duel it out at the end of the story, Macbeth’s arrogance before and during battle contribute to his ultimate demise.  Just as Joe Graziano let his items obtained through fraud cause him to become vain, Macbeth’s throne obtained through murder caused him to become vain as well.  In the long run, both men’s arrogant self esteems lead to their ultimate failure.