A powerful person during The Middle Ages could influence anyone make any changes he wished because he had complete authority. However, no matter the era, having too much power can make someone over confident. Being overconfident can also lead people to make unwise decisions that only benefit themselves. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth seeks power after discovering from the witches prophesies that he will soon become king of Scotland. Once this is set in his mind, he does
They make Macbeth feel over confident with visions full of double meaning, which easily fools him into a state of content and invincibleness. They first capture his attentions when calling him the thane of Glamis (his original title) and thane of Cawdor. He doesn’t understand the second title, as there is already a thane of Cawdor, but is then informed that the King has appointed Macbeth thane of Cawdor because the previous thane of Cawdor is executed for treason. When Macbeth inquires about the prophesies coming true, Banquo tells him “...But ‘tis strange. / And oftentimes, to win us to out harm, / The instruments of darkness tell us truths,/ Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s/ In deepest consequence” (I.iii.121).
His sense of over-entitlement led him to be easily manipulated into killing his good friend and leader King Duncan. Duddy likely inherited his love of wealth from members of his family. He even shows movies he dislikes as a result of his desire for money, seen in the quote "Duddy didn't say a word all through the screening but afterwards he was sick to his stomach." (159) While his father does not place a large importance on wealth, his extremely wealthy uncle proves to have a lasting effect on his development as Duddy is instilled with a desire for wealth. Likewise, Macbeth is easily tempted into killing and manipulating many simply due to the desire for power and social praise.
“Thou hast it now—King, Cawdor, Glamis, all / As the Wëird Women promised, and I fear / Thou played’st most foully for ‘t. Yet it was said / It should not stand in thy posterity, / But that myself should be the root and father / Of many kings.” (81) Though he knew that something was up, he chose to ignore this instinct for his own personal gain, because, as it was promised, he should bear many Kings of the future. This proved an unwise choice, as the deceitful Macbeth had him murdered by hired hit men to make sure him or his offspring would not attempt to kill him. “O treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!
The fact that Macbeth was already so close to the top and so heavily influenced by his wife didn’t help much and that’s without even mentioning the prophecy he so eagerly wanted to come true. Macbeth knew all he had to do was murder King Duncan to take the throne. 12. However, once he had reached the top, his insanity grew worse and worse despite what one would believe to occur. If his insanity was driven by a need for power wouldn’t he come to grips once he had all the power in the world?
A person with so much power will go to extremes to achieve or maintain it. A tragic hero is Aristotle’s view on a great or virtuous character that has a major flaw which leads to a downfall or suffering. Macbeth kills King Duncan in order to take his place after being named Thane of Cawdor because of his flaw of being too easily persuaded. In the beginning of the play Macbeth was a great man respected by all the people of Scotland. He is given hope by the supernatural giving him the dream of once becoming King of Scotland.
Macbeth quotes, “will it not be received/ When we have mark’d with blood those sleepy two/ Of his own chamber and used their very daggers/ That they have done’t? (1.7.75-79), stating that blood is beginning to literally represent guilt, rather then symbolically. By killing Duncan with the guard’s weapons and then smearing blood all over them, Macbeth is framing them, making them guilty by using Duncan’s blood. This quote also depicts Macbeth’s transition from a morally correct ruler to a corrupt and vicious murderer. Before hearing the witch’s prophecy, he was a virtuous and ethical person, but after hearing that he is destined for kingship, he goes on a murderous rampage to gain political power, completely disregarding his previous decency.
After Macbeth had heard this he didn’t believe the witches but when he got to the base the King (Duncan) announced that since the last Thane was a traitor he will be killed and because of Macbeth’s brave acts in the war he is the new Thane of Cawdor. The prophecies had suddenly started to fall in place and Macbeth didn’t believe this was all happening. Now he couldn’t wait till the throne became his and had day dreams to sabotage the throne by killing Duncan and the rightful owner of the throne according to him. Suddenly Macbeth’s ambition was to become the king of Scotland at any cost. Lady Macbeth starts taking interest in the witches prophecies and forces Macbeth to kill Duncan.
Macbeth Essay No matter how much you trust people there is always a chance that they could betray you. This happens in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. Macbeth betrays King Duncan by killing him. Macbeth was power hungry, and by killing King Duncan he became king. Macbeth kills one of his best friends Banquo.
However, Macbeth still has his free will. He is able to not believe what the witches say. They present him with words, feeding Macbeth's ambition. Even with their ridiculous prophecies, Macbeth still had his own choice to choose his own path. But being controlled by his ambition and desires, he continues to kill even after killing King Duncan.