Shakespeare's Tragedy of Macbeth and Orwell's 1984 share several themes that enable connections to be drawn between the two works of literature. Both works contain messages regarding violence, manipulation, and the power of memory.

In both works of literature, the men in power use violence to achieve their goals. In the play, Macbeth resorts to murder to assert his desires, while the Party, as represented by O'Brien, uses torture to influence Winston.

Manipulation is observable in both works through both the character of Lady Macbeth, and specifically, in her relationship with her husband, and through the efforts of the Party to control the information disseminated to the citizens of Oceania. Lady Macbeth tries to manipulate Macbeth into doing what she wants him to do, while the Party attempts to manipulate the past so to influence the present.

Finally, while Macbeth is unable to escape his memories of the past, Winston finds that his memory is completely unreliable thanks to the Party's abilities to impact knowledge. Both protagonists engage with their memories in an effort to decide how best to manage their experiences, but neither character can fully rely on their memories for truth.

I think that one distinct connection that can be made  between both works is the absolute moral despair that results from political leadership.  Both works are highly critical of political leadership.  Macbeth seizes political leadership out of his own personal ego and his own sense of ambition.  His actions do little to enhance the general good.  Big Brother's leadership in Orwell's Oceania is in much the same light, where actions taken are only done to substantiate its own leadership capacity and capability.  In both works, leadership is not a vehicle for moral righteousness.  In fact, the message that comes out of both is a warning to unchecked and unlimited political power.  Little good comes from either form of political leadership.  Shakespeare's Macbeth ends up losing his power, while Orwell's vision is much bleaker as Big Brother never relinquishes power.  In both settings, political leadership is not geared toward an authentic exercise of making life better for more people and does not seek to provide a moral center.  Rather, it is an exercise in self- glorification, demonstrating a fundamental danger of modern usurpation of power.