Macbeth Final

Humans are easily tempted by things even if it's wrong. In the play, Macbeth is told by witches of his prophecy that one day he shall become king of Scotland. Driven to become king, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the throne himself. His pursuit for power turns him into once a loyal and valiant soldier to a murderous tyrant. This crime has him going in a downward spiral as he reaches to the top. At the time cheating seemed liked the best way to execute the prophecy, but it only makes you repeat your crimes. People say finish what you started and doing it wrong from thee beginning forces you too keep it that way till it no longer works outs and you become not so great anymore.  Macbeth by WS shows us that once you cheat, you continue to cheat because its a quicker solution toward achieving your goals.


Behind every great man is a great woman. From the beginning when Lady Macbeth was informed of his fate, she realizes that the murder of the king is the quickest way to achieve the destiny that her husband has been promised. "You are too tender hearted to take shortcuts. You want greatness. You are not without ambition. But you lack the ruthlessness that's needed" (1:5 15-20) Lady Macbeth belittles him for not being able to murder, threatening to take her love away. This threat wins him over and Lady Macbeth discusses her plans to kill King Duncan in his sleep while staying at their castle. "Where's that knocking? What's happened to me, that every noise scares me? Whose hands are these? They're plucking my eyes out! Is there enough water in the oceans to wash my hands of this blood? No! More likely my hands will stain the vast green seas blood-red." (2:2 58-63) Haunted by what he has done, Macbeth is once ever more directed by his wife. Lady Macbeth tells her husband that a little water will wash away their guilt and the two retire to their bed. With the news that the king has been killed, his sons flee the country leaving Macbeth to be crowned King of Scotland.

After his quick ascension to the throne, Macbeth begins to fear those around him who show any kind of threat toward his kingship. Recalling the witches second prophecy, he orders the murder of his fellow soldier Banquo and his son Fleance.
"Quit my sight! Back to your grave! Your bones are marrow less, your blood is cold. You have no power of seeing in those glaring eyes!" (3:4 95-98) At a celebratory banquet that night, Macbeth is thrown into a state of horror when the ghost of the murdered Banquo appears at the dining table. Again, his wife tries to strengthen Macbeth, but the strain is clearly beginning to show. " I've almost forgotten the taste of fear. There was a time when shrieking in the night would have turned me cold. Groans would have raised my hair as if alive. I've had my fills of horrors. Ghastly sounds and sights are commonplace in my murderous thoughts. They can't shock me anymore." (5:5 11-15)
With the struggle for power, he yet again also orders the deaths of Macduffs family. His hallucinations worsen as it reflects his increasing guilt he feels for committed so many murders. This affects his judgement by not caring when he hears of his wife's death, and even fighting in battle against King Duncan's sons where he ultimately dies in the end.

Goal setting is essential to living a purposeful life. It is important that these goals benefit both you and others in positive ways and that the journey toward the end is fair because you deserve it more when you put personal hard work and determination reaching the goal. Once you cheat others and yourself, you do it again because of the fast progress made. Cheating seems like a quicker way but it has its consequences like any other action. Like Macbeth, we see his change in character and how his fate ended him because of his lust for the crown in which he didn't deserve. It is best to be true to yourself and others all the time to avoid this type of tragedy that Macbeth went through.