However, in a chain of events that status is quickly removed. As the play progresses Macbeth goes from a loyal character to a dangerous on because of his rising ambition for power, and his wife’s influence on his actions. At the beginning of the play Macbeth is seen much differently than he is by the end of the play. His social status is high because he is the Thane of Glamis and Cowder, and people like him because he is trustworthy and proven in battle. The King of Scotland says, “What be hath lost, noble Macbeth hat won” (1.2.
Macbeth himself quotes, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting Ambition, which o'er-leaps itself and falls in the other." The words, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition..." shows that Macbeth knows and admits to us that the only reason he does the terrible deed of murdering the king was for his own personal gains. This shows Macbeth has already become a victim of ambition. The words "vaulting" and "o'er-leaps itself and falls in the other" indicates to us that Macbeth wants his desires to jump ahead of itself, as he is very ambitious. However, this also indicates that his ambitious desires can lead him to a possible downfall.
It was his fatal flaw, ambition, that ultimately led to his downfall. Macbeth was a man who could want for nothing. He was happily married, and an owner of lands, titles and respect. However, even that was not enough when a prophetic greeting from a trio of witches ignited something inside him, his fatal flaw: ambition. When the witches greet him as “...Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.” [Act 1, Scene 3, Line 48] he begins to strive toward a larger goal: the throne.
We know Macbeth has a violent side and has done many horrific things that are commended by other characters in the play when his battle is described in how he dealt with one member of opposition, “Till he unseamed him from the nave to the chops, And fixed his head upon our battlements”. This shows us a side of Macbeth that we now being to question his nobility as he is now capable of many things. There are many different characters that contribute to the change of the character Macbeth but the most important people that shape him differently is his wife Lady Macbeth, the three witches and the three apparitions. Our Sympathy for Macbeth begins when he and Banquo a close friend are approached by the three witches in which they tell them three Prophecies. These prophecies were directed to Macbeth in fooling him that he would be crowned king.
(1.3.71)” Banquo also doubts the intension of the witches, he believes that evil always tells one part of the truth in order to earn one’s trust and lead him to destruction. Banquo warns Macbeth, ”But ‘tis strange./And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,/ the instruments of darkness tell us truths,/win us with honest trifles, to betray’s/In deepest consequence. (1.3.124-128)” On the other hand, Macbeth ignored his friends warning and believes in what the witches say. He is over whelmed by his ambition to be king, he said to himself,”Glamis, and the thane of Cawfor!/The greatest is behind. (1.3.118-119).””Two truths are told/,as happy prologues to the swelling act/of the imperial theme.
Macbeth’s Character Macbeth is superstitious and curious about the witches. ‘stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more…speak, I charge you’ this shows that already the idea of becoming king is in Macbeths mind, and is feeding his ever-growing ambition. The imperatives in the quote show that he already thinks that he is superior to others as he is very imposing and demanding, this would also mean that he is self-centered and will do anything for the benefit of himself and his own success. Macbeth is superstitious and ambitious but doubtful of himself and the witches. ‘why do you dress me in borrowed robes?’ this quote shows that Macbeth is superstitious as it tells the audience that he has believed the prophecies they have told him.
Where there is a positive figure there will always be a negative mocking the good. During the act, Macbeth, Shakespeare uses contrasting images of lightness and darkness to express the differences of powers used amongst two different characters. The character Macbeth is a very important aspect of the play because his is referred to as the tyrant: a dark, evil and violent dictator that does nothing, but tries and destroys other around him. Duncan on the behalf is a loyal king to the people of Scotland. Duncan tries to praise the people around him and honor them for the good that they instill.
Evan Schweikhart Ms. Linda English 10H 7 November 2014 Macbeth as an Appalling Character in Macbeth In the beginning of the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, we see the main character Macbeth as a very trustworthy and noble person. However, throughout the play his character is altered by the influences of many people. Although these people have an influence on Macbeth, he is accountable for his own fate. The influence on the witches’ prophecies, the influence of Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth’s motivations, are the main reasons that lead to not only his disastrous end, but the end of many other characters as well. The witches are the ones to blame for placing the idea that Macbeth would eventually become the king of Scotland in his head.
Themes in Macbeth Theme of Ambition: This theme is associated mainly with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. It is one of the flaws in the Tragic Hero and it is a most important theme. We get a glimpse of Macbeth’s ambition when he learns that he has become Thane of Cawdor. “If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir” (1:3) In the following scene, when Duncan has named Malcom to succeed him, he speaks of “his black and deep desires” and later, Lady Macbeth says of him, “..Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it.” (1:5) He himself recognises that his only motive for killing Duncan is “vaulting ambition” which can only bring disaster to him .Yet, he is persuaded by Lady Macbeth to go ahead with the murder, when she assures him they cannot fail. (1:7) After his first ambition has been achieved, he is not satisfied.
He had a feel for the complexity of human tragedy and Macbeth was not an exception. Shakespeare used his subtle talents to create a world with round characters with tragic flaws and most of all, excessive tragedy. A round character is defined as “a character whose personality is many-faceted and whose behavior is dynamic and often unpredictable” (Clugston 2010). This means that the main characters in this play, Macbeth for example, have many layers to it. These layers are often defined as strengths and weaknesses, range of emotions, and/or likes or dislikes.