Murder Banquo's Ambition In Macbeth

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Blood on your hands is one thing, hunger for power is another. Macbeth, one of William Shakespeare’s greatest plays, tells the story of a man who experienced both these things, murder and power. Macbeth, a Scottish general and Thane of Glamis, is told that he will become the Thane of Cawdor as well as Glamis by three witches. Hearing this, Macbeth becomes hungry for power. When people like King Duncan and Banquo, who is a noble general, and Macduff, who is a Scottish nobleman, start to get in Macbeth’s path towards power, his ambition for power grows even more and will stop at nothing to get it. Macbeth becomes impulsive and starts to commit gruesome crimes with ease but this gets uncontrollable, eventually leading to his destruction. Macbeth’s…show more content…
Macbeth, talking to himself says, Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown/ And put a barren scepter in my grip,/ For Banquo’s issue I have filed my mind;/ ...Only for them, and mine eternal jewel/ Given to the common enemy of man/ To make them king, the seeds of Banquo kings./ Rather than so, put fate into the list,/ And champion me to th’ utterance. (3.1.66-77) Macbeth has been crowned King of Scotland, due to Duncan’s death, but according to prophecy Banquo’s line will rise to the throne as well. He doesn't have anyone from his own line to take up the crown yet the issue of Banquo has been crossing his mind. On impulse, Macbeth decides he doesn’t want to sit around and watch Banquo’s son, Fleance, become king while he the has power so his ambition causes him to murder Banquo and Fleance but only succeeds in killing Banquo. Murdering Banquo progressively heightens Macbeth’s ambition by provoking him to murder more people in order to keep his power. His ambition also continues to impact his decision making; he is impulsive and disregards any possible consequences of the murders he commits. This brings him closer to his demise because since he acts without thinking, he is only focused on the future and is oblivious of the future so he is not prepared of what is to…show more content…
Macbeth goes to the witches to hear another prophecy, and he is told to beware Macduff. He resolves his worry by saying, “And even now,/ To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done:/ 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 line” (4.1.171-174). Macbeth makes an impulsive decision that all his thoughts will be acted upon. With this decision, he pushes further by saying he will invade Macduff’s home, seize the town known as Fife, and kill Macduff’s wife and kids. This is the actions of a tyrant because Macbeth knows his time of ruling is coming to an end so he feels that the only way to hold onto it now is by fear. His ambition pushes him to kill Macduff’s family to show others what would happen if they turn against him like Macduff did. He thinks that doing this will show people that he has no mercy and will do anything to stay in his position of power. This ultimately causes his downfall because Macduff is fueled with rage by the news of his family being murdered so Macduff succeeds in killing Macbeth when they are in

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