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Hamlet And Macbeth Comparison

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Personal greed is “an excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth…” which Claudius analyzes in Hamlet and Macbeth depicts in the tragedy Macbeth. Throughout both tragedies Claudius and Macbeth strive only for greed and obtaining what they don’t have. Their methods to achieving more are through becoming a tyrant over all who threaten them. A tyrannical ruler is one who cannot be content with what they possess and use unjust rules to maintain their power. Throughout Hamlet and Macbeth, two characters, Claudius and Macbeth, become consumed with their own personal which, results in their own demise. Claudius, the brother of the King of Denmark, was never content with …show more content…

His use of spies specifically on Hamlet help him maintain power for a good amount of time because he is able to control Hamlet’s thinking. For example, Claudius asks Polonius’ help to spy upon Hamlet and the two of them devise a plan. Within this plan they call upon Polonius’ daughter Ophelia to see what is bothering Hamlet. “And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish/That your good beauties be the happy cause/Of Hamlet's wildness: so shall I hope your virtues/Will bring him to his wonted way again, /To both your honors” (Hamlet. 3.1.38-42). Queen Gertrude hopes that Ophelia will be the cause of Hamlet’s unexpected madness, but this is part of Claudius being able to use all at his expense to spy and keep power. Claudius is also exceptionally good at keeping secrets which allows him to maintain his kingdom. The major secret Claudius keeps is the murder of his brother, King Hamlet, and how Claudius was the one to kill him. To keep this secret Claudius acts upset that his brother was killed and tells the kingdom that it is a great lost but they will grow from this. He also goes to great lengths to keep the murder a secret in which he tries to send Hamlet away after he finds out of Claudius’ actions. His last method to keeping the crown is to manipulate servants into doing his dirty work. An example, is the use of …show more content…

When the witches gave Macbeth his three predictions the first time they revealed his fate which caused him to begin thinking about the crown. Once given the predictions Macbeth tells his wife, Lady Macbeth and she begins to persuade him by using his manhood against him. “And wakes it now, to look so green and pale/At what it did so freely? From this time/Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard/To be the same in thine own act and valor/As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that/Which thou esteem’s the ornament of life, /And live a coward in thine own esteem….” (Macbeth. 1.7.37-45). When Lady Macbeth calls Macbeth a woman he is upset and sets out to prove her wrong therefore creating a sense of motivation to obtain the crown. Macbeth’s tyrannical personality is what helps keep him motivated and on track to obtain his personal greed. For example, after Malcolm, the eldest son of King Duncan, was named the Prince of Cumberland meaning the heir to the throne. Hearing this news upset Macbeth beyond belief because he never thought about Duncan’s kids becoming king before him. After rethinking his plan Macbeth’s tyrannical thinking still keeps him on track to get the crown. Macbeth’s personal greed was driven by predictions, his wife’s persuasion, and tyrannical personality leading him towards

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1487 Words | 6 Pages

Furthermore, Claudius has no emotion towards his family, this is because his mind is only focused on obtaining power. This trait that Claudius displays shows by how he did not initially kill Hamlet. Before Claudius develops a plan to kill Hamlet, he tells Laertes, “O, for two special reasons, which may to you perhaps seem much unsinewed, but yet to me they’re strong. The Queen his mother lives almost by his looks and for myself… She is so conjunctive to my life and soul...

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1313 Words | 6 Pages

Both greed and power, if not controlled, can lead to destruction. Throughout William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, Shakespeare uses both characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to demonstrate how ambition can change one’s personal relationships. As in the beginning of Act 1, Scene 7 Macbeth and Lady Macbeth do not share the same ambition, and it is because of this that their relationship lacks love and affection however through the use of persuasion and other means, Lady Macbeth is able to get Macbeth to pursue her ambition. This not only changes their relationship drastically but it also changes Macbeth’s attitude towards ambition. Throughout the play, Shakespeare shows us through Macbeth, the possibility for ambition to eventually turn into greed and how the lust for power may corrupt us.

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1064 Words | 5 Pages

(Shakespeare I.iv.58-59) This shows Macbeth has the intention of claiming the crown for himself before he even talks to Lady Macbeth about what they should do when Duncan arrives at their castle. Furthermore, Shakespeare displays Macbeth's ambitions even earlier in the play while fighting against the rebels. The manner in which he fights against the rebels described by the Sergeant shows how passionate he is to fight on behalf of his king and drive the rebels back. Macbeth evidently has a very ambitious personality, but the way he uses the ambition is changed after hearing the “prophecies” of the

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563 Words | 3 Pages

Hamlet uses the secrecy of his plan to be able to surprise the characters that are most effected by his action giving Hamlet the higher ground in conflict. Throughout this scene, Hamlet was able to hold the basis of his secrets by only telling one person of his plan, trying not to make anyone suspicious in his actions, and pushing other to do the act for him so he will not be seen as the violator unto the characters effected. Through using one true and faithful friend that he trusts, Hamlet is able to capture the necessity of making sure other don’t figure out his secret plan to make Claudius and Gertrude guilty. When Horatio arriving to see Hamlet, Hamlet explains that “there is a play to-night before the King. One scene of it comes near the

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919 Words | 4 Pages

In Macbeth, Shakespeare writes about a man named Macbeth, who has a very strong ambition to be the the king of Scotland. His credulousness led him into believing the prophecy from the three witches without thinking rigorously. Because of this prophecy, Macbeth is willing to do everything he can to gain the throne, even to the extreme of murdering someone. Shakespeare uses syntax, similes, and personification to convey the evolution of Macbeth’s insanity.

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830 Words | 4 Pages

One of the qualities of Shakespeare’s plays that have allowed them to remain interesting to many generations is that the motivations of his characters remain undistinguished allowing for much debate on whether or not to sympathize with, hate, or even love characters. In Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark there is a multitude of characters in which their motivations and inner turmoils are not revealed to the audience, one of which is King Claudius. Claudius shows the audience two apparent sides of him, an effective ruler who values his queen, and the treacherous villain who killed his own brother to become king. Although there is much debate about which side represents Claudius most accurately his constant attempts to control Hamlet, his inability to make a prayer for forgiveness, and

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496 Words | 2 Pages

At the beginning of the play Macbeth, the main character Macbeth learns that he will become King. When he realised he could be the leader, the power he desperately craves motivates him to alter his character. “Tis unnatural, Even like the deed that's done.” (2.4.6-14)

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At the beginning of William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ the protagonist Macbeth is described as ‘brave’, ‘noble’ and ‘honourable’, however Lady Macbeth’s and Macbeths desire for power consumes them. Macbeth’s ambition overrides his conscience and transformed his greatest strength into his greatest weakness. Macbeth’s inability to resist temptations that led him to be greedy for power, Macbeth’s easily manipulative nature which allowed his mind to be swayed, Macbeth having no self control and his excessive pride was what allowed him to renew his previously honourable and celebrated title into one of an evil ‘tyrant’. Macbeth is led by the prophecies of the witches after they foretell he will become the Thane of Cawdor. Not only the witches, but also his wife easily manipulate Macbeth as she attacks his manhood in order to provoke him to act on his desires.

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This is what causes Hamlet to compromise his love for Ophelia, as she is stunned and disrespected by his attitude. Similarly, Claudius wanted to gain power, and uses his ambitious attitude to murder his brother, quickly marry his widow, and take the throne himself. Despite their similar nature the two men are driven by different goals. Claudius works to gain and keep power, while Hamlet is working to seek revenge for his father. However, Claudius continues to rule in his power, and dwell in his wronged achievements allowing himself to pursue his

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967 Words | 4 Pages

Lady Macbeth uses the tactic of belittling him about his manhood. Implying that he is not a man unless he does what she asks. She offers him to ease the burden of this crime. Not only does Lady Macbeth and the witches have an impact on Macbeth, he also is the last one to accept his poor choices he will make to lead him to the failure he

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842 Words | 4 Pages

He murdered the first King of Denmark in secrecy so he could usurp the throne and make the Queen his own. No one would suspect Claudius as the murderer due to his relation as the brother to the late King. Later on in the story, Claudius is suspecting Hamlet of not only being crazy, but possibly learning of the murder. With his words and power as King, he sent Hamlet to England to “get better” from his illness. Along with that he sent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two of Hamlet’s old friends, to supervise Hamlet and confirm he would meet his doom.

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1313 Words | 6 Pages

However, Hamlet soon discovers that Claudius has been lying to him, and Claudius’ real motive is to kill Hamlet in order to exterminate all possible threats to his reign. Claudius’ role play affects the entire country of Denmark, and he convinces the people that he is the rightful king, when he is not, and has murdered his brother for the throne. Gertrude, too, takes on a role; throughout the play, she seems oblivious to her wrongdoings. She claims that she loves Claudius, and did not just marry him for political reasons.

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1241 Words | 5 Pages

Macbeth’s ambition is one of the most prominent things that drive Macbeth in the play and truly becomes evident when he hears of the Witches prophecies. When the witches stop talking, he demands to know more. “Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more” (I, III, 73-74). This portrays his excessive curiosity on the subject as well as his craving for more desirable prophecies. This ambitious nature and craving for power is also demonstrated only moments after hearing the witches, when he starts formulating a plan to kill Duncan in order to make the third prophecy come true.

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876 Words | 4 Pages

He hath honored me of late, and I have bought/ Gold opinions from all sorts of people” (1.7.31-33). After he said this, Lady Macbeth questioned his manhood. With his manliness being questioned, he pushed himself to kill the king. The greed of Lady Macbeth and her scheming led to Macbeth’s untimely

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525 Words | 3 Pages

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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