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Macbeth Greed Essay

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Through the characters, Shakespeare communicates that all are at risk of succumbing to the powerful nature of greed and this ultimately will contribute to one’s downfall. Macbeth let his temptation and greed corrupt him when he decided to kill the king, Banquo, MacDuff’s family and the servants. In the beginning of the play, the knight pledged loyalty to the king, proof of his loyalty being killing his traitor, the Thane of Cawdor. Before being approached by the 3 witches Macbeth showed no interest in wanting to take the throne, yet he still gave in to greed and betrayed the one who trusted him most. When he and Lady Macbeth started to plot the murder, he felt more guilt than desire, according to him saying “First, as …show more content…

After Macbeth killed his first victim along with the framed servants, he says “ Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain? I see thee yet, in form as palpable as this which now I draw” (Act 2 Scene 2 39-44). The quote mentions Macbeth visualizing a dagger before, which symbolizes the bloody path he is taking and is a result of his guilty conscience. Although at …show more content…

They told him what he wanted to hear knowing well it would lead to his downfall costing the lives of many, yet they selfishly took pleasure in watching its course of events. After most of the damage Macbeth had done, the witches were approached by Hecate, the goddess of magic, also known as their boss, and were scolded by her as they acted out without permission as she angrily says “Have I not reason, beldams as you are? Saucy and overbold, how did you dare To trade and traffic with Macbeth In riddles and affairs of death, And I, the mistress of your charms, The close contriver of all harms, Was never called to bear my part, Or show the glory of our art?” . Although the 3 witches went unpunished, they still chose to do the selfish action of deceiving Macbeth about his

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