Examples Of Greed In Macbeth

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Courtney Crute

In the story The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare there is a constant theme of blood and greed throughout it. Shakespeare shows how greed will sometimes get the best of someone and cause them to go to drastic measures just to ensure that there ever-changing, never-ending needs are met. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are both main characters throughout this story. Lady Macbeth seems to be the ruthless leader consumed of greed at the beginning pushing Macbeth to do drastic things in order to achieve more power, but as the story continues the characteristics of the two to switch between them. Macbeth stops feeling guilt for the things he has done and begins to plan further activities to gain more power

I think this foreshadows the events that happen in Macbeth. Macbeth has something good but becomes greedy and in the end it ruins him, slowly but surely. After the witches put the curse on the sailor, Macbeth enters and they decide to tell Macbeth of his future first: “First Witch: All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! Second Witch: All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! Third Witch: All hail, Macbeth! Thou shalt be king hereafter!” (1.3.149-151) This is where the story really begins, when all changes. Macbeth has just received two great honors but that already isn’t enough. Macbeth wants to be king like the witches told him he would and he starts thinking of horrible wicked things to do to become it: “[Aside]. Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme.—I thank you, gentlemen. [Aside] This supernatural soliciting] Cannot be ill, cannot be good: if ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor: If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature? Present fears Are less than horrible imaginings: 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.” (1.3.240-255) Macbeth is already becoming greedy and thinking about murdering King Duncan. The theme of blood is shown when Macbeth starts thinks of killing King Duncan in order to receive more power, which is also showing the theme of greed. As the story progresses, Macbeth writes Lady Macbeth a note