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

Greed and ambitions that harms others destructs the one who posses it. "all ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. All intellectual and artistic ambitions are permissible, up to and even beyond the limit of prudent sanity. They can hurt no one." States Joseph Conrad (1857-1924), a Polish born English novelist. The ambitions of Banquo were much more simple and paradoxical than that of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Though Banquo was curious when it concerned the witches prophesy, he was reluctant to believe it. Banquo was much more simple, honest, and harmless in character. He did not challenge his own fate like Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, therefore he did not corrupt himself. Banquo thrusted his ambitions toward leading an orthodox life, and he did not allow other forces to interrupt his ambitions such as the witches, his destiny and greed. "why do you start, and seem to fear things that do not sound so fair? I'the name of truth, Are ye fantastical, or that indeed which outwardly show? My noble partner You greet with present grace and great prediction of noble having, and of royal hope, That he seems rapt withal; to me you speak not: If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain will grow and which will not, Speak to me, who neither not by fear Your favours nor your hate. "(Act I, Scene III) Banquo was skeptical of the witches prophecy, thus prohibiting their spell to penetrate his soul, leaving him pure. If Macbeth and Lady Macbeth had not allowed their greed to take over and cause them to murder Duncan, their outcome may have been different.

ruthless quest for power leads him to his fate. Erich Fromm (1900-1980), a psychologist once stated "greed is a bottomless pit which haunts man in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction. He who comes along greed is condemned to this bottomless pit." Shakespeare demonstrates that greed that harms others, destroys the holder: mentally and morally,

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Approximate Word count = 1353
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)