Lady Macbeth is the sole motivation for killing Duncan. "It is an accustomed action with her to seem thus/ washing her hands. I have known her to continue in/ this quarter of an hour." (5.1.20-23).
However Macbeth only has one desire to kill the king, and that is ambition, which means the desire to do something. This ambition by Macbeth was triggered by her husband convincing him to become the King. This is
Macbeth's unrelenting desire for power leads him to commit evil acts, including murder. The story states, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other." (Macbeth, Shakespear) This quote highlights how Macbeth's ambition is the driving force behind his actions. He becomes so consumed with the desire for power that he is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it.
However, when the witches prophesize, that Macbeth will become the king of Scotland, Macbeth's ambition takes over, and he begins to consider the possibility of fulfilling this prophecy. Although he initially ignores the idea, his ambition and desire for power lead him to commit murder. As Macbeth himself acknowledges, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself And falls on the other" (Shakespeare I.7.25-28). This quote reveals that Macbeth's ambition is the driving force behind his decision to kill King Duncan. Despite knowing that murdering a king is a terrible crime, Macbeth chooses to go through with the plan because he wants to become the king
Macbeth’s ambitions influence him to attain his desire for power. This ambition drives him to become reckless for the sake of reaching his goals. This recklessness leads to the murder of Duncan- the first in a line of murders Macbeth commits to reach his power. These murders represent Macbeth’s gradual loss of morality.
Blind Ambition and Greed The play “Macbeth”, by William Shakespeare illustrates many themes through the characters from the beginning to the end of the story. But the main central theme introduced is Ambition and Greed. As the play goes on we read how Macbeth permits his Ambition and Greed to dictate the outcomes and tragedy’s that occur to himself and others.
The supernatural motivates Macbeth comprehensively, to the extent that he murders King Duncan, Banquo and Macduff 's family. It galvanises him to do things that otherwise he would have thought were ludicrous. Firstly, the witches prophecies stimulated Macbeth to kill the ones he loves, as a consequence losing friends that were loyal to him. Additionally, Banquo 's ghost caused Macbeth to feel guilt and fear, causing him to rely on the witches’ predictions and having a false feeling of security. Finally, the vision of a bloody dagger that appeared right before the murder encouraged Macbeth to kill King Duncan.
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.
The motif that motivation was a powerful effect on someone’s decisions on the course of actions they must take. Shakespeare’s play Macbeth demonstrates this idea through the protagonist, Macbeth and his interactions with other characters in order to achieve his goals. When Macbeth was told by the witches that he would be king, Macbeth so an image in his head that was a “horrid image (that) unfix(es) (his) hair” (act 1. scene.iii). The image he saw would be the death of the current king.
Macbeth’s ambition is what is causing him to intervene with his prophecy and pursue his goal (rather than leave it to chance). In a way, it is Macbeth’s own “black and deep desires” that make him kill in the first place as the witches never tell him to do so. Furthermore, apart from ambition, it is Macbeth’s own weak will and moral system that causes him to do the actions that result in his downfall. Macbeth’s weak will is undeniable and is illustrated before killing Duncan. “I have of spur/To prick the sides of my intent, but only/Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself/And falls on the other” (I, VII, 25-28).
Of all the failures human beings experience none are as crushing as those that are a result of following someone else’s desires. In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the protagonist self-destructs because of his external forces as well as his own poor choices. An external force that influenced Macbeth includes Lady Macbeth’s strong goals, which she forced on her husband. Additionally, the witches impacted Macbeth’s choices by offering him their tricky prophecies. The blind greed that took over Macbeth’s life also impacted his choices.
In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, Shakespeare portrays that motivation allows individuals to thrive for their goals, but on the other hand side, it might lead to destruction. Many times, individuals perceive motivation to remove obstacles that prevent them from achieving their goals. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, the character of Macbeth uses motivation to achieve his ambition to become the King of Scotland, after considering witches prophecies. Macbeth’s strong motivation and desire to become the king allows him to deceive King of Scotland, Duncan, because the King was the main hurdle that was preventing him from reaching his ambition.
What is ambition? Ambition is the determination to achieve one’s goals. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare the protagonist, Macbeth, possesses ambition, which led to his downfall. In the play Macbeth’s ambition is driven by prophecies from witches and his wife’s aspiration. Ambition caused Macbeth to commit multiple homicides and after those wrongdoings Macbeth is left with nothing.
Macbeth was working toward being the king of Scotland in the beginning after meeting the three wired sisters. And being told that he was king to be, so it inspired him to do anything that he had to to become king. It did not matter the circumstances he would do it. Even if that meant killing his best friend. He down was cause by him killing Macduff’s family.
Primarily, Macbeth craves power but is too weak to obtain it rightfully, leading him to a second internal struggle in which his ambitious attempts to obtain power conflict with his conscience. Finally both of these struggles are results of his struggle to be admired. Firstly, a contributing factor towards Macbeth’s internal struggle is his hunger for power that is contrasted by his cowardice which prevents him from independently attaining power. Macbeth hopes that “chance may crown (him) //
