In Shakespeare’s, ‘Macbeth’, the act of betrayal demonstrates the absolute conflict echoing within our human soul, challenging the strength of their moral values in scenarios that provide the reward of power in commerce of for one’s devotion and honor. Macbeth, was once a warrior of Scotland, the story focuses on a man detached entirely from his loyalty –greedy to gain authority in the hollow shell that used to encompass devotion. Although desiring such an esteemed of power of entitlement, the Thane of Cawdor demanded the loyalty one receives as royalty while severing his allegiance to his ruler in the process; the murder of King Duncan. A king holding such high regards to his soon-to-be murderer, he even introduces Macbeth as the “Worthiest
An example of this is his lack of any legitimate reasons for killing King Duncan and obtaining the throne except for his own ambition and greed to become king. The prophecies that Macbeth receives from the witches seem so true that he relies on the words of these predictions alone, instead of taking action himself to secure the works of the prophecies. Macbeth let his ambition blind him; as did the ruler in “Ozymandias”. Another consequence of ambition is loneliness. Ozymandias and Macbeth had so much ambition that they put themselves above all of their peers and former supporters.
Fear is an emotion that motivates us to do many things no matter if they are right or wrong. In the play of Macbeth, it was fear that was the main motivating factor which creates more fear and finally influenced the outcome of the play. Macbeth, the character is a man living in fear who cannot escape the continuous cycle without creating more and more fear as he deepens himself even further into a situation from which he cannot possibly escape. However, Macbeth is desperate to become King and thinks that by being totally loyal to Duncan, he will achieve this objective. And when the time Duncan announces that his son Malcolm will be his successor as king of Scotland, Macbeth is angry and yet fears of not being king.
The authors portray them in two different manners, Macbeth as the main character and Kurtz as a sort of demi-god that is only learned about by word of mouth rather than first hand events. Through studying both of these characters, we can learn who is the greater of the two evils. Macbeth started out in Macbeth as the Thane of Glamis, fighting in battle for his homeland, Scotland. At the very beginning of the play, the reader gets a very positively lit view of Macbeth. He has become victorious in battle and is going to be rewarded with a promotion by King Duncan.
Macbeth is portrayed as a "good being" because he fought for his country and for his king. Shakespeare also describes Macbeth in such quotes as "for brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name" (pg. 38, line 16), and "What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won."(pg. 40 line 67). However As the play progresses, Macbeth's personality and actions become more deceitful leading to his destruction.
The two guards, whose daggers and persons screamed a story which couldn’t be justified, were slaughtered where they stood. Out of pure fury and passion for our beloved leader and king, Macbeth honored our kingdom by once again showing his devotion and service in the Scottish name. Our Thane had always professed a prominent amount of respect for his friend Duncan; however, it becomes pertinent to wonder if the royal guards had enough motive and reason to commit the deed. “What good would it have down those men to kill Duncan?” Inquires Ross, a nobleman of Scotland. “They were paid to betray their master.
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 is the perfect example of what happens to people when you let hubris (execessive pride or arrogance) take over your life. Macbeth was a decorated war hero of Scotland and had everything going for him - a beautiful wife, a castle to live in, friends, loving subjects, and lots of land to call his own. By letting his hubris cloud his better judgement he lost it all and his own life. He began to care more about being feared by all and keeping a crown that was not even rightfully his, then making the right decisions. Macbeth murdered his king because his wife was calling him names, he also got his best friend killed to try and protect his investments, he murderer a defenseless women and her children to try and make a point, and was a huge
A Tragic Hero Ambition is a good servant, but a poor master and the only way to control ambition, is to have self control. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, is the tragic tale of Macbeth, a once virtuous man, who when corrupted by power and greed is driven from his status as well respected warrior, to a dishonest, unloyal murderer. Macbeth’s gluttony, pride, and ambitions led him to turn into an unstable, callous man who would stop at nothing just to gain power. His greed to achieve more power resulted in the merciless killings of his king, best friend, and other innocent civilians. His criminal actions lead up to his tragic ending of life, “They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly, / But bear-like I must fight the course,” (V, vii, 1-4).
Macbeth himself was always yearning for power. It is first shown when he is made thane of Cawdor, and is jealous of Malcolm for becoming heir of the throne. “As Macbeth hears the title given to Malcolm, he shows again the conflict within him between ambition and fear.” (Campbell 216) His greed and ambition for more gets the better of him, as he plots with Lady Macbeth to kill King Duncan and become the heir to the throne. This was a very selfish act in his position; by killing Duncan and becoming king, Macbeth disrupted the chain of being and doomed all of society as a whole. “The Great Chain of Being was supposed to keep the Earth in a stable condition and order.