Overpowering someone can often bring out the worst in them. People almost never have the perspective to use that power in a responsible or consistent way, and they always mess it up. A Scottish nobleman, Macbeth, encounters three “weird sisters” after a bloody fight who prophesy that he will become king. Macbeth starts to believe that the only way he can rule Scotland is by killing Duncan the current king. Macbeth is the person most responsible for the tragic ending in Shakespeare’s Macbeth because of his reckless ambition and his choice to believe the witches' prophecies, both of which lead to Macbeth’s downfall. Macbeth’s gruesome acts appear to prove his constant ambition to rule Scotland, but ironically, his regrets demonstrate the opposite, demonstrating how …show more content…
Having a strong desire to rule, Macbeth is extremely ambitious. His ambition outweighs any other quality, making it undesirable. Nothing would stand in the way of Macbeth’s success once he set his mind towards something. Macbeth doesn’t have any reason why should kill King Duncan. As he is talking with himself trying to get one, the only reason to go through with the plan is because of his ambition getting in the way. “I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself/ And falls on th’ other”(1.7 25-28). In reality, Macbeth’s ambition is what drives him to murder King Duncan. In fact, ambition, according to Macbeth, may cause people to put themselves first. It is at this point that Macbeth begins his downfall because he has too much ambition to stop the murder. Macbeth’s ambition is out of control and is now beginning to take over. Another example of Macbeth’s reckless ambition that demonstrates his downfall is when he realizes how good of a king King Duncan was, but how his ambition overcame his goodness, which lead him to kill King Duncan. Macbeth tells himself and Lady Macbeth
Macbeth is a greedy person like us all but he unlike most of us is willing to cross anyline to get what he wants. Macbeth was willing to kill someone he considered a dear friend to gain more power as well as killing Duncan's servants to frame them. His greed out-weighed his loyalty for his king and friend showing how much he’s willing to do to accomplish his selfish goal. Macbeth is so greedy that he’d turn against his own best friend to keep his position as king.
Macbeth knows that if he wants to become king then King Duncan must die, as he is the main person preventing this from occuring. This quote foreshadows the murder of King Duncan which ultimately results in Macbeth being crowned king since Duncan's sons flee the scene for protection, in order to prevent getting murdered themselves since they're next in line for the throne. This shows Macbeth's ambition because he is willing to do anything to get to the throne and become king even if it means murder. Macbeth even realizes that he is beginning to have “black and deep desires” in Act 1, Scene 4, and this shows his ambitious thoughts to murder the
Macbeth, three witches tell Macbeth that he will be King of Scotland which prompts Macbeth to devise a plan to kill the reigning King Duncan and claim the throne for himself. In act 1 scene 7, Macbeth hesitates with continuing the planned murder of Duncan, but Lady Macbeth successfully persuades him to carry it out. Shakespeare argues that ambition causes people to become greedy which leads them to commit evil acts. Lady Macbeth's determination to continue with the murder of King Duncan
Macbeth doubts his plan to murder Duncan and is unable to motivate himself to take action. There is tension between Macbeth's unwillingness to move ahead with his plan and his acknowledgment that his ambition is leading him down a dangerous path. Macbeth notes, “I have no spur to prick the sides for the intent, but the only vaulting notes ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’ other” (1. 7. 25-29). Macbeth knows that he has lacked motivation and ambition, and he knows that it’s the only thing preempting disasters to come his way as he makes mistakes.
However, when the witches prophesize, that Macbeth will become the king of Scotland, Macbeth's ambition takes over, and he begins to consider the possibility of fulfilling this prophecy. Although he initially ignores the idea, his ambition and desire for power lead him to commit murder. As Macbeth himself acknowledges, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself And falls on the other" (Shakespeare I.7.25-28). This quote reveals that Macbeth's ambition is the driving force behind his decision to kill King Duncan. Despite knowing that murdering a king is a terrible crime, Macbeth chooses to go through with the plan because he wants to become the king
Lady Macbeth easily convinces Macbeth to proceed and King Duncan is killed. While waiting for Macbeth to return from the king’s chamber, Lady Macbeth shows some of her own ambition, “That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold” (2.2.1). By successfully pressing drink upon the guards, Lady Macbeth is emboldened. Success turns many people overly ambitious, by seeing what the human race is capable of changes many people into power hungry ants. Lady Macbeth is one clear example of this fault.
Macbeth’s thirst for power and his neverending ambition ultimately leads to his demise. This premise is illustrated in many ways throughout the play. First, Macbeth was so power hungry that he murdered one of his closest friends, King Duncan, to get what he wants. Next, he then hires murderers to
Macbeth sees himself as ambitious and gets offended if anyone suggests that he is anything other than a good man. He cares gravely about the opinions of his wife Lady Macbeth, who wants to see him as king, those of the king himself, and those of his companions’. Macbeth wants to be king because he wants the approval of others. To start, Macbeth is not always confident about having to kill King Duncan to rise to power because Duncan praises Macbeth and trusts him. In Act 1, Scene 4, King Duncan says to Macbeth, “I have begun to plant thee, and will labour / To make thee full of growing” (1.4.33-34).
What Macbeth essentially says here is that his only motivation for killing King Duncan is his ambition. Many would argue that it was not Macbeth’s ambition that caused him to kill King Duncan but instead was his wife using her femininity in order to charm Macbeth into doing as she says . However, Macbeth’s hunger for power was already seen when King Duncan gives Malcolm the title of Prince of Cumberland. Macbeth tells himself that he must not reveal his true intentions: “Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires.”
Macbeth shows that he is willing to kill King Duncan because he is interested in the witches prophecy, after they tell him that he will become ‘Thane of Cawdor’ and then the King.
Macbeth’s ambition is what is causing him to intervene with his prophecy and pursue his goal (rather than leave it to chance). In a way, it is Macbeth’s own “black and deep desires” that make him kill in the first place as the witches never tell him to do so. Furthermore, apart from ambition, it is Macbeth’s own weak will and moral system that causes him to do the actions that result in his downfall. Macbeth’s weak will is undeniable and is illustrated before killing Duncan. “I have of spur/To prick the sides of my intent, but only/Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself/And falls on the other” (I, VII, 25-28).
Macbeth's ambition drives him to commit a series of heinous crimes in order to gain power and retain his position, ultimately leading to his own demise. Firstly, Macbeth's ambition blinds him to the consequences of his actions. He becomes so consumed with the idea of becoming king that he ignores the moral implications of murdering King Duncan and those who stand in his way. His ambition leads him to rationalize his actions and ignore his conscience, making him increasingly vulnerable to the manipulations of those around him.
In the end the power of his unchecked ambition caused his downfall both mentally and physically, causing the once noble Macbeth to become the
After the fate of Macbeth was revealed by the three dangerous witches, they plan on killing King Duncan. He is a generous man who wants to do good for his kingdom and willing to do everything for its best. They wanted to murder the king in order to gain power of the throne since it is the easiest plan for them. Also, Macbeth’s dream motivated him gave him a clue to do it.
Macbeth never believed it would be possible for him to become king of Scotland. When he finally can visualize his path to the crown, it makes him greedy for the powerful title. Being a tragic hero, Macbeth’s greed and unchecked ambition leads to his demise. Rather than waiting for his time to be named king, Macbeth tried to rush the course to the throne. His desires to be king ultimately allowed him to murder the seven people that posed a threat.