“I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition” (Shakespeare 1.7.25-27), stated directly by the tragic hero, Macbeth, himself in the time-honored play by William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Macbeth. This quote in particular can be used to summarize the entire plot of the play. The main character, Macbeth, begins the play as a simple thane of one territory, Glamis. He happens upon a group of three witches who prophesize great things to come into his life. Prophecies such as becoming Thane of Cawdor, then becoming King of Scotland. Yet, there is an unsavory prediction of his descendants never ascending the throne. Through terrible actions, these prophecies soon ring true. Ultimately, the play ends in a bloody
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Another example of this is when he states, “Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires: / The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be / Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see” (Shakespeare 1.4.50-53). He pleads to let no one see the true desire and greed of his motives to eventually kill Duncan and take the crown. Albeit he is afraid of what he is doing, he will still do it out of greed. There is nothing of greater importance than rising to power. This greed urges Macbeth to carry out his dark deeds in order to sate his relentless …show more content…
As part of his dynamic character, Macbeth grows far more bold in his dealings. This daring is also due to his rising power and courage. His ambition begs of him to throw fear to the wind in acknowledgement of his status. This can be seen in his brazen declaration to fate, “Rather than so, come fate into the list, / And champion me to th’ utterance” (Shakespeare 3.1.71-72). Rather than accept an undesirable prophecy such as working for the benefit of another’s descendants, he challenges fate itself to a battle of life or death. Continually, Macbeth oversteps himself when he audaciously dares to lay a curse upon the witches in an effort to gain answers to his demands. “I will be satisfied. Deny me this, / And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know” (Shakespeare 4.1.104-105). His lack of caution eventually causes him to fight recklessly in the final act of the play. He continues to fight even though he knows it could lead to his death. But his bloated arrogance convinces him that he is infallible. During an exchange of blows between him and his opponent, Macduff, Macbeth advises, “Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; / I bear a charmed life, which must not yield / To one of woman born” (Shakespeare 5.8.11-13). He is imperious, and fatally overconfident when fighting Macduff, someone the apparitions had told him to be wary of. This improper heed of caution invariably
Another example of this is when he states, “Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires: / The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be / Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see” (Shakespeare 1.4.50-53). He pleads to let no one see the true desire and greed of his motives to eventually kill Duncan and take the crown. Albeit he is afraid of what he is doing, he will still do it out of greed. There is nothing of greater importance than rising to power. This greed urges Macbeth to carry out his dark deeds in order to sate his relentless …show more content…
As part of his dynamic character, Macbeth grows far more bold in his dealings. This daring is also due to his rising power and courage. His ambition begs of him to throw fear to the wind in acknowledgement of his status. This can be seen in his brazen declaration to fate, “Rather than so, come fate into the list, / And champion me to th’ utterance” (Shakespeare 3.1.71-72). Rather than accept an undesirable prophecy such as working for the benefit of another’s descendants, he challenges fate itself to a battle of life or death. Continually, Macbeth oversteps himself when he audaciously dares to lay a curse upon the witches in an effort to gain answers to his demands. “I will be satisfied. Deny me this, / And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know” (Shakespeare 4.1.104-105). His lack of caution eventually causes him to fight recklessly in the final act of the play. He continues to fight even though he knows it could lead to his death. But his bloated arrogance convinces him that he is infallible. During an exchange of blows between him and his opponent, Macduff, Macbeth advises, “Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; / I bear a charmed life, which must not yield / To one of woman born” (Shakespeare 5.8.11-13). He is imperious, and fatally overconfident when fighting Macduff, someone the apparitions had told him to be wary of. This improper heed of caution invariably