Dangers Of Ambition In Macbeth

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Bezawit legese Mrs. Tobin Engl 112N November 3, 2014 The Danger of Ambition The strive an ambition for power can seem to be true perfection, but one should be careful what they wish for, because that power might be exactly what causes their downfall. This is true In William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth; Macbeth is motivated to commit evil. There are three main factors that contribute to Macbeth’s fall First, he is influenced by the three witches’ prediction that he will become king. Second, Lady Macbeth helps to persuade him when he questions what he is doing. Last, he is motivated by his own ambition and greed to become king. It is possible that any one of these factors would not be enough to move Macbeth to commit evil, but all three together…show more content…
Their prophecy that Macbeth will become King and their deceit lead Macbeth to believe this prophecy. His belief in this prophecy causes him to have an enticement for power, and it provides him the will to kill Duncan to reach this ambition. Macbeth states, “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself, And falls on the other” (I.vii. 25-28). Clearly, the Witches' fooling acts have convinced Macbeth to commit evil in order to become a King. Also, they tell him none of woman born can harm him, providing him with more power than needed “The power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” (IV.i.80). In Macbeth’s mind, this means that no man can harm him. Thus the witches plant the seed of ambition behind Macbeth’s evil…show more content…
After killing King Duncan, he also kills his servants to make it seem as if the servants killed the king. He does this to divert suspicion from himself. “O, yet I do repent me of my fury, that I did kill them” (II. III.106). Fearing Banquo will have a greater power than he does, Macbeth continues his heartless murders by hiring murderers to kill both Banquo and Fleance, Macbeth convinces the murderers that Banquo is there enemy and deserves to be killed. Macbeth finally kills Macduff’s family to get revenge because Macduff does not attend his banquet; instead Macduff goes to England to seek military assistance to attack Macbeth. After killing his best friend king Duncan, Macbeth does not stop there. He had turned into a power hungry and blood thirsty

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