William Shakespeare’s Macbeth illustrates the consequences of uncontrollable greed. The titular character is thirsty for power as he is not satisfied by only being a highly respected thane. This results with him taking drastic measures in order to attempt to satisfy his craving, a craving that is impossible to satisfy. He starts off by killing the current king so that his immediate need for power can be achieved. He then hires murderers to kill any men who are a threat to his kingship and in the end he is willing to do anything in order to secure his power no matter what the cost may be. All of his actions throughout the play demonstrate the most prominent theme in the tragedy of Macbeth; the evolution of his greed. Terrific introduction in
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This causes him to go locate the three witches in order to receive more information regarding his future as king. The witches are accompanied by apparitions who warn Macbeth of imminent threats. “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife! Dismiss me. Enough.” (Act 4. Sc. 1. Lines 81-82) This being one of many warnings he receives from the witches and the apparitions alike, cause him to take immediate action to safeguard his power as King. After the weird sisters have vanished, Macbeth makes his intentions regarding Macduff known: “From this moment the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand. [...] The castle of Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife, give to th ' edge o ' th ' sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line.” (Act 4. Sc. 1. Lines 166-168, 171-174) Accordingly, he is no longer going to have second thoughts regarding any actions he might take. Macbeth decides that once he makes a decision, he will act upon it. A demonstration of this would be his plan to attack Macduff’s castle. He doesn’t think of the consequences of that action because all that matters to him is the protection of his power as king. When the opposing army is approaching his castle, it is evident that the English army will be able to easily overpower what is left of Macbeth’s small army. Despite the odds he chooses to fight for his kingship, as his greed for power will not let him abandon the throne without a fight. He puts that into evidence by saying: “ I’ll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked, give me my armor.” (Act 5. Sc. 3. Line 38-39). At this point, Macbeth cannot be reasoned with. His greed for power has taken full control of his body, to the point where he is no longer making rational decisions. He knows that he can’t live
This causes him to go locate the three witches in order to receive more information regarding his future as king. The witches are accompanied by apparitions who warn Macbeth of imminent threats. “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife! Dismiss me. Enough.” (Act 4. Sc. 1. Lines 81-82) This being one of many warnings he receives from the witches and the apparitions alike, cause him to take immediate action to safeguard his power as King. After the weird sisters have vanished, Macbeth makes his intentions regarding Macduff known: “From this moment the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand. [...] The castle of Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife, give to th ' edge o ' th ' sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line.” (Act 4. Sc. 1. Lines 166-168, 171-174) Accordingly, he is no longer going to have second thoughts regarding any actions he might take. Macbeth decides that once he makes a decision, he will act upon it. A demonstration of this would be his plan to attack Macduff’s castle. He doesn’t think of the consequences of that action because all that matters to him is the protection of his power as king. When the opposing army is approaching his castle, it is evident that the English army will be able to easily overpower what is left of Macbeth’s small army. Despite the odds he chooses to fight for his kingship, as his greed for power will not let him abandon the throne without a fight. He puts that into evidence by saying: “ I’ll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked, give me my armor.” (Act 5. Sc. 3. Line 38-39). At this point, Macbeth cannot be reasoned with. His greed for power has taken full control of his body, to the point where he is no longer making rational decisions. He knows that he can’t live