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Ambition And Evil In Macbeth

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In the play of Macbeth, Shakespeare tells a story of a man and wife whose ambitions get the best of them. The couple seek to gain power in their kingdom, however there is already a king in power. Lady Macbeth is determined to become queen of the throne, and decides to push her husband to do so as well. Their determination to hold power brings out the dark demons in them while causing them to lose everything. The natural and moral evil in them is exposed as they push their moral boundaries to keep their power. Lady Macbeth knows that her husband is capable of becoming king, but he lacks the sense to realize his full ambition on his own because he “too full of th’ milk of human kindness to take the steps necessary to make himself king (1.5.15). …show more content…

He must tell more lies and commit more sins to stay king. Macbeth says that “I am in blood, stepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more” (act 3, scene 4 line 134). Here he knows that his actions cannot be taken back. The murders he has committed will stain him in blood as a murder forever. There is no question that there is evil within him, and that evil is his own ambition to stay on top. In Act 1 Macbeth kills Duncan and the king’s two guards, he then kills Banquo, Lady Macduff, her family, and Young Siward. He becomes a cold-blooded killer without any influence from his wife. She can no longer be held accountable for Macbeths horrible actions. Macbeth does not seek the guidance of his wife, nor her advice to commit these crimes; his actions are his own doings. There is no one to blame but himself for those numerous homicides. Macbeth and his wife pretend to “look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent undet’t (1.5) Their actions are criminal and evil, which is why they must hide behind lies to appear as righteous rulers. Macbeth’s whole life becomes a lie that is driven by evil and sin. Soon his false persona is seeping through and his actions come back to haunt

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In the next scene, Macbeth and his wife execute their murder plot and temporarily escape any suspicion that they are the culprits. This murder showcases Macbeth’s greed as he was aware of the positive reputation that King Duncan had in Scotland, but murdered him anyway to eliminate anyone that stood in the way of the throne. Next, Macbeth sets out to murder his former best friend Banquo and his son Fleance as the prophecies revealed that Banquo’s sons would ascend to the throne. “So is he mine; and in such bloody distance, That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near'st of life.” (Shakespeare 25)

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In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the tragic tale of a Scottish general's rise and fall from power, evil plays a front and center role. As a play that explores the darkest corners of human ambition and desire, Macbeth weaves an intricate examination of the consequences when one is consumed by greed and the lust for dominance. In this essay, I will argue that Macbeth's tragic descent into evil is fueled by unchecked ambition and desire for power, ultimately leading to his downfall. To support this claim, I will analyze various aspects of the play, such as the influence of Showing evil forces, the roles played by characters like Lady Macbeth and the witches, and how Macbeth's own character transforms throughout the story. First, let us delve into how

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