Macbeth A Man Whose Ambition Out Weighed His Conscience
Macbeth A Man Whose Ambition Out Weighed His ConscienceMacbeth: A Man Whose Ambition Out-Weighed His Conscience
Macbeth’s struggle with evil was a long and somewhat deeper story. Shakespeare writes Macbeth so the reader has to think about why Macbeth did what he did and how much of what he did was him and how much were outside influences. The reader has to see that Macbeth was taken over by greed and or what could be called ambition. Macbeth’s struggle was also a test of character. Every man has a breaking point where he will give in; Macbeth’s breaking point was the crown of Scotland. What Shakespeare really wanted the reader to see was that after all of the evil things that Macbeth did and after evil had its way with him Macbeth was still conscience and watching himself lessening what he used to be until he is a shadow of his once distinguished self.
Macbeth began the play at the prime of his life as a distinguished general who just won a great battle against the Norwegians. Macbeth was one of Duncan’s most revered and respected generals and was dubbed Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth also got what he really likes admiration and popularity from Duncan and others: “He hath honour’d me of late; and I have bought Golden opinions from all sorts of people,Which would be worn now in their newest gloss”(act.I.vii.34-36). The admiration from others is so great that Macbeth wants to put off murdering Duncan so he can enjoy it. Macbeth eventually sees that the Crown will get him more admiration and power than Thane of Cawdor.
After thinking and rationalization Macbeth’s Ambition finally outweighs Macbeth’s sense of right and wrong. The witches tempt him with the idea of becoming king. Lady Macbeth helps him overcome his natural hesitation to commit murder. But Macbeth himself chooses between his honor and the crown- and between salvation in the next world and material gain in this one. After Macbeth kills Duncan he starts to fell regret and his conscience starts to get him when he reveals “I am afraid to think what I have done;/ Look on’t again I dare not.”(Act.II.ii.66-67). Macbeth’s self-hatred begins when Lady Macbeth tells him: “Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us/And show us to be watchers: be not lost/So poorly in your thoughts.” Macbeth replies “To know my deed, ‘twere best not know myself.”(Act.II.ii.89-91). Macbeth begins to fell his rational side give away to his dark side.
Macbeth eventually turns into a ruthless dictator who rules with fury and terror since he has nobody’s loyalty or respect. Macduff describes Macbeth’s Scotland by saying: “each new morn/New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds/ As...
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