Desires in Macbeth

There is a famous Hungarian Proverb “When ambition ends, happiness begins.” We may think of ambition more as a personal thing, but that is not always so. Many superficial things can get in the way and counteract personal ambition, like for example the greed of power and power corrupts. It is possible to be so overreaching about things that a narrow, personal ambition that not only benefits yourself but others around you will be at a potential threat of disappearing. Throughout Shakespeare's tragic drama Macbeth, there is primarily uncontrolled desire. The play demonstrates what can potentially happen when one pursues power at the expense of everything else. In order for certain individuals to reach such happiness, desperate measures will be committed and these individuals will realize that a stupendous imagination to reach specific goals may overrule what they believed in the first place to be an undoubtable pleasure.

The play begins with Macbeth as a devoted subject in King Duncan’s company. In the beginning act, after his return from battle, Macbeth and his friend, Banquo, are confronted by three witches. The three witches give Macbeth a prophecy that he will become King of Scotland. Banquo is told his offspring are also bound to the throne. Macbeth brings attention to his wife about this revelation and Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth, begins to conspire ways of killing King Duncan in order to overtake the throne. To Lady Macbeth it is a shortcut to achieve ultimate contentment and be Queen of Scotland and life a live of leisure. But not until after the atrocious murder is committed does she realize that it was not the right way to pursue her happiness and instead ends up as a very depressed person in contrast to the happy person...

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... the witches and it’s what poisoned his mind into believing he was indestructible. He was blinded by ignorance and power so he never really thought for himself or seemed to question the witches’ predictions. With the death of his wife, Macbeth realizes his isolation from the world and the horrible crimes he has committed, but he also realized it was too late to redeem himself.

In conclusion, Macbeth’s discipline was very fitting for his crime. He began as a respectable person and gradually his identity plunges until he loses control and tears himself apart. Amusingly, in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, it was generally his own self-ambition and selfishness to gain more power that drove him to his self-destruction. While having aspirations is a very good thing, it’s a smart idea to not dive head first into things otherwise an untamed ambition may drive you off the deep end.