Examples Of Greed In Macbeth

As a human race, we have all had instances where we have been experienced greed, the intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food. It is extremely unlikely, even impossible, that there is a person in the entire world that goes their entire life without a single thought of greed, no matter if it is significant or not. The best the average person does in response to their greed is mask it with exaggerated generosity to “cancel out” their greedy thoughts. There are many examples in literature that help convey the effects that greed can have on a person, one of the most well-portrayed ones being the main character in William Shakespeare 's well-known play, Macbeth. The main character in the play, Macbeth, was an extraordinary fighter in war, and he also had a respectful amount of power in his hands, as he was the Thane of a place called Glamis, and was close in with the King of Scotland, Duncan.

He writes that he “stood rapt in the wonder of it”(1.5.5-6), which means that he was amazed by the idea of being royalty. This first reaction from Macbeth to the prophecy shows how he wants to be king, but he may not have the strength or willpower to seize it for himself. He is ambitious, but not greedy or lustful for power as Lady Macbeth is. He wants power, but he is not willing to commit a deadly act in order to get it. In his letter, he tells her to “lay it to thy heart” which means that he wants her to keep the prophecy a secret.

In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, Macbeth starts off as a respectful kinsman of Scotland. After being tempted by the power of the throne, he kills his beloved king and is tormented by paranoia and guilt. Lady Macbeth starts off as a power-hungry individual lacking remorse. Encouraging Macbeth to turn to the dark side and kill the king to achieve his ambitions, her husband becomes more corrupted and insane, killing people without a second thought.

The witches (or "weird sisters" as they are frequently called) are in charge of imparting the thought to Macbeth that he would soon get to be king of Scotland, yet at last, it's Macbeth's choice to succumb to and make this thought happen. As a consequence of this thought, Macbeth's interest of how he could get to be ruler of Scotland becomes an integral factor. One can think about whether Macbeth ever had a possibility of doing what was directly after he met with the witches. As the play advances, Macbeth gradually

Greed is Murder Sometimes people wish they could be a king, or queen. In William Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”, the protagonist had so much pressure on him from others he thought differently and decided to kill King Duncan. Macbeth over time became greedy and dishonorable which led him and Lady Macbeth to their downfall.

I believe that Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to be harsh and ruthless towards his opponents and eliminate them, to stand a chance to pursue the Thane Of Cawdor even if he doesn 't have the qualities. This is further recognized when Lady Macbeth Quotes - " Look like th ' innocent flower, but be the serpent under t '". The words "Innocent, flower", suggest that Lady Macbeth is using nature and the delicacy to describe the characteristics within Macbeth. Not only is nature involved, but when Lady Macbeth interestingly says, " Look", that proposes that Lady Macbeth has control over Macbeth and can guide and tell him what to do, or in this

Greed for power has always been evil and even made a saint turn into a demon. As the quote goes “All power tends to corrupt and an absolute power corrupts absolutely” (unquote), which is true not only in the fictitious stories but also in real life and Shakespeare, th9e greatest writer ever known, has always been in habit of making fictitious character come alive and Macbeth is no exception to the rule. The character of Macbeth has two sides, one which is wholesome while other been dubious. He symbolized great ambition but went overboard and in the process not only became corrupt but also became a killer. Macbeth reflects great strength but within he has his own weakness and thus good over took evil resulting in its downfall and finally his own death.

Greed and guilt are two characteristics that can wreak havoc on the human mind and soul, and give someone what they deserve over time. Therefore, nothing seems more satisfying than when the villain or protagonist gets what they deserve for their bad deeds. In The Tragedy of Macbeth, William Shakespeare shows these traits, along with their affects, through the tragic hero of the play, Macbeth, and his wife, Lady Macbeth, also leaving the reader with the question: “Could this happen today?” After gaining the corrupt title Macbeth craves, being king is not as significant as he implies. Macbeth admits to his reign being spoiled saying, “To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus”(Act III, Scene I, lines 50-51).

Macbeth’s ambition is what is causing him to intervene with his prophecy and pursue his goal (rather than leave it to chance). In a way, it is Macbeth’s own “black and deep desires” that make him kill in the first place as the witches never tell him to do so. Furthermore, apart from ambition, it is Macbeth’s own weak will and moral system that causes him to do the actions that result in his downfall. Macbeth’s weak will is undeniable and is illustrated before killing Duncan. “I have of spur/To prick the sides of my intent, but only/Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself/And falls on the other” (I, VII, 25-28).

This shows that Evil can have a great impact on man’s decisions when he has the advantage of a giving the man just what he desires, no matter how dark. This is a huge advantage over Good because it is not in her nature to fulfill man’s dark wishes, making her path look less rewarding to man. Evil is also a very devious master of disguise, making him more powerful. As Macbeth discusses with his wife the plan of action for how they will kill Banquo, he tells Lady Macbeth, “And so, I pray, be you. Let your remembrance/ Apply to Banquo; present him eminence,/ Both with eye and tongue: unsafe the while that we/ Must lave our honors in these flattering streams,/ And make our faces vizards to our hearts,/ Disguising what they are” (Shakespeare 3.2.32-37).

As expected, he answers to Lady Macbeth that he would do anything to become a man even if people call him a beast. And then she gives an idea that Macbeth should blame the sin of murder on two guardians of Duncan in act I scene VII. When Macbeth worried about failure, Lady Macbeth answers by giving a perfect idea to kill Duncan. The idea was “When Duncan is asleep-- Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey Soundly invite him--his two chamberlains Will I with wine and wassail so convince That memory, the warder of the brain, Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason A limbeck only: when in swinish sleep Their drenched natures lie as in a death, What cannot you and I perform upon The unguarded Duncan?

The villain in the tragic story is the Three Witches because they planted the seed into Macbeth’s which created his greed for becoming the king and they only did it for their enjoyment. The Witches first meeting with Macbeth they told him he would become king in the future and the Thane of Cawdor proving they could see into the future. When the Third Witch was talking to Macbeth, she said “All hail, Macbeth. Thou shalt be king hereafter!” (Act I, scene iii).

Shakespeare writes Macbeth in order to convey the central idea that the drive for greed results in the downfall of oneself and the ones around you. In Act 1 Scene 7, “When Duncan is asleep (Whereto the rather shall his day’s hard journey Soundly invite him), his two chamberlains Will I with wine and wassail... What not put upon His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt Of our great quell?” Macbeth and Lady Macbeth desperately want to become king and queen so they decide to kill King Duncan. Even though King Duncan is a friend of theirs, they are willing to go to extreme measures.

After telling his wife of the witches and their predictions, Macbeth is urged by his wife that he must take the chance he has been given and kill King Duncan in his sleep. Lady Macbeth tells her husband to man up: “when you durst do it, then you were a man; to be more than what you were you would be so much more the man,” (1.7.56-58) and do what he said he would do. Lady Macbeth seemingly takes advantage of her husband’s confused mental state and obvious impressionable nature to persuade him to kill the King. She doubts his ability to complete the task on his own yet she is unable to do it herself. {{Connect this back to the

Macbeth is a symbol for a fallen angel. he holds high morals and his wife is a symbol for the evil darkness that attempts to break out from us all. It appears that Macbeth is a noble and good hearted man who appreciates what he has. His wife however seems to be hungry for more. She is the evil that tempts us all.