Picture a world where ambition and loyalty are in opposition, and where the influence of others continuously puts one's sense of commitment and duty to the test. A fine balance must be struck between upholding one's own values and caving into other people's desires in this society where the ability to influence people can be both a blessing and a curse. All of this suggests that the ability to influence people can challenge a person's loyalty, leading to competing ambition which is proven in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth as well as Shelby Mahurin’s Serpent & Dove. PARAGRAPH ONE: In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is greatly influenced by the witches' prediction that he will become king because he gets concentrated on doing so. The witches’ …show more content…
However, since Lady Macbeth has been the driving force behind Macbeth's actions, and he starts to feel guilty about them, his loyalty to her is tested as he starts to question her role in his actions. Macbeth then ultimately chooses to ignore her advice, which leads to their downfall. Macbeth says, "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red." (2.2) It can be seen here that Macbeth acknowledges the guilt and paranoia he feels after committing the murder of King Duncan. In this soliloquy, Macbeth expresses his belief that no amount of washing can clean the blood from his hands and that his guilt will stain the oceans red. This shows how Macbeth is consumed by guilt and paranoia after the murders he has committed, and how the guilt is affecting his mental …show more content…
Although Macbeth initially opposes the idea of killing Duncan, he is eventually swayed by his own ambition and the encouragement of his wife, Lady Macbeth. Due to his growing remorse and paranoia, Macbeth is ultimately led to his downfall by this internal conflict. As Macbeth contemplates the murder of King Duncan he say, "If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well It were done quickly: if the assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch With his surcease success; that but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all—here, But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, We'd jump the life to come. But in these cases We still have judgment here; that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice To our own lips." (1.7.LINE) In this soliloquy, Macbeth is weighing the pros and cons of the assassination, he is considering the consequences of the murder and the fact that it could secure his ambition, but he also thinks about the moral implications of his actions and the guilt he will have to live with. This quote shows Macbeth's inner turmoil and his contemplation to commit the