Justice As A Theme Of Ambition And Justice In Macbeth

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” When justice is denied the universe will seek to correct itself and those that go against it. This can be seen transhistorically with tyrannical rulers of seemingly endless powers meeting an untimely demise. The ambitions that lead them to corrupt the world in search of power were ultimately the same ambitions that lead them to the grave. The famous play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, illustrates this concept beautifully when Macbeth, a Scottish general, allows his ambitions to overcome his morals. This leads him on a path of murder and greed as he seeks to fulfill his selfish desires. A sense of invincibility fills Macbeth leading him

In Shakespeare's play Macbeth, the idea of retribution and justice for immoral actions is seen through the lens of the primary character Macbeth and his journey to discover fate and unravel ambitions for power and wealth. Macbeth, a Scottish general, is given a prophecy that declares he will be king, however, to become king he must dethrone the current ruler which is King Duncan. Macbeth plans on killing Duncan for merely the seed of ambition and the possibility of becoming king. He successfully commits these immoral acts but because he acted against the morals of the universe he soon finds himself at the cruel hand of retribution and justice. “ In the affliction of these terrible dreams,

This can be seen when Macbeth meets an untimely fate even though he thinks he is immortal. This shows that the universe aligns with the vision of justice and morals, and when someone goes against these laws the universe will seek to correct the issue. “ Upon the sightless couriers of the air, shall blow the horrid deed in every eye.” (1.7,21-23) While Macbeth is contemplating killing Duncan he realizes that these actions will have consequences. Even if no one earthly finds out that he has killed Duncan there is a supernatural fate that awaits him that Shakespeare hints at numerous times with brief visions of hell. This implies that the universe has a set of moral codes and when one goes against these laws justice will follow Macbeth's justice being a non-worldly one. This idea of hell is once more implied not through Macbeth but rather through Lady Macbeth when she goes on a psychotic outburst from pure guilt for defying her conscience. “Out, damned spot, out, I say! One. Two, why then, tis time to do’t. Hell is murky.” (5.1,37-39) After conspiring in the murder of Duncan she bloodies her hands with the knife he was murdered with. However, the blood doesn’t wash off as easily as she would like and she relives this experience numerous times. The blood that she is unable to wash off represents the