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Macbeth Essay

All humans strive to be the best they can be. When people disregard their morals because of their ambitions and other outside forces, it will cause major problems. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, for example, the king is murdered by Macbeth because of his ambition and the temptation from other characters. Shakespeare clearly demonstrates in Macbeth that ambition and temptation causes him to act without proper judgment. Although personal ambition is the main cause of Macbeth's irrational actions, there are other catalysts at work

Although Macbeth is a brave and loyal servant of the king, he cannot control his ambitious nature. First and most significantly, Macbeth is a man of honor and is a loyal servant of Duncan. "The service and the loyalty I owe, In doing it, pays itself" (I.iv.22-3). Macbeth's obviously an honorable character and his loyalties lie to the "throne and state, children and servants "(I.iv.24-5) and believes he must do what he can to ensure the safety of Duncan's love and honor. Secondly, although Macbeth has good intentions for his king, he begins to lose control of himself due to his ambition. For example, as Macbeth questions regicide, he cannot find any reason to commit such an act. "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'er leaps itself and falls on the other."(I.vii.25-8). Macbeth realizes there is no way to rationalize the murder and he sees his ambition as a horse that tries to jump to high and falls, one that is out of control. Macbeth's loyalty which although is strong to the king, has been uprooted by his excessive ambition.

In addition to the fact Macbeth cannot control his unchecked ambition; it is one of his greatest defects as it causes him to act irrationally. For instance, as Macbeth becomes more and more ambitious, he begins to ponder about murder. "My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical" (I.iii.139). Macbeth's belief that murder is fantastical is a prime example of the effects of ambition on judgment. Thus has begun to act without conscience, and loses his ability to differentiate right from wrong. Again, this inanity continues when Macbeth learns about the prince of Cumberland. "The prince of Cumberland! This is a step on which I must fall down or else o'er-leap, for in my way it lies" (I.iv.48-50). Macbeth realizes if he is to become king, he would have to dispose of the prince as well, if not he has lost his chance. As a result Macbeth begins to plan his wicked intentions and asks the stars to hide his desires. "Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires" (I.iv.50-1).

Macbeth implies that although he has hidden it, under the surface lurks sinister thoughts. Consequently, because of Macbeth's ambition he fails to realize his senseless actions which are one of man's greatest follies.

In contrast to Macbeth's irrationally which is being motivated by his ambition, it is the outside forces which push him over the edge. In addition to his own ambition, the witches guide and give Macbeth ideas to pursue; they tell him he is to be king. "All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter!" (I.iii.50). Although Macbeth realizes he will be great after vanquishing the army, the witches make Macbeth wonder about being king which will eventually causes major problems. Soon after Macbeth begins to think of the prophesies of the witches,

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