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A summarised Macbeth essay
Unpack the theme and symbols of Macbeth
Unpack the theme and symbols of Macbeth
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Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare’s most amazing tragedies where both ambition and conscience play a big role in the actions of the characters. Most people only do what is right, however someone who chooses his sinister desires over what he knows is ethical, is Macbeth. Although it is true, that Macbeth has many noble moments in the play, it is his ambition that wins at the end, and this makes him commit dreadful sins. This portrays Macbeth as a selfish person and it can be seen in his impatience, unthoughtfulness and over ambitious nature. One way that Macbeth shows his selfishness, is his impatience. This is demonstrated when he hears the prophecies and thinks, “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,/Shakes so my single state …show more content…
Furthermore, it explains how selfish Macbeth really is, since he doesn’t even have any consideration for time, let alone other people. Another way Macbeth’s selfishness is shown is that he is very unthoughtful. Before he kills King Duncan, he doesn't take into consideration what will occur to the people of Cumberland including the guards he would frame in the near future. After Lady Macbeth gives Macbeth the idea to frame the guards he says, “When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two/Of his own chamber and used their very daggers,/That they have done't?” (I, vii, 83-85). This reference shows just how selfish Macbeth is, because not only does he agree with Lady Macbeth, but he also thinks it is a good idea to frame the guards. Finally, Macbeth’s overly ambitious nature reflects his selfishness perfectly. He cares so much about how he will become king that he fails to see how many sins he is committing along the way. An example of this is when Malcolm is announced heir to the throne and Macbeth thinks to himself, “The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step/On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,/For in my way it lies.” (I, iv,
Throughout the play, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Macbeth continuously decides bad choices and the consequences of these decisions catch up to Macbeth and result in his mental deterioration, however with Macbeth’s almost infant feel for ambition this makes him susceptible to manipulation, which then grows into an insatiable appetite for power. The acts of this with the manipulation from outsiders, causes his blind ambition, his false sense of security and then finally his guilt, which all contribute to his derangement.
Perhaps the most fundamental theme of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is the inherent corruptibility of even a seemingly good man when ambition turns to greed, and Macbeth himself exemplifies this concept throughout the play. While at the outset he is seen to be loyal to his king, generally considered trustworthy, and displaying numerous other laudable qualities, Macbeth ultimately succumbs to the influence of those around him and becomes unequivocally evil, setting aside all his previously held morals and coming to be driven only by his lust for power. This transition is brought about by a wide variety of factors and plays an integral role in the development of the plot. In his tragedy Macbeth, William Shakespeare employs
Ambition plagues Macbeth over the course of the epic tragedy, conveying his sanity progresses to a state of mental illness through his murderous measures. At first, Macbeth is aware of the outcomes of murdering King Duncan, and contemplates whether to enact Duncan’s deposition. Consequently, Macbeth’s hamartia of determination causes him to formulate a strategy for the execution of Duncan, even though no other true motive is apparent: “I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself / And falls on th’ other,”(Shakespeare 1. ...
In the play Macbeth, ambition plays a big part, specifically in Macbeth’s and lady Macbeth’s lives. Macbeth’s ambition to be the best overtakes his real character, causing him to change tremendously. He will do anything to overstep others, which makes his character stand out. Lady Macbeth is ambitious for Macbeth’s sake, causing him to become ambitious. Shakespeare highlights the theme that devastation follows ambition when ambition oversteps moral boundaries, which is relevant not only in this play, but in our world today.
Many strive to achieve goals set in their minds, but some may lose control of their actions while doing so. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth’s overconfidence and unrestricted ambition causes his humanity to deteriorate as the play progresses, ultimately leading to his demise. This is shown through the significant events surrounding the murders he commits, especially the murders of Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff’s family.
In today’s culture, impatience is a continual problem that plagues many in society. In the play, Macbeth expressed his flaw of impatience many times. He was very quick to make decisions that led to his downfall. One example of this behavior would be when Macbeth was told by the third witch that he would be king. Having heard this prophecy, he quickly killed the current king, Duncan, so he could take the throne. In the play, it says “…whose murder yet is but fantastical…” (1.3.141). This demonstrates Macbeth’s motive to kill King Duncan by saying his plan. If
Among the greatest gifts that the renaissance produced was the eloquent and incredible Shakespearean plays. Written mostly in the 1590s these plays have been performed and admired countless times; entertaining mass audiences by providing interesting tales that explore the depth of human insights and the different universal themes. Among the many Shakespearean plays Macbeth, written in 1606, stands out with its short composition but multiple themes. This tragedy narrates the tale of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s quest to grasp ultimate power by ignoring their morals and succumbing to their dark desires, which ultimately leads to their downfall. This tragic play portrays the desires, needs, and temptations that accompany ambition in men and women. However the ambition in Macbeth is blind, it does not abide to the morals, but it allows space for dark actions as means necessary for accomplishment. Blind ambition serves as the main driving force that drives Macbeth to subdue to his dark desires, defy his noble behavior, and ultimately his downfall.
William Shakespeare's great tragedy, Macbeth is a play based more on character than deed. The play is a journey along the life of Macbeth, beginning at the apex of his career and following him to his demise. The cause of this sudden deterioration has been debated for centuries. Some attribute Macbeth's quick degeneration to ambition. Although Macbeth is not lacking in ambition, this is not the essential element that causes his demise. It is fear that permeates Macbeth--utter cowardice drives his will into sinful acts resulting in regression. Cowardice, not ambition, is the main and underlying factor which causes Macbeth to kill Duncan, to murder Banquo and to seek the aid of the witches.
For the play’s entirety, Shakespeare reveals the devastating repercussions of unchecked ambition. Usually, ambition is thought as a positive trait that drives one to achieve and succeed. However, in Macbeth, Shakespeare conveys the opposite. Someone as innocent as Macbeth could end up the way he did all because of ambition. Shakespeare shows us how Macbeth had reached the moment in life, different for each of us, when a man either abandons himself to his fate or to his rebirth, two paths that either bid one's life to crumble or outdo
Since then, Macbeth couldn’t wash the blood out of his hands because he began killing more people including Banquo, and the Macduff family excluding Macduff to keep his power. However, there were ways for Macbeth to make everything right and bring hope to him and his kingdom. The message here delivers that on simple choice can either lead to the one’s self destruction or respective ruler. For example, Macbeth refers to, “O, yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them”(line 100) in “Macbeth”. Macbeth killed the two guards and his excuse was that he was angry that Duncan got killed. This quote indicates a choice Macbeth made to cover his murder. It was a choice that he will never forget. In another quote, Macbeth refers to, “I’ll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on ‘t again I dare not.”(line 49) in “Macbeth”. This quote means that Macbeth feels guilty about himself killing the king Duncan. This is the Christian side’s “hubris”. Macbeth’s conscious of feeling guilty towards the murder is a hope that if he makes a right choice from there everything can go back to normal and he doesn’t have to feel guilty again. However Lady Macbeth tell him to forget the act and Macbeth keeps killing people because of his ambitions and
To begin, Macbeth experiences an internal downfall due to his ambition where he battle between his desires and moralistic values. Initially, the idea of attaining power over Scotland by killing King Duncan sparks a sense of fear and paranoia in Macbeth, however, his conscience struggles to take over his ambition: "that we but teach/ Bloody instructions, which being taught, return/ To plague the inventor. [...] I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Valuing ambition, which o'erleaps itself/ And falls on th' other-" (1.7.8-28). At this moment, Macbeth contemplates on killing King Duncan as he visualizes the long term consequences of committing the crime. The reader can grasp his moral judgement as he understands that by proceeding with the murder, he is only causing his own demise and punishing himself. With that b...
Ambition and desire are double-edged notions present in all who crave success and power. While ambition is most often associated with unfavorable greed and overwhelming need, people who express this desire are simultaneously praised for being goal-oriented and steadfast in achieving their goals. In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, this duality of ambition is explored through the character of Lady Macbeth. In the play, Lady Macbeth’s husband, Macbeth, is prophesied to be king, and in order to expedite his path to the throne and their combined rise to power, Lady Macbeth plots to murder the current King Duncan. Throughout her Act I soliloquy, Lady Macbeth reveals not only her malevolent and scheming nature, but also profound determination
Lady Macbeth and the witches have both planted the seed of ambition inside of Macbeth Because of Lady Macbeth’s wicked behavior, which resulted in Macbeth’s evil transition; he was led to become a murderer. Macbeth should not be held accountable for his actions completely since she is the one who lead him towards committing both crimes. The major theme ambition and greed for power have played a key part in Macbeth’s fall from a great Scottish general to a murderer. People should be content on what they have and not strive for things which destroy a person even if we are influenced. In this case Shakespeare’s thought proving play of Macbeth.
Macbeth, who at the beginning of his play’s plot is in a position of some honor and power, obtains position as king of Scotland through secretive foul play, spurred on by some external manipulation as well as personal ambition. “Macbeth’s ambition is unchecked by both moral and legal considerations-he will stop at nothing to get what he desires… Macbeth’s unbridled ambition is the root of the play’s evil because he is willing to throw the world into chaos in order to satisfy his personal desires.” (Thrasher, 92). His rebellion is heinous, but so long undiscovered. His ambition, though present in some degree from the beginning, metastasizes within him through the play as more obstacles to his retention of royal status crop up. “He begins well…but this...
In Macbeth the fundamental theme is Ambition, not only because it is driving the force of Macbeth’s life but also because it is the theme which gives away the Shakespearean idea of tragedy in this play. It is ambition that causes Macbeth’s fall from grace and his inevitable death. “I have no spur… but only / Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself”, This admittance comes after he has considered all the right reasons for not killing King Duncan and ambition overrules all the right reasons and his conscious.