(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.
However, this also indicates that his ambitious desires can lead him to a possible downfall. This shows he understands the situation clearly, but he lets himself be pulled in by ambition regardless. Lady Macbeth is the driving force that encourages Macbeth to overcome his strong sense of guilt and take action which helps the prophecies. After reading the letter Macbeth sends her explaining the witches prophecies, Lady Macbeth's thoughts immediately turn to murder. She is the complete opposite of Macbeth.
However as the events unfold, they become allies more than lovers in their quest to claim the throne, and Macbeth is manipulated and encouraged to do wrong. His determination is questioned by his wife as she states that “[he] live a coward in [his] own esteem.” (1-7-42) This corrupts Macbeth’s mind even further and their relationship is destroyed completely by the
The Downfall of Macbeth When there is a strong desire and determination in one’s life that determination can take over everything else in one’s life and quickly lead one downhill. Power can make ambitions stronger than morals, family, love, rules and society, making one see less of what is important in life and become more ambitious for power. In William Shakespeares’ tragedy “Macbeth”, the main characters’ life quickly goes downhill and leads him to his inevitable end, death. His powerful ambitions become obsessive and override his morals. However, Macbeth is not solely to blame for his downfall because the witches introduce him to the idea he could be king and mislead him as he struggles with the decision to kill Duncan.
We learn of his heroic actions in defence of the kingdom. We see Macbeth change from the valour character to an sinister blood thirsty murderer. Although, some might argue that Macbeth did not have evil intentions. In the play, when Macbeth has his first encounter with the Witches, he is with his good friend Banquo. At first Macbeth is taken back by the Witches’ appearances but when they finish their apparition, Macbeth yearns to know more about his future.
The witches god doesn't like this which causes the the witches to betray Macbeth, “Spiteful and wrathful, who (as others do) Loves for his own ends, not for you. But make amends now: get you gone, And at the pit of Acheron Meet me i'th morning: get you gone, Will come to know his destiny. Your vessels and your spells provide, Your charms and everything beside” (III. v. 12-19). The witches god is saying that why are they putting up with Macbeth and that he only cares for himself.
Again Macbeth’s conscience comes into play when he says, “We still have judgement here; that we but teach / Bloody instruction, which being taught return / To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice,” (I, vii, 8-10). He knows what he is doing wrong and that there will be consequences even before he murders Duncan. Macbeth is a weak man however, and ignores his conscience; he instead gives in to his power-hungry wife’s greed and allows his ambition to lead him on a dastardly journey. Although it may seem as though Duncan’s murder was not only Macbeth’s doing, he had a
Is it ambition that overcomes his reason here? He has accepted the Witches’ predictions in respect of himself, but, illogically, he will not accept them as they apply to Banquo. Does his ambition die after his visit to the Witches? Is this seen in his anti-life speech when he says that life “is a tale told by an idiot…..signifying nothing?” (5:7) We see Lady Macbeth’s ambition, “Glamis thou art and Cawdor; and shall be what thou art promised..” and “I feel now the future in the instant.” (5:6). Her ambition is satisfied, but it gives her no contentment.
Shakespeare uses paradox, character development, and irony to help show the theme ambition. Macbeth is a very ambitious man and by using these devices, Shakespeare is able to show how deep his ambition goes and that it is not a good thing for him. In scene three of Act One, the witches tell Banquo that he will be “not so happy, yet much happier.” This line shows a paradox. How can Banquo be not as happy as Macbeth, but also much happier than him. The witches are not trying to be tricky and confusing, but are hinting at what is to become of Macbeth.
Other Characters in the play greatly influenced Macbeth. They influenced him especially when decisions were to be made. Lady Macbeth and the witches both contributed to his bad decisions. In the play, Lady Macbeth basically told Macbeth how he should act and what he needed to do, for example, when she told him “look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.” If there had been less negative influence in his life, Macbeth most likely would not have made nearly as many mistakes that lead him to his downfall. The third, unfavorable trait of Macbeths came in the form of ignorance.