Macbeth's Desert Rose

Some people are never satisfied. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth tells the tale of the power-hungry Macbeth, a man driven by the promise for power -- so driven that he doesn't hesitate to spill gallons of blood. Shakespeare explores Macbeth’s rapid rise to power in Scotland after three witches predict that he will seize the throne. Immediately, Macbeth drowns in his newfound power. In an effort to eliminate all threats to his power, Macbeth rampantly murders his closest advisors and their families. Still, he remains unsatisfied with his power and his status.

The Three Witches in Macbeth

The lyrics in “Desert Rose” reflect singer Sting’s hunger for love, which is similar to Macbeth’s hunger for power. “Desert Rose” follows Sting’s search for his love, but it soon becomes clear that he only holds a deep infatuation with this woman. “Desert Rose” begins with lyrics demonstrating Sting’s desire for the woman, which simultaneously show that she is unattainable: “I dream of rain / I dream of gardens in the desert sand / I wake in pain” (“Desert Rose”). Although Sting longs for this woman, he realizes that he cannot capture her attention or her affection, as it’s nearly impossible for plants to grow and for it to rain in the desert. 

Sting's Desert Rose

This understanding is parallel to Macbeth’s struggle for power and influence. Macbeth dreams of power, but as the witches foretell, he knows his time as king will not last. He complains of the witches, “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown / And put a barren scepter in my grip, / Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, / No son of mine succeeding” (Act III, scene i). Clearly, after Macbeth kills King Duncan and takes the throne, he remains unsatisfied with his position. Although the witches destine Macbeth as king, Macbeth knows that his new position means nothing if his own offspring will not follow his rule. The deadline to his time as king shatters Macbeth’s dreams of ruling Scotland, and he seeks a way to avoid his fate.

Macbeth as King

The temptation of power devours Macbeth. Soon, Macbeth cares for nothing but his power, and only his ambition influences his decisions. His wife, Lady Macbeth, no longer holds leverage over him as he spirals out of control. Macbeth murders those he suspects are traitors, and he builds support through threats. He claims, “For mine own good, / All causes shall give way. I am in blood / Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o’er” (Act III, scene iv). Macbeth realizes that he can’t reverse his actions. Now that he has entered his race against fate, he believes he must do everything necessary to guarantee his power. The allure of power blinds Macbeth and leads him to disregard his morals. 

In “Desert Rose,” Sting expresses the same weakness in the face of desire. He sings, “This desert rose / Each of her veils, a secret promise” (“Desert Rose”). Sting refers to the petals of his desert flower, or the beauty of his love, as “veils.” He recognizes that the layers of petals impede his way to the woman’s heart, much like how Macbeth realizes that many obstacles stand before the guarantee of power. Sting continues, “This desert flower / No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this” (“Desert Rose”). The woman’s beauty blinds Sting, and even though he knows this, he goes on wanting her. Sting’s obsession with this woman makes him unable to restrain himself from pursuing her. Similarly, Macbeth acknowledges that he spilled a great amount of blood to guarantee his power, but the promise of this power pushes him to the point where he does not care.

Sting searching for his love

Upon Lady Macbeth’s death, Macbeth hardly mourns for her. Instead, he laments that life is meaningless. He declares, “Life’s but a waking shadow, a poor player / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage / And then is heard no more. It is a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing” (Act V, scene v). Despite his wife’s death, hastened by her guilt for her and Macbeth’s murders, Macbeth’s hunger for power still dictates his life. Macbeth simply accepts that Lady Macbeth is dead, and he continues to fight for his throne. He neglects every aspect of his life aside from being king. 

Lady Macbeth with Macbeth

In “Desert Rose,” Sting reveals, “Sweet desert rose / This memory of Eden haunts us all / This desert flower, this rare perfume / Is the sweet intoxication of the fall” (“Desert Rose”). Sting’s obsession with this woman overwhelms him. Everything in his life traces back to her. He suffers through an addictive pain, for he knows this woman doesn’t return his feelings, but he still dreams that she will love him. Sting also recognizes that this love will emotionally destroy him. Likewise, Macbeth mindlessly pushes through the death of his wife to attain his goals. Though he knows his destiny determines that he will lose the throne, Macbeth continues to pursue power. Both Sting and Macbeth refuse to rationally end their pursuit of their desires, despite knowing that they will not succeed.

Clearly, Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Sting’s “Desert Rose” share similar ideas of wanting the impossible. Macbeth dreams that he and his descendants will control Scotland for eternity, even though he knows that this is not meant to be. Sting dreams for the love of a woman who he knows will never return his feelings. But both men immediately fall to the mercy of these desires. Their lives are dedicated to reaching their dreams, and nothing can stop them from trying.