Macbeth Lit. Analysis

A detailed Summary of Macbeth Lit. Analysis

Macbeth's Representation of Ambition

From top to bottom of the ladder, greed is aroused without knowing where to find ultimate foothold. Nothing can calm it, since its goal is far beyond all it can attain. Reality seems valueless by comparison with the dreams of fevered imaginations; reality is therefor abandoned. "Many have dreamed up republics and principalities that have never in truth been known to exist; the gulf between how one should live and how one does live is so wide that a man who neglects what is actually done for what should be done learns the way to self destruction rather than self-preservation." Italian political philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) states that greed leads men to their downfall, a concept which is paralleled with Shakespeare's play, Macbeth. This play is the representation of human society in which Macbeth represents man. The play opens with 3 witches who honor Macbeth with three titles: "Thane of Glamis" (his present title), "Thane of Cawdor" (his son to be announced title) and the prophecy that he will be "king hereafter." Macbeth who is roused by his vaulting ambitions, lust for power, tempted by these titles, murders his rivals to the throne with his wife. As a result of his r

Greed destroys man from many aspects which one happens to be mentally. Although not directly, greed-driven actions bring regret and remorse and thus haunts one with guilt. The guilt thus condemns the individual of their mental coherence. "Me thought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep. Glamis hath murdered sleep and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more. '" (Act II, Scene II) Macbeths shows the consequences that huants him after he murders Duncan. His guilt starts to chip away at his mentality driving him to insanity. Macbeth's downfall is brought upon by the degradation of his mentality. "Avaunt! And quick my sight! Let the earth hide thee! They bones are marrowless, they blood is cold, though hast no speculation in those eyes which thou dost glare with." (Act III, Scene IV). Macbeth admits to killing Banquo which arouses the suspicion in Macduff who at the end of the play leads an army that defeats Macbeth. "Out, damn spot! Out I say! One: two: why then 'tis time to do't. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, a feared? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our pow'r to accompt? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?" (Act V, Scene I) Even Lady Macbeth is haunted with guilt after assisting Macbeth in murdering Duncan. Lady Macbeth descends to insanity and gets up every night and washes blood off her hands, a symbolic representation of the guilt she must live with for the rest of her life. Lady Macbeth commits suicide because she cannot bare to live with the heavy burden of guilt on her back anymore. Greed leads both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to their downfall.

When man is driven by greed to achieving their goal, they are stripped away of their morals and ethics. Macbeth is fighting a war, a deadly game where man takes advantage of others to win and claim the title of king. "if it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly. If the assassi

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Approximate Word count = 1352
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English