Shakespeare's Macbeth-Temptation Of Corrupt Desires

The Temptation of Corrupt Desires Since the beginning of mankind, we, as humans, have always struggled with controlling and deterring our debauched desires. Whether it be the prehistoric hunt of predator and prey, a medieval fight to death among knights in shining armor, or a politician’s deceit in pursuit of power and stature; the struggle of resisting temptation has always been present. This struggle of succumbing to our desires is often reflected in different works of literature throughout time. One of these works is Shakespeare's Macbeth. At the start of the play, Macbeth receives a prophecy that foretells great authority and prestige, tempting him with the greatness of becoming King of Scotland. He then succumbs to his desires, creating …show more content…
Shakespeare wrote his work Macbeth to continue to teach his audience about the dangers of temptation and that humans often succumb to their corrupt desires despite the consequences. Once succumbing to these desires, they only lead down a path of more misdeeds. It also doesn’t matter how great of stature or powerful someone is, they too, can still fall prey to the temptation of corrupt desires. Once succumbing to one, even if small, corrupt desire, it will lead to a chain of even more reprehensible misdeeds. In Macbeth, once Macbeth becomes King of Scotland by killing the previous king, King Duncan, he comes to the belief that killing Duncan was not only what needed to be done, but only the first step. Macbeth continues on to kill even his best friend Banquo. Macbeth realizes that “[Macbeth is] in blood/ Stepped so far that, should [he] wade no more./ Returning were as tedious [going back]” (Macbeth 3.4.136-138) so he should just continue down this path of gore and corruption anyway. The one decision to kill Duncan, succumbing to his desire for power and stature has lead Macbeth down this path in which he believes he cannot go back. To him it seems just as hard to go