Ambition in Macbeth

Interestingly, Shakespeare’s Macbeth, clearly illustrates Macbeth’s ambition to becoming the king. In order for Macbeth to become king he uses poor judgment when he decides to kill King Duncan. After he is king, he struggles in maintaining his position. Moreover, it is also argued that Macbeth’s judgment became negatively influenced by the witches prophesies, as well as Lady Macbeth. It is as if they were able to poison his mind and alter his sense of moral and ethical judgment.

This proves his vaulting ambition and how it had taken over Macbeth. Macbeth continues to murder Banquo and does so out of fear of losing the throne. This is evident in (III, i, 47 – 50) where Macbeth says “…To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus. – Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be fear’d…” this demonstrates Macbeths fear and the threat he faces. Macbeth says that Banquo’s royalty of nature should be feared, through this we are able to understand that Macbeth is evidently lost his grasp on his moral conscience and begins to take down any threat he sees, even if that threat is his best friend.

The apparitions told warned Macbeth that Macduff is a threat to his title as king, and Macbeth took action by hiring murderers to kill Macduff’s whole family. Macbeth lies to the murderers and makes them believe that Macduff has been unfaithful to them just so that the murderers would go through with his plan. Works Cited Macbeth

While promoting Macbeth establishes Duncan’s growing trust in Macbeth and further cements his relationship with him, it does not do the same for Macbeth. For Macbeth, this becomes an opportunity to get rid of the King so that he may sit upon the throne just as the prophecy states. To ensure his future, Macbeth finds an opportune moment to murder the king when he stays in his home. Almost immediately, a disturbance in trust becomes apparent. Not only are people panicking, but they are also aghast by whom could commit such a heinous crime.

Consequently, he begins to feel mentally pressured by his fear to secure the throne, his paranoia, and his sense of tyranny and blood lust. These pressures cause his character to change, which leads him into greater downfall. When one is faced with pressure, both from within or from an outer source, their character is greatly influenced and subject to many changes. Macbeth first feels forced externally, the source of it coming from his wife, Lady Macbeth, who wants for Macbeth to kill Duncan so that he can become king. At first, Macbeth feels apprehensive and tells his wife, “We will proceed no further in this business” (1.7.33).

Nevertheless, it is Malcolm who is set to be the next king. This action sends Macbeth into a panic. His sinful concerns begin to surface. His fate of becoming king seems impossible unless Macbeth can work up the “strength” to murder Duncan and his son (Cohen). At this point in the play, we have discovered that Macbeth has a need for power, and an even greater need to be good; at least until now.

The Opposing Goals of Comfort and Power in Macbeth People have a hard time getting what they want; in fact, the things they want can be incompatible with each other and any attempt to reach one of these goals hurt the other. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth (1606), the protagonist is lured to murder the king, Duncan, by the desire for power, an appetite whetted by witch’s prophecies and his wife’s encouragement. But when he reaches the kingship, he finds himself insecure. He attempts to remove threats that decrease his security, including his companion Banquo and his son Fleance, prophesied to be king. His lords grow angry and revolt successfully, after witches lure Macbeth into a false sense of security by further foretelling.

Macbeth has just killed Banquo and although he was under the control of his ambition for power and to keep the throne he describes what he has done as “For mine own good...were as tedious as go o’er” (3.4.24). He describes his incredibly outrageous act as a comparison as walking through a blood river. Macbeth suggests that once a man has committed a murder for his own gain, which Macbeth has to protect the throne, it’s impossible for him to stop at just that. Turning back from what he has just done would be a “tedious” amount of effort on his part. At this stage in the book, Macbeth’s ambition is willing to do anything to gain the throne and help himself.

Macbeth is breaking tradition by murdering rulers and requesting new robes, which later will prove he is unfit to run Scotland. As the play progresses, we can see the altered reality that the kingdom is suffering through deception. “There’s daggers in men’s smiles; the nea’r in blood, the nea’r bloody.”(Shakespeare 57) This quote shows the altered appearance that Macbeth has created. Donaldbain portrays the daggers in the smiles, signifying that people cannot trust anyone anymore and the result will be deception. When talking about the nearer in blood this refers to kinsmen or the royalty of Duncan’s family and how you should keep your family close, but your ... ... middle of paper ... ... belt of rule.”(Shakespeare 137) Caithness, one of Scotland’s soldiers was comparing Macbeth’s kingdom to a loose, uncinched belt.

Macbeth: Power Is The Paradox People have a hard time getting what they want; in fact, the things they want can be incompatible with each other. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the protagonist is lured to murder the king, Duncan, by the desire for power, an appetite honed by witch's prophecies and his wife's encouragement. But when he reaches the kingship, he finds himself insecure. He attempts to remove threats that decrease his security, including his companion Banquo and his son Fleance, predicted to be king. His lords grow angry and revolt successfully, after witches lure Macbeth into a false sense of security by further foretelling.