“It only takes one step to head in the wrong direction.” Surely, many can relate to this quote made by Rhonda Roberts. In addition to people, its truth can also be personified in many characters found throughout literature. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is no exception. First thought to have been performed around 1606, William Shakespeare's Macbeth, further proved just how easily one can fall into an emotional downwards spiral with just one decision. The story circles around the main character, Macbeth, who, alongside his comrade Banquo, receives a prophecy promising him to one day become king. With this ambitious thought in mind, Macbeth begins an emotional journey as he continually takes steps to become king and secure his crown at the loss …show more content…
In Act I, Scene II, a captain of King Duncan's army claims that Banquo and Macbeth “doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe” (2) and fought bravely enough in battle to be recognized by the king. In the wake of a thane’s betrayal, Macbeth is honored with a new title and a visit from the king to his own home. Emotionally, he is quite stable and in seemingly high spirits after a victorious battle, but the beginning of his journey is noted when he receives a visit from three witches predicting his new found status and even his becoming king someday. Macbeth’s once strong loyalty for his king quickly morphs into a desire for more power and acquisition. His own thoughts catch him off guard when he says “why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs…” (8). At this point, Macbeth’s growing lust for power is made known. His own emotional and moral deterioration is just beginning as he considers murdering King Duncan in order to fulfill the witches prophesy and usurp the …show more content…
After learning of Macbeth’s hesitation to kill King Duncan in order to fulfill his desire to become king, Lady Macbeth chastises him for his weakness and his lack of desire to kill. She views him as faint of heart and says “Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and valor As thou art in desire?” (15). She pushes and prods him to act on his whims and not to be afraid of killing those around him in order to achieve his goals. Thus, her ambition and determination overwhelms Macbeth until he makes up his reluctant mind to murder King Duncan in order to take the throne. However, despite his mind being made Macbeth is haunted by his conscience and is greeted by an apparition of a floating bloody knife, which he comments on saying “ ...Or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain?” (17). Even after the deed is done, all he sees is the blood on his hands and says “This is a sorry sight” (19). Macbeth still feels his conscience tugging at him despite his willingness to kill in order to take fate into his own
In the beginning of Act I, Macbeth is regarded by King Duncan and many others as a noble man, more specifically a “valiant cousin” and a “worthy gentlemen” due to his loyalty to the crown and courage in battle. As a reward for his courage and allegiance, Macbeth is to become the Thane of Cawdor in addition to his position as the Thane of Glamis. However, before notified of this “promotion,” Macbeth and Banquo meet with three witches who greet the men with prophecies regarding their futures. At this time, Macbeth is told he is to become Thane of Cawdor and the king of Scotland in the future, but the witches also give Banquo a prophecy that his descendants are also to become kings. In line 78 of scene iii, Macbeth questions their strange knowledge and commands, “Speak, I charge you,” in order to learn more about his future. Catching his attention with news of such value, his natural reaction is to inquire for more information. This can be considered a spark of Macbeth’s tragic flaw because selfishness begins to arise when he demands t...
Macbeth is the remaining contributor to turning himself into the power-hungry animal he is before he is finally taken down. Macbeth let himself get talked into killing Duncan; he rationalizes with himself to kill Banquo. He is too ambitious. As soon as the witches cast the prophecy that he would be King, Macbeth lets himself be jealous. Once it is an option, he realizes how divine it would be to be King. Now, Macbeth will do what is necessary to get there, even if he suffers terrible consequences. After killing Duncan, Macbeth suffers by not being able to speak. “As they seen me with these hangman’s hands,/List’ning their fear. I could not say ‘Amen’/When they did say ‘God bless us’” (2.2.38-40). Macbeth cannot utter the sacred words of God; moreover, this illustrates to the reader how terrible the consequences are psychologically for this murder. Macbeth is also jealous of the prophecy Banquo gets, which also drives him to kill Banquo. Soon after he kills Banquo, Macbeth hosts a banquet, where Banquo’s seat is left empty. Only Macbeth truly knows what has happened to Banquo. However, he hallucinates that Banquo is at the table with all the guests when Macbeth says, “Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee./Thy bones are marrowless; thy blood is cold;/Thou hast no speculation in those eyes/Which thou dost glare with” (3.4.113-116). Macbeth is seeing Banquo at his banquet even after he ordered murders to kill Banquo and Fleance, Banquo’s son. Macbeth cannot believe his eyes, he is shocked at the sight of Banquo and he is losing his mind. Macbeth endures horrific hallucinations, falling into the depths of insanity. These two quotations in the play are very important because they emphasize how Macbeth has turned into a mon...
Lady Macbeth begins with an unrecognizable conscience. She explains to Macbeth that if she said she would kill her own child, she would rather do the deed than break her word to do so. Soon she begins to develop a conscience. After placing the daggers for Duncan's murder, she makes an excuse for not killing Duncan herself: "Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done't" (2.2.12-13). These words introduce her conscience. Towards the end of the play, Lady Macbeth falls into a sleepless state, and this sleeplessness represents her guilt for her role in Duncan's death, as well as all the murders Macbeth has committed.
Macbeth is plagued with paranoia and a thirst for power. Macbeth fears that Banquo has discovered his unclean hands and he will turn him in. “Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared. ‘Tis he much dares…” (III, 3, 53-56) Macbeth knows that he could wipe out Banquo on his own, however he knows there would be obvious consequences for him. “And though I could with barefaced power sweep him from my sit and bid my will avouch it, yet I must not, for certain friends that are both his and mine…” (III, 1, 134-137) In order for Macbeth to wipe out Banquo without suspicion, he schemes to have other men take care of the matter by convincing them that Banquo is at the heart of their problems. “Know that it was he, in times past, which held you so under fortune, which you thought had been our innocent self.” (III, 1, 84-86) Macbeth’s desire for power is his downfall.
Macbeth’s provocative or violent actions on the challenges placed before him cause him to build an effect of downfall and dismay throughout the play. Originally, Macbeth handles his challenges in different ways and manners and is constantly changing his procedure. From handling situations carefully to not caring, Macbeth and his violence resulted in guilt and selfishness which he had to overcome. By the end of the play, Macbeth had become a selfish, greedy king and the challenges as well as experiences he encountered shaped him into who he is. He was shaped by the guilt of killing Banquo and Duncan, just to become powerful and a king. For example, in Act 3 Scene 4, Macbeth faces adversity when his mind creates a ghost of Banquo, who he just found out was killed. In Macbeth, the uprising of adversity was often handled in various manners. By dealing with his own challenges, Macbeth transforms his handling of adversity from being cautious to thoughtless, which reflected his character and the transformation he portrayed throughout the
Based on the text it states, “And, on thy blade and dudgeon, gouts of blood, Which was not so before. There’s no such thing. It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes. Now o’er the one-half world Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse…..I have done the deed.” This illustrates that Macbeth went through with the plan his wife cameup with. He killed King Duncan so he could become King. His ambition caused him to take part and do a bad action such as killing Duncan. The killing and wrong doings don't stop there however. Macbeth’s ambition pushes him to the limit. Macbeth then kills his close friend Banquo and attempted to kill Banquo’s son, based on fears that Banquo’s son will become king. Macbeth brings forth murderers and states, “ Know That it was he, in the times past, which held you So under fortune, which you thought had been Our innocent self…. So is he mine, and in such bloody distance That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near’st of life. And though I could With barefaced power sweep him from my sight.” Macbeth deceives the Murderers and tells them that Banquo is to blame for their misfortune. He then convinces them that Banquo is the enemy and he must be killed. Macbeth also tells them, “The moment on ’t, for ’t must be done tonight….Fleance, his son, that keeps
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is seen as a brave general of Duncan’s army because he had triumphed with victory over the traitor Macdonwald. A Soldier, who has fought alongside with Macbeth states “For brave Macbeth –well he deserves that name --/ Disdaining fortune, with his brandish’d steel” (1.2.17-18.) The soldier’s message makes the reader develop a positive first impression for Macbeth, since his bravery is being praised. Later, when Macbeth first encounters the three witches with Banquo, he is told that he will be King of Scotland after the third witch says “All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter” (1.3.53.) Macbeth believes the witches and says to himself aside “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical/.../ If chance will have me king, why, change may crown me.”(1.3.149-155.) He immediately thinks of killing Duncan to become king, his impression of a brave general completely change. This shows that although Macbeth has the power to bring justice and proper order while fighting for Duncan’s army, he chooses not to and instead uses his power for injustice and he own needs.
He says, “Better be with the dead, whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, than on the torture of the mind”(III.2.46). This quote takes place just before he does the daring deed and shows the reader that he knows it is not the right thing to do before he even goes to do it. His conscience tries to stay strong but he wants all the power as soon as possible so his conscience gives out and he decides that he will kill Duncan. He states before the domino effect of murders starts that he would rather be dead, than to be a guilty murderer. As the character gives into his dream of being the king he goes to do the deed and murder King Duncan. After he commits the murder, Macbeth feels immediate guilt. This is shown in a conversation with his wife yet again. He says, “I am afraid to think what I have done. Look on’t again I dare not”(II.2.56-57). This quote takes place right after the murder of King Duncan but he accidentally left the daggers in the bedroom with the corpse of Duncan. He immediately feels the guilt which is good for his conscience because he realizes he did something he should not have. He says to Lady Macbeth that he can not stand to even see what he has done anymore. Soon after Macbeth’s daring act his guilt begins to haunt him
Strange things begin happening in Macbeth's mind when he decides to go through with the murder of Duncan. He sees the image of the dagger floating in front of him(53). This is his inner thoughts warning him on how unnatural this act is. When he goes to Duncan's chamber, he hears warnings from his conscious. "Sleep no more!/Macbeth doth murdered sleep"- the innocent sleep."(57) This is Macbeth's first evil act. At this point he still hears the warnings. As he gets further into the darkness, all the other voices disappear. Instead he is haunted by evil dreams, images, and premonitions. Lady Macbeth is also warned of the trouble that is to come from this. When she goes to Duncan's chamber, she sees the image of her father, warning her not to murder Duncan. She strips herself of all good to gather the strength to go through with the act. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth give up their souls in pursuit of the kingship. It is this obvious disregard for the warnings by the conscience of the loss of innocence that causes them to be haunted by it later in the play.
Macbeth and Banquo are the main characters of this scene and are found contemplating the mysterious fulfillment of the three witches’ prophecy. Macbeth has been named Thane of Cawdor as well as Thane of Glamis. The last part of the prophecy is yet to come, Macbeth would become King of Scots. Throughout the scene, Macbeth is mostly off to the side, away from Banquo and the messengers, thinking about the last part of the prophecy. He contemplates, “This supernatural soliciting / cannot be ill, cannot be good” (133-134). This juxtaposition of opposites—good and ill—shows that Macbeth is at a standstill of how to feel about becoming king as well as how to achieve the title of king. He does not
He no longer is the innocent soldier he once way, he now has “unclean hands”. Lady Macbeth however, assumes his innocence. She claims she cannot murder Duncan herself because Duncan looks to much like her sleeping father. She is all words and no actions. Macbeth is devoid of any human emotions as the play goes on, and Lady Macbeth assumes the emotional role. Lady Macbeth begins to have dreams in which she cannot get the blood off her hands, and ultimately commits suicide from guilt of her actions. This breakdown of Lady Macbeth really highlights how inhuman the murder of Duncan has made Macbeth.
After Macbeth committed a dreadful crime at the start of the play, he realizes that by killing even more people he can get what he wants whenever he wants. Macbeth reaches a point where he is too busy fulfilling his own ambitions that he was not fulfilling his obligations as king. “Those he command move only in command, / Nothing in love…” (5.2.22-23). His obsession with power caused him to murder his good friend Banquo, and Banquo’s son. Macbeth’s out of control ambition has caused him to lose his emotion. He progressively sta...
Macbeth is captured by his wild ambition at the opening of the play when he and Banqou meet the three witches. The witches tell Macbeth that he is the Thane of Cawdor, and later will be king. They tell Banquo that his sons will be kings. Instantly Macbeth started to fantasize how he is going to be king. He understood that in order for him to become king he has to kill Duncan. “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical”(Act 1 Sc. 3, p.23). He was pondering about the assassination until the moment that he could no longer control his emotions. “To prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself and falls on the other-“(Act 1 Sc. 7, p.41). Because of his “vaulting ambition” he killed Duncan.
Even though he was originally uncertain in respect to the scheme, his greed cut through his feelings of uneasiness, allowing his imagination to be used as a crutch and support him in this defining event. Furthermore, this increase in ambition impacted Macbeth’s character greatly within a short period of time and could possibly have influenced the appearance of the dagger. Lady Macbeth was a key factor in fueling her husband’s desire and caused him to quickly change his opinion towards killing Duncan, as shown in the quotation said by Macbeth, “I am settled, and bend up/Each corporal agent to this terrible feat./Away, and mock the time with fairest show:/False face must hide what false heart doth know” (1.7.89-92). He describes the deception that he will take part in, how every part of his body will be strained trying to reach his goal, almost in an obsessive manner. This emphasizes how determined he is at that moment to see the murder through, to kill his king so that he may rise in rank. All these emotions had been concentrated within one night, during one talk with his wife, and it has been projected into a dagger to help him cope. His character has been altered so drastically from a loyal, righteous man to one taken over by his fiery ambition to the point that his mind begins to see things that
After a long and hard battle, the Sergeant says to King Duncan, “For brave Macbeth,-well he deserves that name,- disdaining fortune, with his brandish’d steel, which smok’d with bloody execution , like valour’s minion carv’d out his passage till he fac’d the slave;” (1.2.16) . This quote shows that Macbeth is viewed as a valiant soldier and a capable leader. However, it does not take long for the real Macbeth to be revealed- a blindly ambitious man, easily manipulated by the prospect of a higher status. His quest for power is what drives his insanity, and after having been deemed the Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth’s ambition can immediately be seen. In a soliloquy, Macbeth says, “Present fears are less than horrible imaginings; my thought, whose murder yet is but fantastica, shakes so my single state of man that function is smother’d in surmise, and nothing is but what is not” (1.3.140). Macbeth has just gained more power, and his immediate thought is of how to gain an even higher status as king. He imagines how to kill Duncan, and then is troubled by his thoughts, telling himself it is wrong. This inner struggle between Macbeth’s ambition and his hesitation to kill Duncan is the first sure sign of his mental deterioration. Although Macbeth does kill Duncan, he questions whether or not he should to do so, which is far different from how Macbeth feels about murder later in the play. Macbeth becomes king, and this power leads