Greek And Christian Hubris In Shakespeare's Macbeth

One of the greatest times in England was the era in which William Shakespeare lived. Shakespeare wrote for the queen and used his plays to warn people of the destruction that one’s own ambitions can lead to. In the Shakespearean play known as Macbeth a theme of Hubris is displayed. Hubris is a tragedy concerned of the fall of a great man from a position of superiority to humility in an account of his ambitious pride. Two well-known types of Hubris are Greek and Christina Hubris. While Greek Hubris has a rather dull outcome, Christian Hubris is the contrary; it sheds a light on the fact that there is a ray of hope in the end. In Macbeth, Greek Hubris can be seen in Macbeth’s rise and demise and Christian Hubris through Malcom throughout the

When Macbeth first encounters the witches, they say, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (1.3.49-51). They told him would he would become ruler thus establishing a high ego and an ambition that would only grow with greed and sin. Warning him of the words of the witches, Banquo says, “The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence.” (1.3.126-128). Although the witches may be speaking the truth, there is always a catch and things may not be what they seem. But Macbeth already is forming a plot to murder King Duncan. These new titles cause him to become more arrogant and make his ego greater. Later, Macbeth encounters the witches, this time frustrated and demanding. To reassure Macbeth of his absolute tyranny, they tell him his future and make his defeat seem impossible to him. The Witches say, “Good! Rebellious dead, rise never till the wood Of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth Shall live the lease of nature; pay his breath (1.5.101-104). This only makes his ambition greater and makes him feel over confident in his victory. He eventually goes to the extent of murdering so as to make it unlikely that he will get the throne taken from him. Due to what the witches told him, Macbeth decided to put fate into his own hands and do what he thought would be best for him. Hubris is expressed through when the seeds of malevolence are planted in his mind by the witches both the first and second time. This overconfidence leads to his destruction and