William Shakespeare's Macbeth

William Shakespeare's Macbeth

The play 'Macbeth' gives the audience plenty of opportunities to

consider the reasons for the main characters actions. In this essay I

will consider how far Macbeth is driven by his own ambition how far he

is driven by lady Macbeth's ambition and how far he is driven by the

influence of the supernatural powers.

It may be that Macbeth is fed up of simply being a warrior and may

already want more power, although he is already considered as 'Brave

Macbeth' The murder of Duncan is partly because of his own ambition to

be king partly due to his wife's life ambition to become queen and

also the influence of the supernatural.

Macbeth is so willing to believe the witches prophecy that he is to

become Thane of Cawdor and eventually king Macbeth is struck by the

witches prophecy and believes whole-heartedly that it will happen.

Banquo however who is predicted to be the father of a line of kings is

more suspicious about the prophecy and believes he would be insane to

believe it 'have we eaten on the insane root?' Macbeth now feels he

has to kill King Duncan in order for the prophecy, his own ambition

and his wife's ambition to be fulfilled. Lady Macbeth demeans him in

an attempt to make him give in and commit the murder. He finally gives

in he says 'murder yet is but fantastical, convincing the audience

that he may be about to commit murder. When Malcolm is announced heir

of the throne 'Prince of Cumberland' Macbeth just sees this as an

obstacle to overcome. He realises that to achieve his ambition he must

make it seem that Malcolm murdered Duncan.

In Act 1 Scene 4, Macbeth is being kind to Duncan showing his

duplicity 'safe toward your love and honour and hearing of my wife

with your approach; so humbly take my leave' he seems to be unabashed,

taking no embarrassment at both talking to the king and planning to

murder him. Macbeth refers to the stars 'stars hide your fires! Let