Things like killing the ruler of Rome and throwing the whole empire into turmoil. For their argument they argued that because they loved Rome so much, that is why they had to kill Caesar because they could not have a ruler over Rome. Their forefathers had fought for the freedom and republic of Rome and they even killed a guy who tried to be ruler. Brutus and Cassius had the right idea in trying to protect the republic but they didn’t think it through enough and that is where their plan failed. Caesar was given a crown three times and the people wanted him to have it, but all three times he rejected it to look good in front of the people.
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).
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?
Macbeth’s ambitious nature was the catalyst for the deaths of many characters, including his own. At first, in order to gain absolute power, Macbeth performed regicide to become King and receive the top position on the ‘Great Chain of Being.’ However, it was found that he was afterwards plagued with insecurity, as he claimed, ‘To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus.’ Macbeth would be unsatisfied until he had absolute security over his power. As Macbeth’s insecurity and fear of losing power grew, the degree of his violence amplified. It drove him to the murder of his own friend, Banquo, the murder of the Macduff family, which involved innocent women and children, and in the end, another civil war. In addition, Macbeth’s naivety was also responsible for the tragedies, and his own downfall.
There were two aristocrat brothers (Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus) acknowledged this growing problem and proposed a solution to this growing problem. The plan was to urge the council to take back public land held by large land owners and to redistribute it to the landless Romans. Senators were furious by this proposal and had the two brothers assassinated further after. There was absolutely no voice for the plebes in the roman republic. And the only aristocrats who stood up for change were assassinated by corrupt senators.
‘why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs against the use of nature.’ This quote tells us that Macbeth has thought up the idea of killing the king and that his ambition is growing so much it is beginning to take over his morals, and is clouding his judgment. Again Shakespeare uses the natural imagery because killing the king is the most unnatural thing you can do as he is omnipotent and it is like killing God, this shows that although Macbeth knows he is thinking of the most unnatural deed on earth he is still contemplating it as his ambition is so strong. This has a worrying effect on the audience as, if Macbeth is so easily manipulated by one thought or idea what is he capable of with other influences. This quote could also illustrate that Macbeth is weak and absent minded as he does not think about what he is doing or about what he is considering
He says, “I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on't again I dare not.” This shows the regret and guilt that Macbeth has because of the people that were killed to make way for him to become king. He had originally thought that if he pushed though the initial problems that he had with his malfeasance, the reward of being the most powerful man in Scotland would outweigh other issues. In this scene he acknowledges that he was mistaken. Macbeth makes his most pronounced speech on his guilty conscience in Act 3 scene 4. Macbeth says “I am in blood Stepp'd in so far, that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er.” This is showing the audience how murder, blood and guilt are now embedded in Macbeth’s mind.
Macbeth is then killed, and his head is put onto a pole, and then presented to Malcolm; who becomes the king of Scotland. In concluding this essay from reading the novel readers will realize greed takes a toll on a person’s personality. Greed will turn a non-violent person, into someone who becomes violent in order to get what they want. A person will become ambitious to get what they want and make sure they are the only person with it. In the novel Macbeth wanted all the power to himself, and did whatever he could to get it.
Macbeth’s greedy emotions to achieve everything without letting anything get in the way would not let this happen. Ultimately, Macbeth orders people to kill Banquo because he fears as well as envies him. He envies him because Banquo has sons who can become future kings and Macbeth does not. So Macbeth would like to have sons. After killing Banquo, Macbeth starts to later see Banquo’s ghost.
However, just recently, Macbeth has been awarded the title of thane of Cawdor by the king. Although happy with the new title and new power, Macbeth still thirsts for the powers held by the king. When Malcolm receives the title of Prince of Cumberland, the next step to being king, Macbeth is enveloped in a rage and takes for granted his own new title. Eyes green with envy, Macbeth tell himself, "Stars, hid your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires" (1.5.-.). Macbeth knows that he can not allow Duncan to see his ambition for the power of the throne, or Duncan will find a way to hinder him from doing so.