Moral Deterioration In Macbeth

Greed and jealousy live inside everyone, but one must refrain from these thoughts to prevent self destruction. In William Shakespeare's Elizabethan era Tragedy Macbeth, Shakespeare uses betrayal as a vehicle for obtaining power for selfish means, and illustrates the grave costs of betrayal to the individual. Greed often fuels an uncontrolled lust for power. Shakespeare reveals the extent of Macbeth’s greed when Macbeth's first thought regarding the witches prophecy stir thoughts of murder: “ My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical”(I.iii.152). Most individuals do not think one should murder someone to obtain what you desire.

With Macbeth being a general in the Scottish military, he had major influences on people and their daily lives. After the murder of King Duncan, Banquo’s suspicion of who committed the murders arose around a single suspect, Macbeth. Knowing that Banquo most likely knew the truth that Macbeth killed King Duncan, Macbeth went back to his evil ways with ease. Through his attendant, Macbeth summons three murderers. Shakespeare introduces the murders with stage direction “[Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers]” (Shakespeare, 363), in which Macbeth he uses Banquo as bait in order to gain their graces and loyalty “That it was he in the times past which held you so under fortune, which you thought had been our innocent self: this I made good to you in our last conference, pass'd in probation with you, how you were borne in hand, how cross'd, the instruments, who wrought with them, and all things else that might, so half a soul and to a notion crazed, Say 'Thus did Banquo.'”

They prophesied that he would be king "All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be King hereafter" (I, 3, 50). Macbeth begins to think about killing Duncan and taking the throne by force. Readers can interpret that he is thinking about murdering Duncan from the quote, "Stars, hide your fires, /Let not light see my black and deep desires;" (1.5.50-51). After the deed is done, Macbeth feels as if he needs to kill Banquo.

Even though he did not physically kill him by himself, he still committed a crime. Macbeth did not desire to kill his own best friend or he will feel a sympathy of turning back on killing him. Banquo’s ghost created a scene that determined he was guilty of shooting down his loyal friend for no good

He knew the blame would be pinned on the three murderers and taken off himself. If caught, the 3 men would be killed; and, it was them who had the blood from crime stained on their hands. So, when Macbeth comes face to face with Banquo’s ghost, he tells it, “thou canst not say I did it” (3.4.62) and he is free of his crime. Due to his greed, he salvaged himself

As his mental ability deteriorates, he becomes more violent and more unprincipled due to ambition throughout the play. The honourable Macbeth is destroyed by his own mental deterioration and his infinite ambition. Moreover, Macbeth becomes a ruthless tyrant and loses people’s admiration since his

Macbeth figured that since Banquo was with him when the witches were telling him the prophecies he would soon be able to figure out that Macbeth took the chance to kill Duncan and become king. “Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, as the weird women promised, and I fear thou play'dst most foully for't”(III, I, 1-3) In this quote Banquo goes to explain that he has it all, and that Macbeth had cheated to get into the position he was in. As Banquo says “Thou played’st most foully for’t” Macebth started to plot his plan so that no one else can know about the real way he became king. Macbeths worry that Banquo’s blood line would rein one day, based on the prophecies told by the witches, made Macbeth act further on his plan to

Additionally, it also accentuates the unjust nature of Banquo’s murder later on. This is due to the fact that unlike Macbeth, he remained true to his reputation until his death. The night that King Duncan is scheduled to visit Macbeth’s, Lady Macbeth warns him to act normal to avoid suspicion and

Macbeth’s murder of the king shows that the more power you acquire dishonestly, the more evil one

As a result Jealousy and regret filled his mind when he reasoned that Banquo’s Children would inherit the throne and not his own. In the story we see that Macbeth starts to see Banquo's “light” and admits consistently that Banquo has so much things going for him and is the only real threat Macbeth sees. It is most noticeable in the story when Macbeth says

When Banquo’s ghost is looking at him Macbeth feels guilt. He says that he technically did not kill Banquo in that someone else did. Even though Macbeth ordered the death of Banquo he's not the one who physically killed Banquo. This makes him technically not guilty of murder. When Banquo’s ghost accuses him of murder, Macbeth is quick to say that he was not the only to kill him.

This demonstrates that rather let Banquo be king, he is going to challenge and fight him for his crown. Banquo is the only person that knows about the prophecy and he is also suspicious of Macbeth killing Duncan. Instead of letting Banquo's’ son receiving the crown easily, Macbeth is going to challenge him for the crown. In order that Macbeth can be king, he has to kill Banquo and his son, so they don’t take crown from

Macbeth’s wish to become the king encouraged him to achieve his goals by any means. His intention is

I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on 't again I dare not.” (Act II, sc ii, Lines 48-50). Macbeth is getting extremely paranoid and feels bad killing Duncan. Macbeths ambitions caused him to murder Duncan, but he also had Banquo murdered, and wanted to murder Banquo 's son, Fleance. Macbeth wants Banquo killed because he saw him as a threat; however, Banquo had been Macbeth 's friend and thought he could trust him. "

Similarly, he sent murderers to kill him as he was fearful of the loss of his kingship. Macbeth’s relationship with Banquo has more significance to him than his relationship with Duncan, thus, him betraying Banquo affected him with a greater impact than his betrayal of Duncan. This is evidenced by how his guilt takes the form of Banquo and not