Macbeth’s Insecurity
How far are you willing to go for someone’s respect? Would you commit a murder of someone close to you? In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the character Macbeth goes to great lengths to become King of Scotland despite the great risks of the job. Macbeth murders King Duncan, which he was once opposed to because his reputation was at risk. Macbeth sees himself as ambitious and gets offended if anyone suggests that he is anything other than a good man. He cares gravely about the opinions of his wife Lady Macbeth, who wants to see him as king, those of the king himself, and those of his companions’. Macbeth wants to be king because he wants the approval of others.
To start, Macbeth is not always confident about having to kill King Duncan to rise to power because Duncan praises Macbeth and trusts him. In Act 1, Scene 4, King Duncan says to Macbeth, “I have begun to plant thee, and will labour / To make thee full of growing” (1.4.33-34). Duncan is using a metaphor to say
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Macbeth is insecure, and looks to his peers for praises and approval. He is desperate to be king for the sake of his image. Similarly, one who is insecure may be more inclined to submit to peer pressure and make harmful decisions. Being easily pressured to do something for approval can turn lives into a downward spiral. Some teens or young adults may do things to make friends and fit in, such as breaking laws by stealing, gambling, irresponsibly drinking, or using illegal drugs. Although some people may do these examples as an isolated thing, they can lead to addiction and quickly ruin futures. After killing Duncan due to pressures from himself and his peers, Macbeth continues to make rash decisions, and he changes as a person. He is no longer an ambitious, brave man but instead a paranoid, immoral one resulting in his own