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Examples Of Self Destruction In Macbeth

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Throughout Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, it becomes apparent that both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have been led into their own undoing by their own self-justified actions rather than by leaving everything up to fate. For Macbeth, the most self-evident example of his destruction is by interfering with the Weird Sister's prophecy by hiring murderers to exterminate Banquo and his son Fleance. Even after killing Duncan and receiving the title of the King, he is still not satisfied as he realizes that all of his efforts would benefit Banquo and his sons without them even having to do anything. Rather than standing by and letting them benefit off of his endeavors, he decides to disrupt the fate of Banquo: "To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
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Greed and jealousy live inside everyone, but one must refrain from these thoughts to prevent self destruction. In William Shakespeare's Elizabethan era Tragedy Macbeth, Shakespeare uses betrayal as a vehicle for obtaining power for selfish means, and illustrates the grave costs of betrayal to the individual. Greed often fuels an uncontrolled lust for power. Shakespeare reveals the extent of Macbeth’s greed when Macbeth's first thought regarding the witches prophecy stir thoughts of murder: “ My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical”(I.iii.152). Most individuals do not think one should murder someone to obtain what you desire.

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Rough Draft The tragedy of Macbeth written by William Shakespeare, is one of the most commonly known plays around the world. In Macbeth, betrayal and deception is always present throughout the play. Shakespeare portrays the idea of betrayal and deception through multiple characters throughout the play. Macbeth, Banquo, the Three Witches, and Macduff are all key players in how Shakespeare uses betrayal and deception in Macbeth.

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He tries everything he can to rid himself of the witches' forecasts. He dispatches assassins to kill Banquo and his son as soon as he recalls the prophecy that Banquo will be greater than him. When the three witches reveal their final prophecies, he feels safe. Macbeth's murder of the king exemplifies his attempt to

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After being told that he “shalt be king hereafter”(1.3.53), Macbeth plans to murder Duncan, his friend and a Loyal king. He not only betrays his king but he also betrays Scotland. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth betrayed duncan by inviting him to their house as their king only to be murdered by his hosts. When Macbeth hears Banquo’s fate “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.”(1.3.70) he gets scared that Banquo will become a threat and therefore decides that his best friend and his innocent son shall be murdered.

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However, when three witches tell Macbeth that he will become the ruler of Scotland, he loses his loyalty for king and country. Encouraged by this prediction, Macbeth slowly descends into a state of evil, becoming willing to kill anybody in his way of the crown, including the king himself. After successfully killing Duncan and becoming king, Macbeth hires two murderers to kill Banquo, whose offspring threaten Macbeth’s rule. But when the two murderers are about to assassinate Banquo, a mysterious third

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In the Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, betrayal happens a lot, which can lead to a gain in power or a tragic downfall; this happens in everyday society when you trust your friends or family too much. William Shakespeare provides many insights into which betrayal is shown throughout the play. For example, the killing of Duncan and how Macbeth misled him. In today’s society, trust issues and betrayal happen, just like in the Tragedy of Macbeth.

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Macbeth needs to follow through with this plan because Fleance and Banquo could get in the way of Macbeth becoming King. The three witches had also foretold Banquo’s descendants to become king. Macbeth sends men to follow through with this plan. They succeed to kill Banquo, but Fleance escapes. After being responsible for the deaths of two people, Duncan and Banquo, Macbeth is in a state where he feels the need to keep murdering people that could possibly get in his way of becoming king.

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The witches’ big prophecy about Macbeth’s future was used both for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s self-fulfillment, and also for the witches’ own self-fulfillment. In Macbeth, Macbeth pursues his self-fulfillment not with his heart or conscience, but by these weird sisters’ stories. It is also seen how the witches reach their end goal by using their stories for their own self-fulfillment. An example of how Macbeth used their prophecy to help guide his self-fulfillment is by killing Duncan and Banquo.

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When the Witches' prophecy states Banquoes son will become king one day, Macbeth quickly acts and remarks, "I am settled, and bend up / Each corporal agent to this terrible feat" (3.1.92-93). Macbeth decides to have Banquo and his son Fleance killed, despite his initial reluctance to harm his friend. Macbeth's determination remains evident in his language as he declares his resolve to carry out the "terrible feat," and in his interactions with the murderers he hires. Clearly, Macbeth's determination to maintain his hold on power overrides his moral qualms and personal relationships. Macbeth's actions as a King seem to only promote and help himself which becomes known when he states, "I'll make assurance double sure, / And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live; / That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, / And sleep in spite of thunder" (3.4.90-93).

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After achieving the title of the King of Scotland, Macbeth wants to secure his position as the king and desires to inherit the Scottish throne to his ancestors. His aim was showed in “To be thus is nothing, /But to be safely thus” (III, i, 52-3). This quote reveals that Macbeth not only wanted to become the king but also wants to secure his position as the King of Scotland for the welfare of his upcoming generation. This reveals Macbeth’s is implying the witches’ prophecies; as long Banquo’s sons live, Macbeth’s throne would not be able to inherit down to his ancestors. As the play progresses, Macbeth’s hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance, as represented through, “Banquo, thy soul’s flight, /If

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Macbeth feels his destiny is to murder King Duncan and become the King of Scotland, which is why Macbeth promises Lady Macbeth achieve his destiny. Therefore, Macbeth’s ambition for power leads to the death of King Duncan. Moreover, Macbeth’s ambition for power triggers the massacre the ones who impede him from his pathway to the Scottish Throne. First, Macbeth has murderers kill Banquo to avoid obstructions in his plan to become the King of Scotland. Macbeth tells the three murderers hired: “…

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In the play “Macbeth” the protagonist goes through different kind of external and internal conflict. Firstly, Macbeth has an internal conflict within himself whereas he does not want to kill the king, however Lady Macbeth, whom was Lords Macbeths wife, gets involved which leads up to Macbeths first external conflict. Lady Macbeth insults him by calling Macbeth names which upsets Macbeth as a man. But nonetheless Macbeth did not want to kill the King of Scotland, yet he still does it to prove his lady of how much of a man he is.

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1083 Words | 5 Pages

Eventually, he then acts upon his greed and abandons his morals through the vile words of Lady Macbeth. After the king 's death, Macbeth expresses his hatred towards killing the king "I have no spur/To prick the sides of my intent, but only/Vaulting ambition, which overlaps itself/And falls on the ' other. " Specifically, under his new state of power, he was taking extra precautions to prevent anyone from taking his dignity and bloodline. Simultaneously becoming apprehensive of his throne for this purpose he kills Banquo otherwise his descendants will inherit the throne, and the killing of Macduff 's family since Macbeth was suspicious of his downfall might be coming. "

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Lady Macbeth influences Macbeth to kill Duncan, but he continues to have second thoughts about it (i.vii.31-34) and feels terribly guilty afterwards (II.ii.63-66). However, following the murder of Duncan, Macbeth loses any ethics he had left. Macbeth kills the servants, Banquo, and Macduff’s whole family in cold-blooded murder. On the other hand, when Banquo ponders the witches prophecy for him, he contemplates the thought of having to kill someone to get power, but he quickly shuts it down (III.i.9-11).

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They told Macbeth that he was going to be king, and told Banquo that his children were going to be king. With the knowledge that there is a possibility to become king, along with the selfish human nature, noble Macbeth was easily swayed by this prophecy. At first, Macbeth’s conscience took care of his ambitions, he was afraid he would betray the king, because he knew that he was “his kinsman and his subject” (1.7.13). However as the three witches continue to encourage Macbeth with carefully chosen words, he eventually pushes his conscience away and committed crimes that were dishonourable. Macbeth, easily controlled by his ambitions, loses his noble and heroic title in fear of losing his power.

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