Macbeth Essay

Macbeth Essay

Macbeth, who is once a courageous Scottish general not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds, descends into a frantic, boastful madness due to the malign prophecies of the deranged three witches. After Macbeth’s initial interaction with the Weird Sisters, his physical courage is joined by a consuming ambition and a tendency to self doubt; the prediction that he will be king brings him joy, but it also creates inner turmoil. Throughout this play, Shakespeare uses Macbeth to show the devastating effects ambition and guilt have on a man who lacks strength of character.

One of the main themes in Macbeth is the destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints. After Macbeth hears the witches’ prophecy, his character changes immensely and he acquires a new, ambitious desire to become the king of Scotland. To achieve this, he is willing to take whatever measures necessary to acquire the crown. Even though Macbeth seems to have everything going in his favor, he deeply desires power and advancement. “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (Act1. Sc.3) The witches’ prophecies spark Macbeth’s ambitions and encourage his violent behavior. Macbeth is intrigued by the witches’ statement, and this, along with Lady Macbeth’s influential pressure, inspires him to commit the terrible crimes which eventually lead, not only to his crowning, but to his demise. Macbeth realizes that there are potential threats to his reign on the throne (Duncan, Banquo, Fleance, and Macduff), and it is tempting to use violent means to dispose of them. Macbeth, however, is reluctant to inflict harm amongst his peers, but is manipulated by his cunning and conniving wife, Lady Macbeth. “And live a coward in thine own esteem, letting ‘I dare not’ wait upon ‘I would,’ like the poor cat I’ th’ adage?” (Act 1 sc. 7) Lady Macbeth emasculates her husband repeatedly, knowing that in his desperation to prove his manhood he will perform the acts she wishes him to perform. This pressure adds to Macbeth’s already mounting ambition to become king, and eventually, these factors give him just enough reason to kill all who stand in his way of the throne. His once noble character has become corrupt by his deranged wife and the evil witches. However, these crimes did not come without guilt and remorse. Macbeth is often plagued and haunted by visions and hallucinations, which are products of his very own guilt-ridden mind.

At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a strong, well-respected character. However, after a series of murders and crimes, his personality becomes weighted with the burden of guilt and remorse. “Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?” (Act 2, Sc. 1) In this scene, Macbeth