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Examples Of Greed In Macbeth

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What Does Greed Lead To? Why is greed the root of all evil? People are selfish and always want more than what they have. People lack satisfaction and consistently strive for bigger. When someone isn’t satisfied with what they have they will do whatever it takes to get what they desire. But what are people willing to do to get what they want? The theme of greed is displayed throughout the Anglo- Saxon literature through the character’s actions and experiences. In Shakespeare’s literature he talks about how the character in his play Macbeth wanted more than just being king. Macbeth realized that he didn’t want the crown for a couple of years but, he wanted his own blood to be ruling the land of Scotland for generations. Furthermore, “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown” (III.i.60). What’s the point of having a crown if the king’s blood can’t continue to rule? Macbeths greed lead to killing innocent lives and although he had guilt after, he continued with his pattern of killing to stay king as long as he could. Because greed corrupted his mind he became mad for power and was later a target which led him to his …show more content…

Beowulf was someone like that, he needed fame to be the person he was. His greed and selfishness made him the great warrior he was and was able to win battles with that attitude. But when he came to old age he wanted to be remembered as the great warrior he was when he was younger. As a person who was too ambitious and overconfident, he decided to go fight the dragon without any help. For example, “I am old, now, but will fight again, and seek fame” (Beowulf. 625-626). He even admits it himself that the only reason he going to fight the dragon is to seek fame. He was someone that always had to top off what he did in the past and do something greater in his next battle. When he came to old age he believed that killing the dragon would escalate his fame but died in

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