"Marquis de Luc de Clapiers Vauvenargues once said, "The greatest evil which fortune can inflict on men is to endow them with small talents and great ambition." Although aspirations and dreams are a healthy standard among society as a whole, what happens when these desires gain an "any means necessary" approach? In Macbeth, William Shakespeare show that blind ambition and greed can overcome any sense of decency remaining in individuals, turning them into soulless representatives of evil. Shakespeare uses characters, motifs, and tone throughout the novel to portray this theme.
The most obvious way that Shakespeare shows the theme is through the characters. [T] As the main protagonist in the novel, Macbeth demonstrates the theme of voracious ambition triumphing over righteousness. [S] Initially, Macbeth is far from evil within: "Chance may crown me, without my stir," preferring to let fate lead his future. Macbeth's "vaulting ambition" leads to him killing King Duncan to secure his own destiny. Macbeth fears his own temptations and the retribution of his own soul, as he mentions "So foul a fair a day I have not seen," (upon his first interaction with the Three Witches) and "stars, hide your fires!" right before executing Duncan. Furthermore, a seemingly distraught Macbeth says "Glamis hath murdered sleep," referring to his uneasy feelings after the murder of Duncan. These phrases show that Macbeth, at point, is human and that there is uncertainty in his heart. However, as his character becomes increasingly sinister, Macbeth takes actions to remove those in his way, like Banquo, and "the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand," not caring who he harms and how he harms them. This phrase is brutal in its simplicity; an earlier Macbeth would never have said this. [M] An honest description of Macbeth is given by his wife Lady Macbeth when she tells of his being "too full o' the milk of human kindness.
Macbeth enters, attired as king. He is followed by Lady Macbeth, now his queen, and the court. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth ask Banquo to attend the feast they will host that night. ... The witches also declare that Macbeth will be king one day. ... Macbeth fixates on the details of the prophecy. ...
Macbeth Macbeth's downfall was generated by a combination of factors. These include Macbeth's greed, ambition, over confidence and Lady Macbeth's suspicious behavior. ... This track of thought leads Macbeth to kill Banquo. ... Damned fact how it did greave Macbeth! ... This is proof that lady Macbeth's undisciplined tongue aroused suspicion and contributed to Macbeth's downfall. ...
Macbeth is tragic play written by William Shakespeare in early 1606. ... Afterwards as Macbeth informs his wife about the three predictions he has learnt, she expresses herself more ambitious than Macbeth. ... When Lady Macbeth has no choice then she uses her tactics to stop Macbeth wimping out of Duncan's murder. ... As the witches warn Macbeth to be aware of Macduff. ... He is also weak before Lady Macbeth. ...
Throughout the play, Macbeth becomes more impaintent, secretive, and paranoid. ... Macbeth is not living in reality because when an equivocation is placed in front of him, "All hail, Macbeth! ... However, in the end his arrogance will cost Macbeth his life. Throughout the meetings between the witches and Macbeth, no lies were told. ... All the venom and evil in the play are always located in Macbeth's mind. ...
In the play "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare the protagonist Macbeth mindset changes throughout the play with certain events that influence his mentality. Macbeth undergoes a transformation, which changes his belief and opinions about his King. ... This perspective is altered once Macbeth interacts with the three witches. ... Macbeth after committing the murder of Duncan feels guilt from his crime. ... This is the transformed Macbeth who has nothing left to lose but his life. ...
In Shakespeare's play Macbeth, Macbeth is no pawn of fate. ... The prophecy of Macbeth becoming Thane of Cawdor had already come true, enhancing Macbeth's aspirations of becoming king. ... But, Macbeth was never destined to kill anyone. ... The three Weird sisters played a part within Macbeth's destiny, for they were the ones who foretold Macbeth's future. ... Macbeth knew what he was doing. ...
By offering to Macbeth the idea of power, the witches push Macbeth to the next level of greed and evil that did not exist prior to the encounter. ... This apparition confuses and frightens Macbeth. ... The dagger symbolizes the point of no return for Macbeth. ... Macbeth fears Banquo due to his prophecy to father kings, so Macbeth proceeds to plot the murder of his once friend, which spurs yet another brush with the supernatural. ... The use of supernatural in Macbeth caused Macbeth to become a darker and more evil person with each paranormal encounter. ...
"All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter." ... Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth." ... The apparition also ceases Macbeth's ability to think things through. ... This sure did kick the last leg out from under Macbeth's not so sturdy table. Macbeth's death shows that the witches were some bad dudes. ...
