Shakespeare uses the character of Macbeth to demonstrate the idea of servitude through the character’s ever-growing thirst for power, which ultimately is what leads to his downfall and deteriorating morals. Shakespeare illustrates servitude within Macbeth with the use of Characterization to portray the changes within the characters as they become consumed with blind obedience for power. Shakespeare is telling the audience about the danger of blind obedience with no thought of one’s morals. He accomplishes relaying this message by using characterization to portray servitude within the story throughout a multitude of characters including Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and the Three witches. Macbeth is a gleaming example of Shakespeare successfully …show more content…
Throughout the story, especially in the beginning, Lady Macbeth was constantly pushing Macbeth to do terrible stuff in order to fulfill the prophecy and for Macbeth to be king, this is evident in this quote from Lady Macbeth “Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting I dare not wait upon I would.” Lady Macbeth is calling Macbeth a coward for not doing what he needs to do in order to get what he wants, which is being king. Macbeth’s blind obedience eventually leads to him agreeing to kill King Duncan even though he was fine with staying in the position he was in. Macbeth knows what he does is wrong and he is plagued by guilt in the beginning but slowly throughout the story his morals become corrupted and he no longer feels much guilt even after killing Macduff’s family. However, Macbeth is not the only character who falls victim to …show more content…
The Three Witches purposely try to tempt Macbeth by giving him information about his future such as “All hail, Macbeth, who will be king in the future” but purposely not answering any questions. This manipulation of Macbeth represents the dangers of servitude as Macbeth becomes blindly obedient to their predictions and starts to act upon them without considering the moral implications of his actions. The witches’ predictions are presented as something to be followed blindly because no explanations are given, and Macbeth becomes a servant to their words, becoming increasingly ruthless and violent in his pursuit of power. The Witches being the ones to give the prophecy that would lead to the downfall of Macbeth is no accident. Witches at the time were considered supernatural and evil. Conversations from the witches that involved them mentioning “Killing swine” characterized these witches as exactly what all witches were thought to be, which was evil. Shakespeare wants the reader to draw the connection that the prophecy that Macbeth became a servant to and obeyed was created with the intention to manipulate Macbeth and had Macbeth fought against this and did not feel the need to chase this power like Banquo did
English 12 2/27/2023 William Shakespeare's Macbeth is a tragic play that explores the themes of ambition, guilt, and the consequences of one's actions. The main character, Macbeth, is a tragic hero whose ambition leads him to commit heinous crimes, which ultimately lead to his downfall. Throughout the play, Macbeth attempts to control the future and bury the past in various ways, which ultimately contribute to his tragic fate. One way in which Macbeth tries to control the future is through his attempts to control the future is through his interaction with the witches and manipulation of the prophecies given to him by the three witches.
Grant Fleisher Elizabeth Bobbitt LAL 9th The Destructive Nature of Unchecked Ambition: Macbeth's Tragic Downfall Explored William Shakespeare's tragedy "Macbeth" stands as an intricately woven tale of ambition, power, and the destructive consequences of unchecked desire. Set in medieval Scotland, the play follows the tragic downfall of the titular character, Macbeth, a valiant and loyal soldier whose encounter with supernatural forces sets him on a treacherous path of betrayal, violence, and greed. Through the masterful use of soliloquies, dramatic irony, blood symbolism, and supernatural elements. Shakespeare exemplifies the tragic downfall of Macbeth, the play's protagonist, as he succumbs to his relentless pursuit of power and kingship.
Macbeth was a victim of fate and because he started murdering people after
Shakespeare begins by emphasizing the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, and how Lady Macbeth serves as a foil, eventually leading to Macbeth’s death. For example, when Macbeth is having second thoughts about killing King Duncan Lady Macbeth says, “When you durst do it, then you were a man”. This evidence highlights how unchecked ambition leads to sin and retribution because Lady Macbeth points out the weaknesses of Macbeth, telling him he’s not a man and a coward for not wanting to murder King Duncan. This also showcases how unchecked ambition leads to sin and retribution because most individuals would try to be reasonable with trying to get what they want, how they’re going to do it, and the consequences of their actions. However,
Macbeth's suspicions towards Banquo make him decide that he is an obstacle to staying in power, thus he decides to hire murderers and manipulate them into thinking that Banquo “held you so under fortunes…had been out innocent self”(Shakespeare 3.1.83-86). Macbeth persuades the murderers that Banquo is the root of all of their problems and that he must die. This shows how he chose power over his best friend. Lastly, Macbeth's ambition makes him overly gullible and easily manipulated. Lady Macbeth’s need for power makes her put Macbeth's feelings aside and manipulates him into killing King Duncan, along with making other bad decisions, by questioning his manhood, and telling him to “Be…more than man”… “I had given suck”(Shakespeare 1.7.58-62).
The witches have a massive presence in William Shakespeare's iconic tragedy, Macbeth. Their prophetic speeches the witches tell Macbeth throughout the play raise questions: Did the witches cause Macbeth's downfall, or were they simply manipulating Macbeth and had no real control in Macbeth? While initially, it may appear that the witches had no real control in Macbeth, but their words and actions display a different truth. Additionally, the prophecies act as triggers for Macbeth’s dormant ambition causing him to commit crimes. Furthermore, the witches operate behind the chaos, manipulating Macbeth and driving him down into making the wrong choices.
Had the witches not told the “prophecies” to Macbeth himself, his wife, his friends and his king would not be dead. Although a possible deep desire of Macbeth’s to become king it’s most likely that he would have never acted on it even with Lady Macbeth’s advice. Macbeth is not all evil but rather the constant toying of the witches causes him to develop a paranoia and distrust, which he acts
Shakespeare reflects Macbeth’s descent into moral corruption by shaping Macbeth’s thoughts to acknowledge himself as immersed in deep bloodshed. Macbeth’s belief that it would be difficult to turn back from his actions, as Shakespeare intended, illustrates his egocentric trait. Macbeth either doesn’t want to or doesn’t see any other path than to continue his heinous acts. Macbeth only thinks about the actions that benefit him to continue as king. Shakespeare ruins Macbeth’s ego by having his desires unchecked or seen by anyone else, leading him to corrupt himself further and harm
Blind ambition leads people into a dark wicked place that makes a person think irrationally. Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” was a tragedy written to excite King James, after he was almost killed by the Catholics. The traitors die in the play so the King gets to watch the revenge pf the traitors. William Shakespeare, the author of “Macbeth”, tells us of about blind ambition in the tragedy and how Lady Macbeth was the prime suspect to where the ambition came from. Lady Macbeth had three traits that built up how ambitious she was to be queen.
/ Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts / Cannot once start me” (5.5.15-17). Macbeth has also developed a tendency of being very impulsive to the point where he can not control his ambitious thoughts. A person with this internal conflict can be very dangerous to the point where good people die. This is evident throughout the novel as Macbeth continues his evil legacy of his lust for power. Ultimately, Macbeth is extremely ambitious to the point where he does not care if it harms others, but only benefits
The witches are talking about how they are killing pigs which sounds like they are making a spell to try and put on someone. The Witches exclaim, “Posters of the sea and land, swift travelers Thus do go about, about, Thrice to thine and thrice to mine, And thrice again to make up nine Peace, the charm's wound up spell ready” (1.3.32-37). It sounds like the witches are making a spell and right after the spell, Macbeth and Banquo show up which proves that there's something going on between the witches and Macbeth. Since Macbeth is easily manipulated and the witches know Macbeth shouldn’t be the only one to be
Macbeth illustrates the tragic consequences that arise when an individual becomes consumed by their ambitions and loses their sense of morality by becoming possessed and enveloped by their thoughts and
Macbeth’s first ever words in the book are, “foul and fair” and being that the witches repeat it, it must represent who he will be forced to become. In Act 1, sc. 3 The witches reveal Baquo’s fortune to have a longer impact on the world being that his sons will rule. This in which they are establishing a clear difference between Macbeth (who has no children) and Banquo (who has more than one). Making Macbeth seem inferior to Banquo even though he will be king himself.
At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a man of honor and honesty. He has fought valiantly for his country as a devoted soldier. But, his run-in with the three witches and their prophecy
“For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered, Put rancors in the vessel of my peace, Only for them; and mine eternal jewel Given to the common enemy of man,To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings. Rather than so, come fate into the list And champion me to the utterance. ”(shakespeare 3.1.63-70).As macbeth seen how the witches prophecies became true for him he is worried they'll be true for Banquo as he is endangered to losing his throne and is now ambitious to keep his throne and kill his best friend and his friends son. Macbeth was very ambitious because of his strive to become King, even though the prophecies showed him what would happen.