Power and Greed of Macbeth

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William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, is not in fact a play of fate, but a tragedy that happens because of all the uncontrollable greed and need for power by the main character, Macbeth, and his wife. Throughout the play, the audience witnesses the changes in Macbeth’s character. His uncontrollable need for power causes him to make sinister decisions that lead him into madness and misery. His greed for power constructs a maze to his own deathbed. After many twists and turns, it becomes a challenge for him to be tolerated by others; he turns his friends and subjects away from him and enters a dark world ruled by greed. Macbeth is the main character in the play. When he is introduced to the audience he is a brave and noble solider coming back from battle with his best friend, Banquo. The have defeated Sweno, the king of Norway and won back land for their great king of Denmark, Duncan. On their way through the dark wood and come upon three witches. The witches then provide Macbeth with three prophecies and Banquo with three prophecies. The prophecies of Macbeth are: “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.” (1.3.50-53) Banquo is curious about his future and the witches predict that Banquo will be “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater./Not so happy, yet much happier./Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.” (1.1.68-70) These three predictions made to Macbeth are what started the whole greediness and hunger for power in this play. Macbeth then informed his wife of the predictions through a letter that was sent to her while he was at battle. Lady Macbeth had been thinking about all of the options now available, as well as Macbeth himself. Macbeth does not realize that he is about to become addicted to the feeling of importance and power.
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