The Struggle Between Good And Evil In Shakespeare's Macbeth
Power has the ability to eradicate one’s nature. It lures great people to the darkest corners of their heart, to become the monster they have always feared of. Rest assured, in William Shakespeare’s beloved tragedy Macbeth, Macbeth is promised an assuring future, until his corrupt nature obsesses and dominates his actions, motives, and reason. Once Macbeth realizes his is a man born for power, he begins to commit many sins in order to become the most powerful man in Scotland. Due to his tyrannical nature, Macbeth hopes to satisfy his ambition by murdering the people closest to him. Macbeth’s mind begins to become intoxicated with notions of death, to a point where he loses the essence of his character and personality. Moreover, Macbeth grows
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The witches’ prophecies indicate that Macbeth will become “Thane of Glamis [...], the Thane of Cawdor [...], and king hereafter” (I.iii. 51-53). After Macbeth is titled the Thane of Cawdor- fulfilling one part of the prophecy- he begins to contemplate on the possibility of murdering Duncan, the current king of Scotland. Unfortunately, this ignites a severe dilemma for Macbeth because he lacks a legitimate reason to kill Duncan, aside from the invalid desire to seize his title as king. Macbeth immediately rejects this idea because it would be extremely simple if “this blow might be the be-all and the end-all here” (I.vii.5). Duncan recognizes Macbeth as a “valiant cousin [and] a worthy gentleman”, which ultimately makes it impossible for Macbeth to destroy the boundary of trust as Duncan’s host and worthy kinsman (I.ii.26). In spite of the difficult debate plaguing Macbeth’s mind, he still acts beyond his conscience and commit regicide only since “valuing ambition [...] o’erleaps itself on th’other” (I.vii.27-28). It was clearly Macbeth’s own judgement and free will that motivated him to execute the deed, despite acting upon his own morality and values. This act sets itself as the foundation of Macbeth’s dark journey to his inevitable demise. Apart from the eventual guilt and remorse that is soon to follow, Macbeth allows his thirst for power to satisfy his ego, and make “tears [...] drown the wind”
The witches’ prophecies indicate that Macbeth will become “Thane of Glamis [...], the Thane of Cawdor [...], and king hereafter” (I.iii. 51-53). After Macbeth is titled the Thane of Cawdor- fulfilling one part of the prophecy- he begins to contemplate on the possibility of murdering Duncan, the current king of Scotland. Unfortunately, this ignites a severe dilemma for Macbeth because he lacks a legitimate reason to kill Duncan, aside from the invalid desire to seize his title as king. Macbeth immediately rejects this idea because it would be extremely simple if “this blow might be the be-all and the end-all here” (I.vii.5). Duncan recognizes Macbeth as a “valiant cousin [and] a worthy gentleman”, which ultimately makes it impossible for Macbeth to destroy the boundary of trust as Duncan’s host and worthy kinsman (I.ii.26). In spite of the difficult debate plaguing Macbeth’s mind, he still acts beyond his conscience and commit regicide only since “valuing ambition [...] o’erleaps itself on th’other” (I.vii.27-28). It was clearly Macbeth’s own judgement and free will that motivated him to execute the deed, despite acting upon his own morality and values. This act sets itself as the foundation of Macbeth’s dark journey to his inevitable demise. Apart from the eventual guilt and remorse that is soon to follow, Macbeth allows his thirst for power to satisfy his ego, and make “tears [...] drown the wind”