Motivation in Macbeth

Shakespeare not only presents the actions of characters, but also helps us to understand what motivates characters to act the way they do. The tragedy, Macbeth, is a play where there are many dreadful events, and strong motivations behind them. Macduff and Macbeth are two characters of Macbeth who encounter great, but not always good, motivation for their actions.

Macbeth is a heroic character at the beginning of this play “unseaming men from the nave to the chops.” He has much potential as a warrior, and has great love and respect for his country. Coming back from battle one day, he is greeted by three witches, who are known to have great and terrible powers to foresee the future. They meet him with predictions when they greet him as ‘Thane of Glamis’ (his present title,) ‘Thane of Cawdor’ (a higher rank) and King of Scotland. Macbeth is extremely intrigued by what they say to him, especially once he learns that he has earned the title of ‘Thane of Cawdor’ for murdering the traitor Macdonwald. Macbeth believes that since the first two prophecies became reality, the third one must materialize also. But instead of waiting to see it happen without interference, Macbeth takes it upon himself to make sure that the third prophecy comes true. These prophecies prove to be the first bits of motivation for Macbeth’s actions (mainly murders) throughout the duration of the play.

In addition to the prophecies, Lady Macbeth is a firm generator of motivation for Macbeth’s actions. Once she hears about the prophecies, she becomes determined to do whatever is necessary to become Queen on Scotland. In the beginning of the play, she proves to have a stronger willpower than Macbeth, and is arguably the first valuable piece of motivation for his actions, since Macbeth is hesitant to commit the murder on the basis of the prophecies alone. Lady Macbeth uses her cunning, persuasive manner to convince Macbeth that murdering Duncan is the right thing to do. Lady Macbeth also taunts Macbeth by saying “when you durst do it, then you were a man.”(Act 1, Scene 7.) It is because of Lady Macbeth that Macbeth murders Duncan, and becomes king.

Another strong source of motivation is Macbeth’s ambition. He wants nothing more than to be King and along with kingship comes happiness, or so Macbeth thinks. His ambition is the fatal flaw that causes his eventual downfall. Macbeth became over-ambitious, and eventually placed all of his faith in the last prophecies made by the witches- that he could not be killed by anyone born of woman, that he is safe until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane Hill (where Macbeth’s castle is) and the he should beware Macduff. Macbeth treats the first two prophecies too seriously and the third one not seriously enough. It is basically the first prophecy that unchecked his ambition- for he thought he was invincible. In the end, Macbeth is murdered by Macduff, who was born of cesarian section, not naturally, after the soldiers had used trees from Birnam wood to camouflage themselves against Macbeth’s armies. Throughout the play, it is Macbeth’s ambition that destroys his good nature and forces him to break all moral boundaries. Until he meets the witches, he is loyal to his king and country, his friends and his wife. If he had not sought after becoming king, then the prophecies would not have had any effect on him.

Macduff is another