Equivocation- a statement with 2 or more interpretations that is used to mislead or confuse.
 

        The theme of equivocation is present in politics much like it is in Macbeth.  The characters in the play speak and act similarly to how politicians in modern society do.  Most of the characters in Macbeth
were out to mislead others, especially characters in positions of power.  Characters such as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth wanted to be rulers and wanted to appear to be the successful rulers the country needed.  In order to do this successfully they used equivocation to cover the mistakes they had made.  Politicians today must go up against other politicians and prove that they're the better person for the job.  This involves a great deal of equivocation.  A politician, much like a ruler in the late 1500's, is forced to use eqivocation in his speeches in order to say things, and make promises in a way that sounds genuine even though they may not keep these promises.  Politicians these days go to great lengths to achieve this.  People are hired to analyze every word that is spoken by a politician to establish what kind of emotion it invokes in it's audience and whether or not it sounds believable. Equivocation was present in the politics of the 1500's much as it is in modern society and always will be.