It is part of human nature to want power. Macbeth is not an exception. It is after finding out about the prophecy that his ambition for power starts to grow. This ambition begins to fuel his actions and decisions but also corrupts his morals. He wants this power enough to commit heinous acts. Macbeth is a tragedy because Macbeth’s desire for power and fear of losing it caused him to make irrational decisions that led to his ultimate end. In the beginning, Macbeth normally was a morally sound individual who fought selflessly for his country and King. He was known for his loyalty and honor. The King himself had great trust in Macbeth so much so that he rewarded Macbeth with the title “Thane of Cawdor”(Shakespeare I.II.66-68). At this time Macbeth …show more content…
The allure of power is enough to make him want to take it for himself and act that once would have never crossed his mind. However, Macbeth knows how wrong it is and is reluctant to act on his thoughts. This is shown when Macbeth is talking to himself and says, “Present fears are less than horrible imaginings. My thought, whose murder yet is fantastical,/ shakes so my single state of man/That function is smothered in surmise,/And nothing is but what is not” (I.3.137-142). Macbeth expresses his doubts about killing the King and usurping the crown but eventually, his ambition trumps his doubts and he kills the …show more content…
His noble characteristics have been corrupted by his ambition and his fear of losing his newly acclaimed power makes it easier for him to take drastic measures; such as murder, to keep it. This can be seen when Macbeth is speaking to the hired murderers and says, “That every minute of his being thrusts/Against my near’st of life” (III.I.116-117). In these lines, he is referring to Banquo and how the mere existence of Banquo threatens Macbeth’s position. To Banquo from figuring out what he did to King Duncan, he has him killed (III.IV.16). Macbeth has no serious qualms about having Banquo killed and makes the order with surprising ease. Not only does he have Banquo killed but he also has Macduff’s entire family killed as well. This includes Macduff’s young children (IV.II.81-82). There was a time when Macbeth would have thought of murdering children as repulsive and it is clear that Macbeth’s morals have been corrupted if he is willing to kill children to keep his throne. His now once-virtuous ideals have been replaced with the need to hold his
To begin, Macbeth demonstrates desperate and ruthless choices as he reaches for power which doesn’t belong to him. For example, when Macbeth is talking to himself about what he should do about the second part of the prophecy. Banquo, one of Macbeth's friends, also received a prophecy that his children would be their heirs to the king. Wanting to keep the power of the throne he says “Given to the common enemy of man/To make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings./Rather than so, come fate into the list,/And champion me to th’ utterance”(3.1.74-77). Macbeth is not willing to take any chances when it comes to keeping the power he has been handed.
Throughout the play, the guilt leads him to kill more and more people because he needs reassurance that he is safe. Because of this constant reassurance, he would end up killing Banquo. As he says, “Our fears in Banquo stick deep.” This quote shows that Macbeth was worried over the fact Banquo was the only one who knew about his prophecy. He needed reassurance because he needed to be sure that Banquo could never find out that he killed King Duncan otherwise his position would be put under threat which could’ve led to his downfall much sooner.
He overreacted to all the killing he said he had done. Macbeth said, “If I wash my hands in the ocean the the whole sea will turn red.” Macbeth killed Banquo because he said he would kill Duncan’s killer, He felt like everyone was after him so he killed Banquo. Macbeth said,“That he is now seeing hallucinations of ghost.” ( Act 3,Scene 4).
Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me: enough.”
Macbeth sends two murderers and orders them "[t]o leave no rubs nor botches in the work—/ Fleance, his son, that keeps him company,/ Whose absence is no less material to me/ Than is his father’s, must embrace the fate/ Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart" (III. i. 139-143). Fearing the prophesy of Banquo's descendant position on the throne will come true, Macbeth can not stand any being that would threaten his and his siblings' crown; therefore, he must wipeout anything that hinder his ambitions. Including Macduff and his family, who have clear bloodline with the crown, they have no chance to get away with this. Macbeth is totally craze about massacre, and once again he command killers to murder Macduff's family.
While power may seem alluring to many, Shakespeare’s Macbeth highlights the destruction and harm that comes with great power. Throughout Macbeth’s journey for more power, Shakespeare is able to demonstrate the cognitive changes Macbeth endures with his power gain. Macbeth is seen getting more violent and apathetic as the play goes on, showing how power corrupts the mind. Soon after Macbeth has a great increase in power, Act Three Scene One emphasizes how the determination for more power affects Macbeth. Macbeth is shown with little remorse for causing the death of one of his former friends, blinded by the desire for power.
It is human nature to want power, to be at the top of the pyramid, to be king/queen, but that comes at a price as shown in Macbeth. In the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth will do anything to have absolute power and nothing stands in their way. From killing to going completely mad, they will become the next king and queen at all costs. The ambition and the want for power is so high that they kill many, they do whatever they can to be one step closer, and they go completely insane, all because they want that absolute power.
He was so caught up in the feeling of his authority in the kingdom he did whatever it would take to keep it. The witches introduced the idea of being king to Macbeth and he liked what he had heard. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth ended up murdering king Duncan so he could become the new leader as soon as possible. Once he became king people suspected that there was foul play in Macbeth's uprising. One of these people was Macbeth's close friend Banquo.
First, Macbeth expresses fear when it comes to Banquo’s prophecy. “Then, prophet-like, they hailed him father to a line of kings. Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, and put a barren scepter in my gripe, thence to be wretched with an unlineal hand, no son of mine succeeding” (Shakespeare 3. 1. 57-61). This shows that in Banquo’s prophecy he will heir kings and Macbeth will not. This proves that Macbeth killed Duncan for no reason and Banquo is making him look like a fool for doing so.
His desire for the crown outweighed his conscience to do what was morally right. Now, void of morality, he kills the guards to cover up and divert any suspicion from himself. And, as his thrust for power grows, he kills his friend Banquo to eliminate all threats that would stand in his way. His tyranny did not stop there; not only was he a lying murderer, but he now personified evil as he set eye on “The castle of Macduff” by ordering the killing of everyone in the household (4.1.151). Macbeth reigned with fear, berating those around him or killing them to maintain control.
He thinks about this despite the fact that he serves the current king. Macbeth’s belief in his inherent right to power leads to fantastical dreams
Greed for power leads corrupt leaders to pursue power through ruthless and violent ways, putting their countries in an unstable state. Macbeth commits murders and violent acts to earn his absolute power, but his corrupt mindset of yearning power leads to instability in the Scotland. After hearing from the witches, Macbeth admits that, “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical/ Shakes so my single state of man/ That function is smother'd in surmise /and nothing is but what is not.”
After the killers told mAcbeth that they had killed Banquo, he states,¨'Tis better thee without than he within. Is he dispatched?¨ (III.iv.15). This quote reveals that he was cruel because we see Banquo as an honorable man and even Macbeth's best friend. The fact that Macbeth had Banquo killed just because he was suspicious tells the reader that Macbeth Is cruel.
She told him to kill King Duncan so he could take his place, but Macbeth said he felt guilty because Duncan was a good man and deserved better. Eventually he does kill Duncan but immediately feels remorse, guilt, and even hallucinates. After Duncan’s murder, Macbeth kills the guards as to not have any witnesses. The he begins focusing on killing Banquo because the prophecy said that his sons would one day be kings. He persuades some assassins to kill Banquo and his son by blaming their problems on Banquo.
Macbeth wanted Banquo dead because he did not want Banquo to be the one to say that he killed King Duncan. The author says, “He tries to defend his father when they are attacked but is not old enough or skilled enough. He just manages to escape with his own life” (General OneFile 1). When Banquo was killed, his son, Fleance, escaped before he was going to get killed. Macbeth sent the murderers to Fleance because he was with his father at that time.