In his play, Macbeth, William Shakespeare explores the various means by which determination can shape and influence a person’s life. Determination is especially present in the characters of Macduff, and Lady Macbeth, and most significantly in the titular protagonist Macbeth. Determination plays a positive role in Macduff's personal development. His story reveals the beneficial effects of determination in an individual's life. In contrast, Lady Macbeth's personal story illustrates the dangers of determination. Macbeth’s determination can be interpreted as both positive and negative. Determination is an efficient tool to achieve goals in life, but it has its advantages and disadvantages. A boundless level of determination can make an individual …show more content…
At the beginning of the play, three witch sisters told him that he would become Thane of Cawdor and the King of Scotland. Right after they told him about the prophecies, Macbeth was told that he did in fact become Thane of Cawdor. Since that prophecy came true, he began to wonder if the prophecy about him becoming King would come true. When Lady Macbeth found out about the prophecies, Lady Macbeth convinced and influenced Macbeth to kill the King so that the prophecy could come true. Macbeth was reluctant to kill the king, but that reluctance was soon overcome by the sheer determination for power that grew inside of him. For example, his reluctance is displayed when he says to …show more content…
They then become King and Queen. Macbeth’s determination can be looked at positively here because it led to his personal growth and it allowed him to fight to get what he wants. However, this doesn't justify the murder he committed. His determination blinded him from his morals. As the play progresses his determination starts to consume him. For instance, he commits multiple murders after he gets the title of King. The murder of his own friend Banquo, the attempted murder of Banquo's son Fleance, and the murder of Macduff's family all were committed to fueling his growing obsession with maintaining his status and power. Nearing the end of the play, his determination completely takes over him and leads to his downfall. The witches give Macbeth more insight near the end of the play, communicated through visions and apparitions. The apparitions tell macbeth: “Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, beware Macduff; / Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me, enough” (V. i. 78-79), “None of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth.” (V. i. 87-89), and Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until / Great Birnam wood / to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him. (V. i. 101-103.) These visions lead Macbeth to be so blindsided that he puts himself in danger. Macbeth completely ignores the first and second prophecies and becomes so determined to not be harmed that when a war is declared against him, he thinks he is invincible. The
Macbeth starts out being an excellent warrior in the battles that he is fighting in for the good. He is spilling blood over the right reasons and in doing so he earned the title of Thane of Cawdor. However, this all begins to change once he and Banquo, his right hand man in battle, meet the three witches and they get their prophecies told to them. This begins the downfall of Macbeth, causing corruption, greed, and guilt coming from the actions after the prophecies are told to them. Immediately after Macbeth’s mental state switches as a result to the first prophecy coming true already, he begins thinking that he has to kill King Duncan in order to fulfill the rest of them.
In the play “Macbeth”, the protagonist, Macbeth, seems to go through this internal journey of how his predestined fate affects the decisions he makes. In the beginning of the play,
It is clear that Macbeth becomes a person without any feelings and sensitivities like a wandering soul that possess with power. His desire could even guide
Sean Smith Mrs. Anthony Senior English 8 March 2018 The Danger of Ambition In Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth”, the author proposes a perpetual loop of struggle through his use of fate and imagery of the character’s deaths in order to express the consequences for one’s actions if they are foolish enough to make these decisions. “The Tragedy of Macbeth” is a uniquely portrayed concept of fate, internal struggle, and paradox; the story depicts a human with intentions to receive power.
Macbeth’s demise was caused by him firstly being taunted by Lady Macbeth, then committing terrible acts because of her doing, and ultimately falling down, where Macduff killed him as revenge. These are a series of events that happened throughout the story of Macbeth. The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare is a tragedy play that is about a man named Macbeth, who rises to power and becomes Thane of Cawdor. He then talks to three witches, saying that he will become king, and Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s wife, becomes powered by greed and ambition and tells Macbeth to kill the king so he can attain power. These and many other choices will eventually lead Macbeth through a dark path, and to his demise.
Macbeth’s meekness allowed him to be disparaged by Lady Macbeth into giving in and killing the king for the throne. The amount of ambition Macbeth had was unrestrained and instead of doing it for the people he was just doing it for himself. The witches were unclear about Macbeth’s future, yet they never insinuated that he had to kill anybody in order to become king. Macbeth became Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and later, became king.
Macbeth killed King Duncan and many other people so he would become king. According to the play Lady Macbeth told Macbeth,”When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man.” She commented on his manhood to manipulate him into making an irrational decision. He took that prophecy seriously and wanted to be king by any means possible no matter who had to get hurt. Macbeth knew his time was coming
This paper explores how Shakespeare's play highlights the impact of ambition in the characters Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Banquo. Macbeth, who
Macbeth tried to control his future by killing Duncan in order to become king; he then kills anyone who somehow knew about the murder of Duncan. Macbeth in the beginning visits the witches, who tell him that he will become king, but he has others in his way of doing so. Lady Macbeth then encourages him to do whatever he has to do in order to get Macbeth. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth then plan the murder of Macbeth, and plan to frame the killing on the guards.
His greed brings temporal joy, but later causes social and mental insanity. Although the fictional tragedy portrays a practical lesson for one’s character, it also has a spiritual application. He is merely an ordinary man, a respected general of King Duncan’s army. Macbeth is living a pleasant life, "For brave Macbeth — well he deserves that name” (Act I Scene II), until three witches prophesy of a greater future. Although he believes it is an impossible fate, Macbeth allows the prophecies to linger in his thoughts.
In the tragedy Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is a tragic hero and a noble figure under King Duncan, who, after hearing three prophecies, becomes ambitious. The three prophecies are presented by witches who explain how he will become Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis, and king after that. Although he is initially in disbelief, Macbeth begins to develop a need for power and status. These needs become stronger, causing him to resort to extreme measures such as murder. He begins down the slippery slope of murder, starting with regicide and then takes innocent lives; ultimately, the play ends with his own death.
(Act 1, 3, 150-151) These quotes highlight Macbeth’s inner conflict and the struggle between his ambition and personal limits. Moreover, the prophecies introduce an element of
“I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, / a false creation, Proceeding from the heat oppressed brain?” (2.1.35-36/38-39) Macbeth’s soliloquy in Act 2, Scene 1 is significant to the play as it marks his first vision. Inspired heavily by Raphael Holinshed's “Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland”, William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, explores the effects of visions – referring to Macbeth’s hallucinations, which can lead to the misguidance and eventual destruction of oneself.
With every death, Macbeth has become more and more ruthless, he hasn’t even let it set in that he just ordered the murder of another of his friends. After this, Macbeth goes to see the witches demanding information, where he decides to murder Macduff until learning that he has fled to England. The second apparition tells Macbeth that no one borne of a woman can harm him, and Macbeths courage is spiked again, before he decides to murder Macduff's entire family. This is where Macbeth is officially at his worst, killing Macduff's entire family just because he
Macbeth, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, presents two characters, Macbeth and Macduff, who represent the aspects of leadership and ambition with different motives. Macbeth’s egocentric ambition leads him to become a ruthless leader, while Macduff’s ambition focuses on serving loyalty and service towards his country and his people. Both are Duncan's well-trusted thanes, but Macbeth’s selfish ambitions cause his passion to move over his reason, while Macduff sticks to keeping his reason over his passion. Due to the prophecy of witches, Macbeth indulges himself in creating his fate by carrying out malicious acts to keep his kinship safe from anyone; Macduff’s main priority becomes to rebel and dethrone Macbeth with the help of Malcolm