Throughout the entirety of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth himself transformed from a Thane that was loved by all, into a king that was despised by all things right with the world. Macbeth’s fatal flaws include ambition and arrogance, along with susceptibility to Lady Macbeth’s control. These traits pave the path for a prosperous Thane to fall into worldly temptations and dissolve his morality.
Most things are good in moderation. In a lot of cases such as completing school work, applying for jobs and even in sports, ambition separates the prosperous from those who don’t succeed. Macbeth has several defining character traits that take center stage and directly lead to the decline of Scotland. Throughout the paly Macbeth proves
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that his one desire is to become king. Aspirations such as this, allow for the first step in the transformation of Macbeth to unfold. Macbeth knows that the only way he could ever become king is to kill King Duncan. In Act 1, Macbeth shows his first intentions of murder. “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, shakes so my single state of man That function is smother'd in surmise, and nothing is but what is not (Macbeth 1.3.52-55).” Unfortunately for those who are rightfully in power, these actions lead to a domino effect of many more murders. With respect to ambition, Macbeth symbolizes the people in life who stop at nothing to accomplish their goals. So many people start with the best of intentions but wind up transforming who they are as a person because they believe in the philosophy of the ends justifying the means. It’s so sad that so many people, including Macbeth derail what could possibly be a prosperous life. Arrogance is one character trait that is never beneficial.
Throughout the play, Macbeth exemplifies just how damaging arrogance can be. Even in the very beginning, when Macbeth held the position of Thane of Glamis, his arrogance is showcased. At this point he could definitely defend his character flaw, because he was a very successful leader. Although, he didn’t know that as his aspirations grew, his arrogance would begin to diminish his ability to become successful. Macbeth’s arrogance is put on display in Act 1 when he says, “I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more, is none.” (-Macbeth, Act I, scene vii). He convinces himself that anything is possible, because no one is able to defeat him. “Macbeth’s arrogance becomes an exploitable crack when he tells Banquo that he is going to leave his being crowned king up to fate” (St. Rosemary Educational Institution). Macbeth is so arrogant that he thinks everything will be given to him, because that’s what is supposed to happen. In the final act of the play, Macbeth’s arrogance is center stage one last time. When Macbeth meets Macduff on the battlefield, he believes that there is no way he could lose. He puts faith in the knowledge of the Witches and though his belief in their prophecy, his arrogance begins to flourish. Macbeth believes that he is invincible because all of his challengers are born of women. In a dramatic turn of events, Macduff revealed that he had been born through a C-section. This revelation wiped the smirk right of Macbeth’s face both literally and figuratively as he was
beheaded. Lady Macbeth plays an instrumental role in the transformation of Macbeth. She is a very twisted and self-seeking individual. Her first priority is to make sure that her husband becomes king. Though it’s not because she wants what is best for Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is so self-centered that she allows the mental status of Macbeth to decline so far that he begins to hallucinate. “O proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear. This is the air-drawn dagger which you said Led you to Duncan. Oh, these flaws and starts, Impostors to true fear, would well become A woman’s story at a winter’s fire, Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all’s done, you look but on a stool.” (Lady Macbeth Act 3 Scene 4). Macbeth has an internal conflict dealing with the murders of King Duncan and Banquo. He believes he saw Banquo’s ghost at the dining room table and makes a scene in front of his guests. Lady Macbeth even uses personal insults to control Macbeth. She constantly resorts to attacking his masculinity in order to make him accomplish her desires. Though he was mostly to blame for the deaths of multiple characters throughout the story, Lady Macbeth must share responsibility. Macbeth is the ultimate tragic hero. At the beginning of the play, he was loved by all and had everything going for him. Unfortunately, he is his own worst enemy. Macbeth allows his own ambition, arrogance and susceptibility to determine what his life would look like. Macbeth symbolizes the major problem that faces America and most of the world today. So many people are so self-centered that they believe others owe them and use that to justify their treatment of other people. Macbeth, with the aid of his Lady became convinced that he needed to be king at whatever cost. As a result of these determinations he was motivated to murder anyone that stood in his way. An even better example of the true character change that develops within the walls of Macbeth’s heart is when he takes the lives of Macduff’s family. He is responsible for the murder of innocent people and his only reason is to irritate one of his challengers. The moral of this play is that there is no man too power to fall victim to worldly pressures.
Arrogance and gullibility are two terrible traits to have. The best example of it in human form is Macbeth, from Shakespeare's play Macbeth. It´s a horrible tragedy about a power hungry, arrogant man who is easily gullible and let what other characters say about him get to him. Inside the play Macbeth is completely to blame for his downfall at the hands of Macduff.
Power can be used to a person’s benefit, but it also can bring about the corruption of a human’s character and moral foundations. Unfortunately, power is the key to the downfall of events that occur throughout Macbeth. When Macbeth is given prophecies about his future, he is skeptical at first. However once one of the prophecies is fulfilled, Macbeth becomes power hungry and he seeks to know the unknown. As he seeks the unknown, his mind begins to corrupt as he questions the extent to which he will go in order to gain the power that he desires so strongly. Eventually, Macbeth’s morals are defeated as his selfish desires silence all goodness. The corruption overtakes Macbeth and his behaviors are now purely controlled by his ambition to gain
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a tragedy in which the main characters are obsessed by the desire for power. Macbeth’s aspiration for power blinds him to the ethical implications of his dreadful acts. The more that Shakespeare’s Macbeth represses his murderous feelings, the more he is haunted by them. By analyzing his hallucinations it is possible to trace his deteriorating mental state and the trajectory of his ultimate fall. Throughout the play Macbeth is never satisfied with himself. He feels the need to keep committing crime in order to keep what he wants most: his kingship. The harder Macbeth tries to change his fate the more he tends to run into his fate. His ambition and struggle for power was Macbeth’s tragic flaw in the play. Macbeth’s rise to the throne was brought about by the same external forces that ensure his downfall.
The longing for power can seem to be that empty hole that anyone would try to fill inside themselves, but one should always be careful what they wish for, because as we can see in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, Macbeth’s ascension to the throne of Scotland is unlike the typical reign of a monarch in any country for that matter. The rising glory of Macbeth is primarily what this play focuses on, but there are several steps Macbeth must take to reach his desired destination. There are multiple aspects that lead to Macbeth becoming king, but in actuality, there are three key ideas that are the most compelling. The first of these three factors happens to be Macbeth’s ambitions just in general, especially in early parts of the play before the
The tragedy Macbeth by William Shakespeare is based on a thane in whom is corrupted by greed and a negative ambition. The character Macbeth contradicts his moral responsibility in this play a great deal; many moral questions are brought forth to Macbeth. He questions himself and whether or not he should follow through with the evil deeds that he does. Macbeths ambition causes him to compromise his honour, he doesn’t take into consideration that he is being trusted and that every action that he takes will have a reaction. Macbeth attains his position as king unjustly. As is evident by the conclusion, justice prevails as usual and Macbeths demise is a result of his evil deeds.
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a play centred around opposing forces trying to gain power in the succession for the throne of Scotland. Macbeth, in the beginning, is known to be a noble and strong willed man, who is ready to fight for his country. However, one may see that Macbeth has a darker side to him, he is power hungry and blood thirsty, and will not stop until he has secured his spot as King of Scotland. Though Macbeth may be a tyrant, he is very nave, gullible, and vulnerable.
In the play Macbeth we see many common themes that do emerge. One of which is the theme of ambition which will at the end eventually lead to the death of the main character. We see this in the eventual death of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. In this essay I hope to show the dominant theme of ambition and how it leads to the downfall of the main characters in the play.
Ambition and desire are double-edged notions present in all who crave success and power. While ambition is most often associated with unfavorable greed and overwhelming need, people who express this desire are simultaneously praised for being goal-oriented and steadfast in achieving their goals. In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, this duality of ambition is explored through the character of Lady Macbeth. In the play, Lady Macbeth’s husband, Macbeth, is prophesied to be king, and in order to expedite his path to the throne and their combined rise to power, Lady Macbeth plots to murder the current King Duncan. Throughout her Act I soliloquy, Lady Macbeth reveals not only her malevolent and scheming nature, but also profound determination
Macbeth is a brave general who fights for his country Scotland, defeating the King of Norway. He is loyal to his king Duncan, but Macbeth has ambition to take over the kingdom for himself. He has lots of doubts of if he is doing the right thing, but still murders Duncan and then Banquo who is another general who fought with Macbeth. These murders and guilt about his treason are leading Macbeth to become insane. This essay shows that although Macbeth’s strong desire for power is influenced by the three witches in the play and also the planning and ambition of his wife Lady Macbeth, in the end he is responsible for his self-destruction.
Perhaps the most fundamental theme of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is the inherent corruptibility of even a seemingly good man when ambition turns to greed, and Macbeth himself exemplifies this concept throughout the play. While at the outset he is seen to be loyal to his king, generally considered trustworthy, and displaying numerous other laudable qualities, Macbeth ultimately succumbs to the influence of those around him and becomes unequivocally evil, setting aside all his previously held morals and coming to be driven only by his lust for power. This transition is brought about by a wide variety of factors and plays an integral role in the development of the plot. In his tragedy Macbeth, William Shakespeare employs
Among the greatest gifts that the renaissance produced was the eloquent and incredible Shakespearean plays. Written mostly in the 1590s these plays have been performed and admired countless times; entertaining mass audiences by providing interesting tales that explore the depth of human insights and the different universal themes. Among the many Shakespearean plays Macbeth, written in 1606, stands out with its short composition but multiple themes. This tragedy narrates the tale of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s quest to grasp ultimate power by ignoring their morals and succumbing to their dark desires, which ultimately leads to their downfall. This tragic play portrays the desires, needs, and temptations that accompany ambition in men and women. However the ambition in Macbeth is blind, it does not abide to the morals, but it allows space for dark actions as means necessary for accomplishment. Blind ambition serves as the main driving force that drives Macbeth to subdue to his dark desires, defy his noble behavior, and ultimately his downfall.
Elloway, David. A. Tragic Ambition at Macbeth Macmillan Education Limited. 1985. The. Nostbakken,.
In the early 1600’s, William Shakespeare penned an Aristotelian tragedy ‘Macbeth’ which provides his audiences both then and now with many valuable insights and perceptions into human nature. Shakespeare achieves this by cleverly employing many dramatic devices and themes within the character of ‘Macbeth’. Macbeth is depicted as an anti-hero; a noble protagonist with a tragic flaw that leads to his downfall. This tragic flaw of Macbeth’s, heavily laden with the themes of ‘fate or free will’, and ‘ambition’, is brought out by Shakespeare in his writing to present us with a character whose actions and final demise are, if not laudable, very recognisable as human failings.
Macbeth, who at the beginning of his play’s plot is in a position of some honor and power, obtains position as king of Scotland through secretive foul play, spurred on by some external manipulation as well as personal ambition. “Macbeth’s ambition is unchecked by both moral and legal considerations-he will stop at nothing to get what he desires… Macbeth’s unbridled ambition is the root of the play’s evil because he is willing to throw the world into chaos in order to satisfy his personal desires.” (Thrasher, 92). His rebellion is heinous, but so long undiscovered. His ambition, though present in some degree from the beginning, metastasizes within him through the play as more obstacles to his retention of royal status crop up. “He begins well…but this...
We see the character of Macbeth go through a personality transformation after a powerful predicament from Three witches. Starting as the highly thought of thane of Glamis, Macbeth is told he shall become thane of Cawdor and then king. The witches, quickly portrayed as evil, could have predicted these events, or simply planted the idea in Macbeth’s head, to exploit his fatal flaw.