Examples Of Greed In Macbeth

“Greed is a state of restlessness of the heart, and it consists mainly of craving for power and possessions. Possessions and power are sought for the fulfillment of desires.” Meher Baba, a nineteenth century Indian spiritualist, viewed greed, such as for power, wealth, and material needs, as a craving; a craving that would be caused by the heart which would in turn threaten to devour all that it was able to, until at last the weight brought about self destruction. Such a calamity is the theme of Macbeth, Shakespeare’s composition on the desire of power. Macbeth’s covetous actions towards the crown bring him power, yet the same desire becomes his own downfall as it manifests his guilty conscience furthering his descent into paranoia which acts as a driving factor to the play.

A hero acclaimed by many, Macbeth was renowned for his bravery and prowess upon the battlefield: “For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name), Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valor’s minion, carved out his passage. (Act 1, Sc. 2)

It would seem that Macbeth is a man of virtue, that he upholds some form of honor to his king, for if not then why fight for him? However, there is a slip in his code, a slip in his character; upon meeting with the Weird Sisters and their prophetic words a change can be seen in Macbeth. Whether the Weird Sisters have turned Macbeth anew or magnified who he was even more, there is no reason to doubt that this is where Macbeth experiences dramatic changes. Once the first part of the prophecy comes true, Macbeth is no longer content with just a Thane of Cawdor, instead his eyes have set upon the crown itself. While the this snippet of the play is short, it is the trigger that would unleash a monster on Scotland. Now Macbeth questions his morality, wondering