Macbeth Research Paper

The character Macbeth is one that many would argue as dynamic and round. While the debate of him being complex and developed is plausible, the issue of Macbeth’s character developing throughout the story is a harder concept to accept. The majority agrees that “ambition is a quality within every human being” (“The presence of…”) . Therefore, the idea that Macbeth’s ambition has always existed but hidden within his motives is an explanation to why it doesn’t surface until later. This leads to the conclusion that it is, in fact, Macbeth’s ambition which is the strong force driving the play.

The first encounter of Macbeth with the three witches un-surfaces his apparent desire for fortune and glory. He receives the information that he will receive the titles of The Thane of Cawdor, The Thane of Glamis, and ultimately the king of Scotland. After his victory over the previous Thane of Cawdor, Macdonwald, Macbeth is given his title. At this point he is seen as a “heroic” but “tragically flawed villain” (Kinney, 11) . With two titles under his belt Macbeth starts considering the witches’ prophecy to be true. The fire of aspiration is sparked inside of him as he ponders over the possibility of being Scotland’s next monarch. After a visit to the current king, Duncan, Macbeth sends a letter to his wife. Macbeth’s uncertainty creates a surprising drive in Lady Macbeth that is aroused more so from the weakness of her husband then from her own greedy desires. Simply put, “Lady Macbeth’s objectives are centered on him, whereas Macbeth is centered around himself” (McAteer). The two of them have focused on one strong nucleus, which is in essence, Macbeth’s emulation.

A plan is devised to kill Duncan. The knife that Macbeth sees as a bloody dagger is the perfect parallel metaphor to his own driving ambition. As it controls his body and senses the same way his ambition controls his other characteristic traits such as bravery. After Macbeth’s zombie-like following of the knife to Duncan’s room a realization of doubt and concern is washed down him for a considerable amount of time. However, once again his ambition acts as the rag to wipe away these inconvenient thoughts of conscious. In one smooth motion Macbeth commits the murderous deed and rids himself of the only obstacle standing between him and kingship. The cover up to this heinous crime is Macbeth’s execution of the two suspected chamberlains. With the loose ends tied up Macbeth assumes his position as king of the throne. His zeal for murder does not come to a halt after these events occur. Banquo, along with his sons are also targeted because of the witches prophecy that they will be next to take over the throne. Meanwhile, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship begins to disintegrate. His plan to carry out and murder Banquo is made alone without the consent of his wife.

In the beginning of the play we see that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have worked as a cohesive unit, illustrated by them finishing each other sentences: “Macbeth- If we should fail? Lady Macbeth- We fail! But screw your courage to the sticking place, And we'll not fail" (Shakespeare I; vii) . We see their different train of thoughts in the dialogue later in the play: "Lady Macbeth- What's to be done? Macbeth- Be innocent of knowledge, dearest chuck…" (Shakespeare, III; ii) . Now, instead of answering Lady Macbeths question Macbeth insults her. With these lines, “Macbeth has made it painfully clear to his wife that a rift has developed between them” (Etzine) . The theory that Lady Macbeth is driving the ambitious desires, would lead us to the conclusion that Macbeth will revert to being scared and unsure of the next action. This is hardly the case as in the following acts Macbeth appears to function better without the efforts of his wife.

If Macbeth’s murder of Duncan is carried on by “the dominance of his wife” then it is sensible to believe that he is not a murderer ("Macbeth - ambition") . This belief of Macbeth’s inner motives does not agree with his actions of treachery. For example, fearful of the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s heirs will seize the throne, Macbeth hires mercenaries to kill Banquo’s son, Fleance. Macbeth’s mind is overwhelmed with fury after he learns that Fleance has escaped. We again see an example of the breakdown of mutual bondage between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth during a feast later at night. Lady Macbeth tries to neutralize the damage caused by Macbeth’s hallucinations of Banquo’s ghost. Even with the fear of the undead lingering in his mind Macbeth does not lose sight of his ambitious goal to secure the throne. He visits the three witches again and learns of a Scottish nobleman named Macduff who