Although it is quite different than his first encounter with murder, this murder is all Macbeth’s idea. Furthermore, instead of doing it himself he decides to hire hit men to kill his friend Banquo who he believes is in his way of getting what he wants, more power. “I am in blood, stepped in so far that I should wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go’oer” (Act I, Sc.IV, Line 136-137). This serves as a pivotal moment in this play, Macbeth has decided that he is in to far already and there is no point in going back. He has decided that he already has blood on his hands he should just keep killing and getting what he desires, which now is to secure his hierarchy position.
After Macbeth knows the fact that he should be aware of Mcduff, he sends orders immediately to commence a full murder of Mcduff’s family. From this point on, Macbeth is a man who is no longer capable of thinking rationally and consciously, his mind is stuffed with fear and delirium. Furthermore, Fear is like a progressing cancer which deteriorates slowly and eventually comes to an end. After the death of queen and on the news of the advance of Birnam wood, Macbeth’s fear advances to despair which is the final stage of fear and manifest itself primarily as fury. He advances to defend his castle with his thought full of the witches’ promises.
A lust for power already existed in Macbeth, but it was his encounter with the three witches on his return from battle that triggered his thirst for the throne, and subsequently the deaths of many, Macbeth among the deceased. The witches told Macbeth that he would become the Thane of Cawdor, and when he did, he became obsessed with the idea that he will become the King of Scotland; “prophecy” said so. With the encouragement of his wife, Macbeth murdered King Duncan, and Banquo, who was a comrade of Macbeth. Macbeth then orders the deaths of Macduff’s wife and children, because he fears that they stand a chance of taking the throne. Upon hearing of his families’ death, Macduff returns to Scotland to confront Macbeth, who is slain.
Macbeth becomes victim to guilt when he kills Duncan for the throne, and guilt then takes over his life, leaving him without control of his own behaviors. “ Sleep no more! Macbeth hath murdered sleep!” suggests that … As it is ambition that had inspired Macbeth to commit the sin of killing Duncan and become victim to guilt, it is also ambition that leads him to a loss
After the killing Macbeth would be choosen king and this is when his ambition would take control of him for the worse. Now king Macbeth viewed everyone as a threat to his throne including friends. Macbeth would hire two men to kill his friend Banquo and his son. Macbeth viewed them as a threat to his throne as Banquo was suspicous to how Macbeth had became king and his son was suppost to become king which was promised by the witches. This shows Macbeth ambition gave him the desire to maintain his power by any means necessary if even that meant killing a loyal friend , which he did in getting Banquo killed.
Murder, manipulation, and betrayal; Macbeth is a play written by the famous playwright, Shakespeare. The play is about a Scottish general named Macbeth who receives a prophecy from a trio of witches one day, saying that he will one day become the King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and encouraged to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the throne for himself. However, Macbeth is now tormented with guilt and paranoia, forcing him to commit more and more murders in order to protect himself. Eventually everything proves to be too much for him and Lady Macbeth and it swiftly leads them to their death.
In Machiavelli’s passage he writes about people who have become king through “the aid of others/ good fortune” He shows that some people’s need for power is so intense that they would be willing to do just about anything to gain that power, even if it meant killing many people. This helps support the theory of Macbeth’s actions being based on freewill. Because of Macbeth’s own actions and greed he killed king Duncan and took control of the thrown. Macbeth’s actions are what Machiavelli would “favor and fortune of those who have made them great.” For if it had not been for the witches prophecy and the never ending commands given to Macbeth by his oh so demanding wife Lady Macbeth, Macbeth would never have even thought about killing Duncan and becoming king himself. Similar to Macbeth the Duke of Valentino also had an urge to gain power.
Macbeth’s ambition leads him to murder Duncan with the assurance of good reward. He then enters battle with what again seems to be positive assurance. Only when it is too late does he realize that he is being led to his destruction. Macbeth’s constant reoccurring fatal flaw is his ambition. He is lead by ambition into situations and finds himself with no way out; this is what kills Macbeth.
Jonathan Trujillo June1, 2011 Cp English Mrs. Fernandez Macbeth: “Pawn of Fate or of Free Will?” In the tragic play “Macbeth”, written by Sir William Shakespeare, we see how a man by the name of Macbeth begins as a noble and loyal thane who would do anything for the king’s sake. But when the chance comes he kills the king and becomes king. Then finally after all that they found out he did it and kill him in battle. But was this because of his choosings or was it because he was to become like this because of fate? Possibly he can be a little of both.
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.