Greed Quotes In Macbeth

581 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The theme of fate in Macbeth

Risks lead to many things, adrenaline rushes and financial success, but with a risk comes the chance something can go horribly wrong and lead to possible failure or death. In William Shakespeare's Macbeth, the protagonist macbeth takes the risk of murder and arrogance to get to the top of scotland's social hierarchy, which inevitably leads to his death. Throughout the play Macbeth takes on many different changes and relies on different things that push him to take metaphorical leaps of faith against those who hinder him from taking and holding his foretold place as scotland's king. Macbeth had been encountered by three witches that told him and Banquo of their future, banquo's son is to be king someday, and macbeth was to become king and take Duncan's place only if he were to kill him. Initially macbeth wanted to let things play out on their own, but his wife Lady Macbeth was fixated on the crown and wanted end Duncan's life after he came to greet Macbeth at their home. He was to be a kind host but in the end take Duncan's crown by framing the drunken guards and playing …show more content…

Macbeth twisted the minds of two poor desperate people and sent them after banquo and his son. To avoid the risk of getting his hands dirty and losing his and banquo's mutual friends, he explained it to the murderers “though i could with barefaced power sweep him from my sight and bid my will avouch it, yet i must not, for certain friends that are both his and mine whose loves i may not drop.” (page 119, Macbeth). Banquo's son Fleance escaped and fled the murder scene unscaved. Macbeth risked his dignity as king and the respect of mutual friends between him and banquo in order to kill off his fear of being taken down and with banquo went out one of the lights of good in the play, which allowed macbeth to hide his crimes from the people furthermore by calling upon

Show More
Related

  • Macbeth Blind Ambition Analysis

    1580 Words  | 4 Pages

    Macbeth’s ambition is to remain king for as long as possible and he will kill anybody who stops this from happening. Macbeth feels as if he was given a childless rule, and that his legacy will not continue on in fears his rule will be taken away by someone outside his family. Macbeth states, “For Banquo’s issue, I have filed my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murder 'd, put rancors in the vessel of my peace only for them, and mine eternal jewel given to the common enemy of man. to make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings”(Shakspeare 3.1.64-69). Macbeth had committed murder, poisoned his own mind, and destroyed his soul only to end up benefiting Banquo’s heirs. Macbeth, being the paranoid character that he is, feels threatened by this and orders both Banquo and Fleance to be killed. In Act 3, Macbeth says that, “and mine eternal jewel, given to the common enemy of man, to make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!” (Shakspeare 3.1.67-9). Seeing this choice of act, leads Macbeth’s blind ambition doing all he can, in order to remain where he is, even if he is ‘blind’ to what it going on and fails to truly understand the concept of his choices in killing Banquo, which only further deteriorates his mind because of his thirst for power, causing

    Read More

  • Macbeth in William Shakespeare´s Macbeth and Osama Bin Laden: Power Hungry

    657 Words  | 2 Pages

    Macbeth is the remaining contributor to turning himself into the power-hungry animal he is before he is finally taken down. Macbeth let himself get talked into killing Duncan; he rationalizes with himself to kill Banquo. He is too ambitious. As soon as the witches cast the prophecy that he would be King, Macbeth lets himself be jealous. Once it is an option, he realizes how divine it would be to be King. Now, Macbeth will do what is necessary to get there, even if he suffers terrible consequences. After killing Duncan, Macbeth suffers by not being able to speak. “As they seen me with these hangman’s hands,/List’ning their fear. I could not say ‘Amen’/When they did say ‘God bless us’” (2.2.38-40). Macbeth cannot utter the sacred words of God; moreover, this illustrates to the reader how terrible the consequences are psychologically for this murder. Macbeth is also jealous of the prophecy Banquo gets, which also drives him to kill Banquo. Soon after he kills Banquo, Macbeth hosts a banquet, where Banquo’s seat is left empty. Only Macbeth truly knows what has happened to Banquo. However, he hallucinates that Banquo is at the table with all the guests when Macbeth says, “Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee./Thy bones are marrowless; thy blood is cold;/Thou hast no speculation in those eyes/Which thou dost glare with” (3.4.113-116). Macbeth is seeing Banquo at his banquet even after he ordered murders to kill Banquo and Fleance, Banquo’s son. Macbeth cannot believe his eyes, he is shocked at the sight of Banquo and he is losing his mind. Macbeth endures horrific hallucinations, falling into the depths of insanity. These two quotations in the play are very important because they emphasize how Macbeth has turned into a mon...

    Read More

  • Use Of Metaphors In Macbeth

    1576 Words  | 4 Pages

    Little does Duncan know that this is a murder plot set up by Macbeth and his wife. Macbeth then becomes king and ends up having Banquo murdered because the witches also predicted that Banquo’s children will become king. Macbeth then goes to talk with the witches again

    Read More

  • Macbeth Ambition Quotes

    597 Words  | 2 Pages

    Macbeth’s name meant the son of life and was the origin of the name was in Scottish. He was a tragic hero and a protagonist in the play “Macbeth” written by William Shakespeare. Macbeth was a brave, complex and a capable warrior, but soon later doubted himself. Later on in the play he ends up becoming easy influence and weak.

    Read More

  • Why Is Ross Important In Macbeth

    842 Words  | 2 Pages

    After having Duncan as their guest in their castle, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth murder Duncan, fearing for their lives, as the king’s two sons flee from Scotland. This causes Macbeth to be crowned king of Scotland. His growing fear of Banquo’s prophecy makes him strike against Banquo and murder him, but his son Fleance manages to flee. When Banquo’s ghost appears at a royal banquet, it causes Macbeth to seek the witches once more.

    Read More

  • Ambition, death, and power: themes found in the first scene of Macbeth by Shakespeare

    543 Words  | 2 Pages

    During a low point in Macbeth’s life he faces struggles with power, ambition and the thoughts of death surrounding him. Grabbing ahold of him strongly he is shown many ideas that are very promising at first, especially when the witches tell him of all of the control he could have, he wants the power, the fame and will do anything to get it. In act 1, scene 3, lines 140-145 Macbeth is recalling a conversation with the witches which brings about a thought in him of murder and the ambition to kill Duncan. Creating this supremacy trip that we see later, almost causing total insanity. In this we see Macbeth come across three of the major themes in the play, power, death and ambition as he struggles to make the right decision with what the three witches tell him.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Greed In Macbeth

    561 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout Macbeth, the greed which Macbeth and Lady Macbeth carry, leads them to do acts which are not applicable. They demonstrated their greed by killing individuals who quite frankly did not deserve such an inevitable fate. Macbeth and his lady were not the only ones to ever be overtaken by the powers of grief. In thousands of other books, plays, movies,and television shows, characters struggle with the wrath of greed and it shows in their actions. Frank Gallagher from Shameless is a prime example of greed consuming a person. Macbeth and Frank both act upon urges which only benefit them, while taking from others, making them extremely similar.

    Read More

  • Desires in Macbeth

    697 Words  | 2 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • The Loss Of Ambition In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

    627 Words  | 2 Pages

    He thinks back to the witches prophecies, and remembers the prophecies the witches gave to banquo. Scared that he will lose his throne to Banquo’s son Fleance, he appoints two murderers to kill them. In act three scene three, the murders successfully kills Banquo, but not Fleance. Since whilst in his dying moments Banquo tells Fleance too “Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! / Thou may ’st revenge —O slave!” (3.3.19-20). This act of Macbeth shows how he has become a imbecilic serial killer and has lost mostly all humanity, since he had the courage to even hire the murderers to kill his best friend. This murder made Macbeth more powerful and dishonourable since he now perceives that he can get away with

    Read More

  • Banquo's Internal Conflicts In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

    878 Words  | 2 Pages

    He starts to get suspicious of Banquo because of the prophecy the witches give him;. “Thou shall get kings, though thou will be none” (I.iii.70). Macbeth is worried that Banquo's children kids will become king so he makes another bad decision and decides to kill Banquo and his son so that he will not have any more descendants that could take over. Macbeth sends murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance;. “I will advise you where to plant yourselves, Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' th' time, The moment on ’t; for ’t must be done tonight, And something from the palace; always thought That I require a clearness. And with him—To leave no rubs nor botches in the work— Fleance, his son, that keeps him company” (III.i.134-140). The murderers successfully kill Banquo but Fleance escapes. Because of Macbeth’s hand in murdering his best friend Banquo he hallucinates. “(to GHOST) Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake thy gory locks at me” (III.iv.61-63). He is hallucinating Banquo’s ghost because of his guilt. Macbeth still has to worry about

    Read More

  • Examples Of Greed In Macbeth

    572 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare is a shockingly influential writer and his play Macbeth is full of literary examples of our society today. Macbeth is known for being greedy, and that is something that humans should not have today. If someone have greed then nothing can ever be enough because no matter what they do then they will always try to find something better. Someone who is going after something they want like a new car or house or new job would keep trying and not give up until they finally receive what they are looking for. Macbeth demonstrates through his greed how human beings are always going to want more and and that they will never be satisfied.

    Read More

  • Role Of Punishment In Macbeth

    594 Words  | 2 Pages

    MacBeth says, “I could with bareforced power sweep him from my sight.” (page 56). He says that without hesitation, even though Banquo is his best friend. This shows that MacBeth is ruthless, he kills his best friend to keep his power. MacBeth’s act was selfish, Banquo and Fleance are innocent, they didn’t do anything, his desire of power makes MacBeth kill them. The evil side of Macbeth has revealed since he becomes the king. MacBeth becomes coldblooded. He wants to kill Banquo and Fleance to make the second prophecy impossible. In the speech he said to the murderers, MacBeth admitted that “only for them, and mine eternal jewel given to the common enemy of man…” (page 55). He is greedy, “mine eternal jewel” shows the greediness of MacBeth. Though Fleance escaped from the murderers, he was out of the picture and now MacBeth’s most immediate threat was

    Read More

  • Macbeth Evil Quotes

    986 Words  | 2 Pages

    After Duncan’s death, Macbeth feels that Banquo is suspicious of him because he knows about the prophecy. With the goal of eliminating a possible threat, Macbeth hires two murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. Macbeth convinces the murderers that he is not only their enemy but, “so is he mine; and in such bloody distance/ that every minute of his being thrusts/ against my near’st of life,” (III.i.119-121). Here Macbeth explains that Banquo is also his enemy, and that every minute Banquo is alive, is a threat to his own life. While Banquo may be suspicious, this is far from the truth. Banquo is Macbeth’s closest friend, and his willingness to kill him without hesitation shows how much he has changed. He is willing to harm not only his best friend, but also Banquo’s innocent son who may pose a threat in the distant future. Macbeth’s instinct for self-preservation outweighs his morals, and his extreme caution leads to the downfall of others. In doing so, he digs himself into an even deeper hole, and is surrounding himself in secrets in order to protect himself. This takes a toll on Macbeth mentally, because he fears that everyone is his enemy, and that he can only trust

    Read More

  • Macbeth’s Tragic Flaw

    826 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Tragedy of Macbeth written by William Shakespeare is a tale of a man and his un-bridled ambition, set in ancient Scotland. Macbeth is a nobleman of the king of Scotland, Duncan, who is in mid-war with Norway. Macbeth and his fellow general Banquo encounter three witches. The witches tell the pair that Macbeth will be king, and Banquo’s children will also be kings. Any person in their right mind would question information given to them by strangers, let alone witches, but for some reason these statements intrigue Macbeth. They temp Macbeth to do evil things such as treason, and worse, to kill. Although un-bridled ambition is his main tragic flaw, there is one more that plays a big role in his decisions and the outcome of the story; Macbeth is far too impressionable.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Romeo And Juliet

    1612 Words  | 4 Pages

    The play then moves to the military camp where the Scottish King hears the news that his fellow generals, Macbeth and Banquo have defeated the two different armies. Macbeth then comes across the witches with his fellow partner Banquo. The three witches foretell a prophecy of Macbeth becoming a Thane of Cawdor, then become the King of Scotland. They also foretell that Banquo will lead to him become part of the line of Scottish kings, but will unfortunately never become King. They don't believe the witches, until Macbeth is made thane of Cawdor. Macbeth tells his wife about what the witches said to him and his wife convinces Macbeth to Kill the king, so he may become the King. While King Duncan is asleep Macbeth stabs him, killing him. When Duncan is discovered dead Macbeth kills the chamberlains and assumes he is the king. Duncans sons then flee Scotland, and go and hide in England and Ireland. Macbeth then orders to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. The murderers fail to kill Fleance but are successful with Banquo. Later Banquo’s ghost appears to Macbeth, he is scared and then goes to the witches who then foretell another uprising opponent, Macduff. Macbeth orders that Macduff’s wife and children to be murdered due to Macduff fleeing to join Malcolm. King Duncan son, Prince Malcolm. Macbeth’s wife commits suicide due to plague and fits of sleepwalking. Macbeth is weakened by this, but still expects Malcolms army. In

    Read More

More about Greed Quotes In Macbeth

Open Document