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Macbeth’s Representation of Ambition From top to bottom of the ladder, greed
is aroused without knowing where to find ultimate foothold. Nothing can calm it,
since its goal is far beyond all it can attain. Reality seems valueless by
comparison with the dreams of fevered imaginations; reality is therefor
abandoned. Many have dreamed up republics and principalities that have never in
truth been known to exist; the gulf between how one should live and how one does
live is so wide that a man who neglects what is actually done for what should be
done learns the way to self destruction rather than self-preservation.
Italian
political philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) states that greed leads
men to their downfall, a concept which is paralleled with Shakespeare’s play,
Macbeth. This play is the representation of human society in which Macbeth
represents man. The play opens with 3 witches who honor Macbeth with three
titles: Thane of Glamis (his present title), Thane of Cawdor (his son to be
announced title) and the prophecy that he will be king hereafter. Macbeth who is
roused by his vaulting ambitions, lust for power, tempted by these titles,
murders his rivals to the throne with his wife. As a result of his ruthless
quest for power leads him to his fate. Erich Fromm (1900-1980), a psychologist
once stated greed is a bottomless pit which haunts man in an endless effort to
satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.
He who comes along greed is
condemned to this bottomless pit. Shakespeare demonstrates that greed that harms
others, destroys the holder: mentally and morally, and eventually leads to ones
ultimate destruction. When man is driven by greed to achieving their goal, they
are stripped away of their morals and ethics. Macbeth is fighting a war, a
deadly game where man takes advantage of others to win and claim the title of
king. if it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly. If
the assassination could trammel up the consequence, and catch, with the
surcease, success; that but this blow might be the be-all and the end-all here,
but here, upon this bank and shoal of time, we’d jump the life to come. But in
these cases we still have judgement here; that we but teach bloody instruction,
which being taught, return to the plague of inventor: this even handed justice
condemns the ingredients of our poison’d chalice to our own lips.
(Act I, Scene
VII) Macbeth has confused feelings about murdering Duncan, his worthiest cousin.
He hesitates to murder Duncan because he is scared of the consequences which may
somehow return and plague him. He questions to himself, how would his new
subjects react? However, his ambition numbs the fear and the conscience
concerning consequences and his morals. At this point, he is already morally
degraded. Macbeth does not question the morality of the actions of what he is
about to take but instead worries about the consequences he may have to face if
he fails. Thus Macbeth does not fear or feel any moral remorse in committing the
murder itself.
Our fears in Banquo stick deep; and in his royalty of nature
reigns that which would be fear’d: ‘tis much he dares: and to that dauntless
temper of his murder he hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour to act in
safety. There is none but he whose being I do fear: and under him, my genius is
rebuked. ( Act III, Scene II) Macbeth is irritated by Banquo, whose existence is
a hinderence towards his fulfillment of the prophecies. My lord, his (Banquo’s)
throat is cut; that I did for him. (Act III, Scene II) Macbeth deals with this
by murdering Banquo.
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