Macbeth Essay
Iniquity At Its Best
The tragedy of Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare, emphasizes the irresistible temptations of man and how far one is willing to go to attain power and prestige. Macbeth, a Scottish general and the Thane of Glamis, is led to sinful thoughts as a consequence of the prophecies made by three witches, and even more so when the prophecy that he will become king of Cawdor is proven to be true. Macbeth, although a brave soldier and an influential man, is all but virtuous as he is easily tempted by the notion of murder to fulfill his desire of claiming the throne. Once Macbeth assassinates king Duncan and is established the rightful successor to the Scottish throne, he continues to commit more atrocities with mounting ease. In due course, Macbeth is unable to bear the emotional consequences that emerge as a result of his egotistical actions. Macbeth serves as an example revealing that ambition by ruthless means destroys both the innocent as well as the guilty.
King Duncan of Scotland rules his country commendably and uses his powers respectfully however, although undeserving of such a crime that is inflicted upon him, is murdered at the hand of Macbeth. Macbeth himself proclaims: “ …this Duncan/Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been/So clear in his great office…” (I.vii.16-18). Macbeth is fully aware that he has no justifiable motive for his intent on murdering Duncan, but his overwhelming drive of ambition leads him to believe otherwise: “ I have no spur/To prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself/And falls on th’ other” (I.vii.25-28). Blinded by his merciless intentions, Macbeth kills an innocent human being simply for his own sole benefit and advancement. Macbeth receives the title that he is aiming for, but at the expense of an innocent man who did not warrant such a brutal passing when he had faithfully served his country and its people.
Following his first crime, Macbeth yet again goes on to have another innocent person, of which is his best friend Banquo, killed out of envy that Banquo will produce heirs to the throne and he will not, which Macbeth sees as a threat to his own current rule. Before his coronation and banquet, Macbeth seeks out ruffians and declares that Banquo will be dealt with that very night: “ It is concluded: Banquo, thy soul’s flight,/If it find heaven, must find it out tonight” (III.i.141-142). Thus, Banquo meets an untimely death that is requested by the heart of his “good” friend Macbeth, whose ambition by that of ruthless tactics once more destroys another innocent life. In addition to murdering Banquo, Macbeth also takes the lives of the wife and son of Macduff since an apparition leads him to become skeptical of this nobleman. After giving his vital concentration to the witch’s three apparitions, Macbeth orders the deaths of anyone who may be related to Macduff: “ …The castle of Macduff I will surprise;/Seize upon Fife; give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword/His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls/That trace him in his line”(IV.i.150-153). Macbeth is so concerned about ensuring that he remains king that he goes so far as to eliminate two people, one of which is a child, that posed no serious threat whatsoever to his authority. Once again, Macbeth proves that ambition sought by coldhearted means leads to the destruction of both the innocent and the culpable.
Macbeth’s means of ambition eradicate not only the lives that did not merit such appalling acts of which are inflicted upon them, but also the lives that did in fact deserve to be punished in such a manner. Lady Macbeth, the wife of Macbeth and an accomplice to Duncan’s murder, is unable to bear the psychological consequences that result from murdering the former king, so resorts to suicide as a means of escaping reality: “ …Of this dead butcher and hid fiendlike queen,/Who, as ‘tis thought, by self and violent hands/Took off her life…”(V.viii.69-71). Lady Macbeth, just as much as her husband, proves that her cruel means of ambition for him destroyed the life of one of the guilty, of
which is ironically herself. Finally, Macbeth’s awful means of ambition ultimately destroy perhaps one of the guiltiest lives of all which requires punishment in such an unfortunate manner. Macbeth paradoxically paves the way for his own death all in part due to his ruthless means of ambition: “ Hail, King! for so thou art: behold, where stands/Th’ usurper’s cursed head. The time is free”(V.viii.54-55). Macbeth is so intent on tarnishing everyone else’s lives that he is oblivious to the fact that he is chiseling away at his own. The two culprits meet their warranted deaths, but this time not by the hand of their own, but by the hand of merciless ambition in which they set for themselves.
Situations such as Macbeth’s often arise in everyday society, but since it happens constantly one is sometimes ignorant of how much it actually does occur. Family members now murder one another in such sadistic fashions in order to fulfill their sickening ambitions it is often hard to believe there is any compassion left in the world. Habitually, justice gets the better of those who act in such unacceptable manners, just as Macduff slays Macbeth for his tyrannical and unaccountable ways. Works of literature provide the people of this world with substantial portrayals of what occurs when ambition is sought out by abominable means. The tragedy of Macbeth further conveys this significant message by painting a picture of all the persons who were slaughtered as a result of the means in which Macbeth intended to achieve his ambitions.
The tragedy of Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare, emphasizes the irresistible temptations of man and how far one is willing to go to attain power and prestige. Macbeth, a Scottish general and the Thane of Glamis, is led to sinful thoughts as a consequence of the prophecies made by three witches, and even more so when the prophecy that he will become king of Cawdor is proven to be true. Macbeth, although a brave soldier and an influential man, is all but virtuous as he is easily tempted by the notion of murder to fulfill his desire of claiming the throne. Once Macbeth assassinates king Duncan and is established the rightful successor to the Scottish throne, he continues to commit more atrocities with mounting ease. In due course, Macbeth is unable to bear the emotional consequences that emerge as a result of his egotistical actions. Macbeth serves as an example revealing that ambition by ruthless means destroys both the innocent as well as the guilty.
King Duncan of Scotland rules his country commendably and uses his powers respectfully however, although undeserving of such a crime that is inflicted upon him, is murdered at the hand of Macbeth. Macbeth himself proclaims: “ …this Duncan/Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been/So clear in his great office…” (I.vii.16-18). Macbeth is fully aware that he has no justifiable motive for his intent on murdering Duncan, but his overwhelming drive of ambition leads him to believe otherwise: “ I have no spur/To prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself/And falls on th’ other” (I.vii.25-28). Blinded by his merciless intentions, Macbeth kills an innocent human being simply for his own sole benefit and advancement. Macbeth receives the title that he is aiming for, but at the expense of an innocent man who did not warrant such a brutal passing when he had faithfully served his country and its people.
Following his first crime, Macbeth yet again goes on to have another innocent person, of which is his best friend Banquo, killed out of envy that Banquo will produce heirs to the throne and he will not, which Macbeth sees as a threat to his own current rule. Before his coronation and banquet, Macbeth seeks out ruffians and declares that Banquo will be dealt with that very night: “ It is concluded: Banquo, thy soul’s flight,/If it find heaven, must find it out tonight” (III.i.141-142). Thus, Banquo meets an untimely death that is requested by the heart of his “good” friend Macbeth, whose ambition by that of ruthless tactics once more destroys another innocent life. In addition to murdering Banquo, Macbeth also takes the lives of the wife and son of Macduff since an apparition leads him to become skeptical of this nobleman. After giving his vital concentration to the witch’s three apparitions, Macbeth orders the deaths of anyone who may be related to Macduff: “ …The castle of Macduff I will surprise;/Seize upon Fife; give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword/His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls/That trace him in his line”(IV.i.150-153). Macbeth is so concerned about ensuring that he remains king that he goes so far as to eliminate two people, one of which is a child, that posed no serious threat whatsoever to his authority. Once again, Macbeth proves that ambition sought by coldhearted means leads to the destruction of both the innocent and the culpable.
Macbeth’s means of ambition eradicate not only the lives that did not merit such appalling acts of which are inflicted upon them, but also the lives that did in fact deserve to be punished in such a manner. Lady Macbeth, the wife of Macbeth and an accomplice to Duncan’s murder, is unable to bear the psychological consequences that result from murdering the former king, so resorts to suicide as a means of escaping reality: “ …Of this dead butcher and hid fiendlike queen,/Who, as ‘tis thought, by self and violent hands/Took off her life…”(V.viii.69-71). Lady Macbeth, just as much as her husband, proves that her cruel means of ambition for him destroyed the life of one of the guilty, of
which is ironically herself. Finally, Macbeth’s awful means of ambition ultimately destroy perhaps one of the guiltiest lives of all which requires punishment in such an unfortunate manner. Macbeth paradoxically paves the way for his own death all in part due to his ruthless means of ambition: “ Hail, King! for so thou art: behold, where stands/Th’ usurper’s cursed head. The time is free”(V.viii.54-55). Macbeth is so intent on tarnishing everyone else’s lives that he is oblivious to the fact that he is chiseling away at his own. The two culprits meet their warranted deaths, but this time not by the hand of their own, but by the hand of merciless ambition in which they set for themselves.
Situations such as Macbeth’s often arise in everyday society, but since it happens constantly one is sometimes ignorant of how much it actually does occur. Family members now murder one another in such sadistic fashions in order to fulfill their sickening ambitions it is often hard to believe there is any compassion left in the world. Habitually, justice gets the better of those who act in such unacceptable manners, just as Macduff slays Macbeth for his tyrannical and unaccountable ways. Works of literature provide the people of this world with substantial portrayals of what occurs when ambition is sought out by abominable means. The tragedy of Macbeth further conveys this significant message by painting a picture of all the persons who were slaughtered as a result of the means in which Macbeth intended to achieve his ambitions.