The Two Faces of Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Macbeth says that “God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves another.” God has made Macbeth one way, and he turns into a completely different man due to the thirst for the crown. Macbeth’s ambition throughout the play is motivated by greed, his insecurities and hopelessness, resulting to his death and the fulfillment of the prophecy.

The three witches prophecy at the beginning of the play sparks Macbeth’s ambition. The prophecy says that, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!/ All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (1.3.54-55). Because the witches say that Macbeth will be crowned king after he becomes Thane of Cawdor, makes him believe that he does not have to put any work into becoming king. Macbeth is then given the title Thane of Cawdor, which sets his mind up to doing whatever he has to do to become king. Upon Macbeth wanting to become king he says “I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent but only/ Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself/ And all falls on the other.” (1.7.26-29). Macbeth is simply saying that he is truly only motivated through his ambition at the moment, because if he rushes ahead of himself, he will lead himself to disaster. Which is foreshadowing the future because, Macbeth rushes ahead of himself with his wanting of the crown, and it causes him to lead himself to disaster. Macbeth then says in an aside “If chance will have me King, why,/ Chance may crown me,/ Without my stir.” (1.3.165-167.) Macbeth believes that fate has everything to do with him becoming king, and he will not have to do anything to receive that title.

Macbeth is not alone. Lady Macbeth also plays a role in Macbeth’s downfall. As Lady Macbeth is awaiting the arrival of Duncan she says to her...

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...d confused by seeing Banquo’s ghost. He is beginning to talk to thin air, as it seems, but he is truly talking to Banquo’s ghost. By Macbeth being so disturbed by seeing his ghost, it just shows how insecure he is about killing Banquo. He is feeling a sense of guilt. Macbeth’s downfall is slowly starting to happen. He feels that he is already in too deep with the murders he has committed.

Macbeth’s ambition throughout the play is motivated by greed, his insecurities, and his wife, Lady Macbeth. This then resulting to his death and fulfillment of the prophecy. Macbeth’s ambition grows stronger throughout the play, and with the murders he commits. With Macbeth becoming the Thane of Cawdor immediately after the witches tell him his prophecy, he begins to go on a man hunt to become king. He will do anything he needs to do to become king, thus resulting in his downfall.