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Common Themes In Macbeth

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Macbeth was written over 400 years ago, yet the play’s themes are still applicable. The themes ambition, betrayal, and deceit are still being portrayed in stories and movies today. These themes not only make for an entertaining story, but also teach lessons. Macbeth longed to be king so badly that he killed for it. When a person kills to get what they want is an example of excessive ambition. Ambition is the one of the most important themes in Macbeth. Ambition in moderation is normal, setting goals, working overtime, etc., but tremendous ambition can be destructive. Ambition led Macbeth to kill Duncan and take his throne. It led Macbeth to kill his friend, Banquo, because he was suspicious of him and he feared he would be an obstacle. Even Macbeth’s wife experienced excessive ambition and is the person who came up with the plan to kill the king and blame it …show more content…

Macbeth won everyone over and earned their trust making it easier to deceive them. After he was declared Thane of Cawdor, the king came over to celebrate and thank him for his loyal service. Duncan stayed the night after the celebration and Macbeth killed him proving he had no true loyalty or respect for him. They drugged the guards and made sure that they used their weapons to kill Duncan so they could plant the weapons on them. Macbeth lied, framed, and killed two innocent men for his personal benefit. When Macduff came to get the king the next morning, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth pretended to be horrified that the guards would commit such a crime. Macbeth only became King because of his deceit and lies not because he deserved it. The story of Macbeth goes to show how flawed and prideful people can be. All Macbeth did was harm and lie to people for his personal gain. In the end, he lost everything, even his own life. This play may be very old, but it still teaches important lessons that readers can learn from

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Shakespeare presents the theme of ambition in Macbeth. Ambition is a strong desire to do or achieve something, ambition can also be presented in a positive and negative way. Shakespeare presents ambition in a negative way through some characters who are Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and King Duncan. The reason these characters present ambition in a negative way is because they end up dying. Ambition is also present in a positive way through some characters who are Macduff, Witches and Malcolm these are the characters who survive in the play showing that you can be ambitious but not too ambitious.

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682 Words | 3 Pages

Themes in Macbeth Macbeth is play about craving power, contemplating your gender, and being defeated by your own ambition. These three themes in Macbeth have one general word in common its, Macbeth. Not only was Macbeth a power-hungry man defeated by his own ambitions, but also got look down upon especially by his wife for his unmanliness. He had one main goal in mind, to be king, and he wouldn’t let anyone or anything get in his way, even if that meant killing everyone in his path.

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705 Words | 3 Pages

Macbeth had ambition to become king of Scotland, but this did not turn out positive for him. Duncan macbeth's first cousin became King instead, and Macbeth was one of his thanes. Macbeth knew that King Duncan was a good person and king. He has been doing everything right for Scotland. Macbeth had this

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790 Words | 4 Pages

Macbeth deceived them, along with everyone else, to believe that they had killed King Duncan and not him. It worked until his sons became suspicious, as did the rest of the men that were loyal to King Duncan. All because of his greed for power and authority, Macbeth used whatever measures necessary to eliminate all opposition on his quest to become king; this included

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562 Words | 3 Pages

Macbeth killed the king because the three witches told Macbeth that he would become the Thane of Cawdor and then eventually the king. Macbeth is told by three witches; “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!” , “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!”

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477 Words | 2 Pages

Macbeth is a dark play written by Shakespeare. It is about a kingdom in Scotland in which the people living there turn on each other and don't know who to trust. Macbeth changes from an innocent man to a murderous villain. In the end, his cockiness will get the best of him. Throughout the play Macbeth, Shakespeare uses many literary devices to convey the theme, “guilt cannot be washed away.”

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1525 Words | 7 Pages

William Shakespeare is considered as one of the best play writers in history. One of his most well known plays is Macbeth where a Scottish general named Macbeth has a strong desire to be king which leads him to betray and murder his king, Duncan. He also kills the nobles who have been loyal to him in order to maintain his title as king. Throughout this play, Shakespeare uses the motif of ambition, guilt, and fate to characterize the characters, show the different themes present within the play, and how the motifs are still relevant today.

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Macbeth’s only ambition is to keep his throne and survive. Macbeth also states, “Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts/Cannot once start me” (V.5 Fourteen-Fifteen). The case that he thought of the death of his wife so callously reveals his insatiable thirst for more power, and how he had become so corrupt that nothing else mattered but his greed. Macbeth’s downfall was clearly visible in his reactions to the consequences of his greed, showing how he slowly succumbed to his unchecked

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362 Words | 2 Pages

After hearing from the prophecy from the Weird Sisters, Macbeth realizes his potential to become king of Scotland. His ambition and wife drive him to take action and kill King Duncan. “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other— (1.7.25-28)” Although Macbeth handled the murdered the of King Duncan very well, he did leave some holes in which people could figure out that he did kill Macbeth. For example he kills the guards which causes Macduff and the other

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858 Words | 4 Pages

The witches got into his head and so did Lady Macbeth. Macbeth decides against murdering his King but Lady Macbeth belittles him for not being able to murder, threatening to

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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.

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963 Words | 4 Pages

Killing Duncan was his downfall that also brought down Scotland and because of this evil act, Macbeth was punished over and over through the play until his downfall cost him his life. His figurative nobility is brought up when Macbeth becomes king. Once a noble general now and noble king keeping secrets. The audience sees his figurative

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426 Words | 2 Pages

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.

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569 Words | 3 Pages

Macduff and Malcolm go to war against Macbeth eager for revenge. Macduff, vengeful for his family’s death cuts off Macbeths head, and Malcom takes his rightful place as king. Macbeth’s Ambition and Greed resulted in his downfall. Constantly wanting more, Macbeth allowed his blind ambition to dictate what actions he took to obtain being king and staying king.

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711 Words | 3 Pages

The first theme in Macbeth that has a very relevant fundamental today is corruption of power. Corruption of power is when someone comes into power, and the feeling takes over them. The power gets to their head, they try and get

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