Examples Of Selfish Macbeth

Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare’s most amazing tragedies where both ambition and conscience play a big role in the actions of the characters. Most people only do what is right, however someone who chooses his sinister desires over what he knows is ethical, is Macbeth. Although it is true, that Macbeth has many noble moments in the play, it is his ambition that wins at the end, and this makes him commit dreadful sins. This portrays Macbeth as a selfish person and it can be seen in his impatience, unthoughtfulness and over ambitious nature. One way that Macbeth shows his selfishness, is his impatience. This is demonstrated when he hears the prophecies and thinks, “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,/Shakes so my single state

of man that function” (I, iii, 149-150). Macbeth contemplates this because he immediately thinks about killing King Duncan to speed up fate.

Furthermore, it explains how selfish Macbeth really is, since he doesn’t even have any consideration for time, let alone other people. Another way Macbeth’s selfishness is shown is that he is very unthoughtful. Before he kills King Duncan, he doesn't take into consideration what will occur to the people of Cumberland including the guards he would frame in the near future. After Lady Macbeth gives Macbeth the idea to frame the guards he says, “When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two/Of his own chamber and used their very daggers,/That they have done't?” (I, vii, 83-85). This reference shows just how selfish Macbeth is, because not only does he agree with Lady Macbeth, but he also thinks it is a good idea to frame the guards. Finally, Macbeth’s overly ambitious nature reflects his selfishness perfectly. He cares so much about how he will become king that he fails to see how many sins he is committing along the way. An example of this is when Malcolm is announced heir to the throne and Macbeth thinks to himself, “The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step/On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,/For in my way it lies.” (I, iv,

55-57). When thinking of this, Macbeth really wants to become king and it shows that he is fed up with being loyal to some other person. This quote also ties into the first two points as it shows that he will go to any length to accomplish his goals, no matter how many people he has to hurt to get there. Overall, Macbeth is a very indecent man and he is extremely unethical. All of this, plus his impatience and inconsideration leads him to become a very selfish man. However, it is not too late yet, so hopefully in the future, Macbeth will realize the destruction of his actions, and learn to fix his problems before the play is through.