Ruthless ambition can alter the way we live our lives and participate in the world that we live in in many different ways. In The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth uses his own versions of ruthless ambition to pursue his newly bestowed “destiny,” no matter who or what gets in his way.
To begin his journey of seeking his fate, Macbeth is persuaded by Lady Macbeth to murder King Duncan. It is stated in the text, “But screw your courage to the sticking place And we’ll not fail. 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.”
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Macbeth says in the text, “I’ll call upon you straight. Abide within. It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, If it find heaven, must find it out tonight.” (3.2. 1112-1114). After his meeting with Banquo, Macbeth suddenly perceives that he no longer has the feeling of a close friendship with Banquo and decides that he must be executed in order for Macbeth to complete prosecuting his fortune. This statement proves that only one time was needed for Macbeth to be introduced to a cruel behavior and instantly become madly in need of performing the …show more content…
They then fight to one’s death. Macduff states in the text, “Hail, King! For so thou art. Behold where stands Th’ usurper’s cursed head. The time is free. I see thee compassed with thy kingdom’s pearl, That speak my salutation in their minds, Whose voices I desire aloud with mine. Hail, King of Scotland!” (5.8.2430-2435). Proceeding with Macbeth and Macduff’s argument, Macduff reappears carrying the head of the inhumane and barbaric Macbeth. This statement authenticates that Macbeth’s rude and brutal actions costed him the most valuable crown that he could ever own: his
Macduff leaves his family to prepare to storm Macbeth’s castle. Macduff had no idea that Macbeth sent murderers to his castle to kill him. The murderers killed his family and hit his servants. Seyton brings the bad news to Macduff
They enter the castle in scene seven and Macduff seeks out Macbeth, ignoring all other beings there. "Let me find him, Fortune! And more I beg not" (5.7). They finally meet and Macbeth tells him to leave, as he already has so much of his blood. Macduff says that he has no words for him and that he will let his sword be his voice. Macduff then tells Macbeth that his prophecy does not protect from him, as he had to be removed from his mother by C-section and thusly is not “Woman-born”. He then fights Macbeth to the death. He reappears in scene nine with Macbeth’s head and announces that Malcolm is now the king of Scotland.
His next targets are Banquo and Fleance. Macbeth hires murderers to kill them both. The murderers successfully kill Banquo but Fleance escapes. Macbeth becomes king and hosts a banquet. The guilt comes back. Macbeth acknowledges. “When now I think you can behold such sights, and keep the natural ruby of your cheeks, when mine is blanch’d with fear” (3.4.45). Macbeth thinks everyone at the table can see Banquo’s ghost when really he is the only one who sees it. Everyone is confused and concerned because Macbeth is going crazy and practically yelling at an empty chair. Macbeth almost spills the truth that he was the one who arranged Banquo’s death. Also, Lady Macbeth claims that, “I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse; Question enrages him; at once, good night: stand not upon the order of your going, but go at once” (3.4.45). Lady Macbeth tries to cover the up the outburst by telling their quests that Macbeth is not well. She knows that the guilt is taking over him because he initially did not want to kill
This provides the reader with opposite perspectives, for Lady Macbeth sees the dangers of ambition, and the it is rooted in greed, thus deciding to back off, and attempt to protect her husband from his own corruption. However, prior to the killing of Duncan, Lady Macbeth possesses no fear of any repercussions to the murder, for “We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking-place, And we’ll not fail.”(1.7.59-61). Through Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare argues that ambition often comes out through the seduction of a significant other, in attempt to please a spouse, for Lady Macbeth exhibits no fear in murdering Duncan, as she wants to be queen. This relates back to greed, for Macbeth wants a happy spouse, therefore growing more ambitious in attempt to keep his wife happy by gaining power. As Macbeth’s ambition progresses, Lady Macbeth grows concerned for the situation and the fact that Macbeth has grown insane, as she wishes to limit the damage done by his hallucinations, as she instructs those around when Macbeth see the ghost of Banquo to “Sit, worthy friends. My lord is often thus…”(3.4.56). Here, Lady Macbeth now grows paranoid that the guest may catch onto the suspicious behavior of Macbeth, thus making him suspicious about the murder of Banquo. Through Lady Macbeth’s attempts to cover up Macbeth’s madness, the reader sees the consequences of ambition,
In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, ambition is the main factor that leads Macbeth down a dark path for his desire of becoming king. Ambition is the driving force that gets people to achieve what they want in their life. When the three witches tell Macbeth about his fate and how he will become king, Macbeth starts to think about how he could be king. Macbeth then becomes very ambitious to become king and starts planning a way to murder King
After this Macbeth kills Macduff whole family and servants to send Macduff a message for being disloyal and he thinks that Macduff suspects him of something as well. This is shown when Macbeth says “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
More people start to become treats along with becoming suspicious to Macbeth. In order to make sure that he stays in power without letting anyone know about his previous scandals Macbeth hires people to do it for him. Macduff finds out that his family was murdered and wants to kill Macbeth before he destroys the kingdom. At the end of the story. Macduff battles Macbeth saying “I have no words,My voice is in my sword. Thou bloodier villain,Than terms can give thee out! (Act 5 Scene 8) meaning that Macduff is full of rage and wants Macbeth dead. As the battle continues, Macbeth is defeated knowing that he couldn't be killed from anyone born from a