Charles Dickens once said “Let us be moral. Let us contemplate existence.” Morals are an important part of human existence, as without them humans would not remain on the right path. Disregarding morals, or in fact your conscious, has proven to have disastrous consequences. William Shakespeare 's Macbeth follows the story of a man in medieval Scotland, who will do anything possible to achieve his ambitions of being King. Ignoring one’s conscious in order to pursue ambition leads to destruction and chaos, is shown through the destruction of Banquo, the chaos Lady Macbeth unleashes, and the downfall of Macbeth.
During the play, the character Banquo falls prey to the destruction of an ambitious nature, that is not guided by morals. In the first …show more content…
In the first place, by convincing Macbeth to kill King Duncan, Lady Macbeth unleashes chaos of a supernatural nature . After Lady Macbeth receives the letter from her husband about the prophecy, she calls upon evil spirits to help her. The night after this filled with terrors and other strange happenings. “Now o 'er the one halfworld/Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse/The curtain 'd sleep; witchcraft celebrates/Pale Hecate 's offerings” 2. 1. 56-59. It is common knowledge for most during this time period (and indeed any time period) that calling upon evil spirits to assist you is not the moral high ground. Yet Lady Macbeth does it regardless. By calling upon the devil, she causes chaos to enter the real world, in the form of evil spirits (or perhaps the witches). By going against all morals to pursue ambitions of being queen, she unleashes chaos. Similarly, Lady Macbeth unleashes chaos on the natural world, after ignoring her conscious, and helping Macbeth kill Duncan. After Macbeth has trouble laying the scene for Duncan’s murder, she assists him in pinning the murder on the servants. It becomes clear the next day, the night was filled with many strange happenings. “Threescore and ten I can remember well:/within the volume of which time I have seen/Hours dreadful and things strange; but this sore night/Hath trifled former …show more content…
In the first place, Macbeth causes the destruction of his mind, by ignoring his conscious, and killing Duncan. After the witches predict that Macbeth will become king of Scotland, Macbeth plans to kill Duncan but faces a moral dilemma. This turmoil is made more prevalent after he actually murders Duncan. “Will all great Neptune 's ocean wash this blood/Clean from my hand?” 2. 2. 77-78. Blood is used to represent guilt in Macbeth. Therefore when Macbeth asks if the blood will ever be washed from his hand, he is referring to his guilt over killing Duncan. Macbeth knows that killing the king is an evil, and immoral act. He even acknowledges that Duncan has treated him well. Yet, he still yearns for power despite what his conscious is telling him. This is why, after he has actually killed him, Macbeth still faces emotional turmoil. By ignoring his conscious, in order to pursue his ambitions of being King, Macbeth ensures the destruction of his mental state. In the same way, killing his friend Banquo in order to protect his ambitions, ensures the destruction of Macbeth’s good name. After Macbeth has been crowned King, he suspects that Banquo may know what he has done to become king. Therefore he sends murderers to kill him. Later he sees apparitions of his friend. “ Thou canst not say I did it: never shake/Thy gory locks at me.” 3. 4. 63-64. It is obvious that this apparition of Banquo is
During the play, the character Banquo falls prey to the destruction of an ambitious nature, that is not guided by morals. In the first …show more content…
In the first place, by convincing Macbeth to kill King Duncan, Lady Macbeth unleashes chaos of a supernatural nature . After Lady Macbeth receives the letter from her husband about the prophecy, she calls upon evil spirits to help her. The night after this filled with terrors and other strange happenings. “Now o 'er the one halfworld/Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse/The curtain 'd sleep; witchcraft celebrates/Pale Hecate 's offerings” 2. 1. 56-59. It is common knowledge for most during this time period (and indeed any time period) that calling upon evil spirits to assist you is not the moral high ground. Yet Lady Macbeth does it regardless. By calling upon the devil, she causes chaos to enter the real world, in the form of evil spirits (or perhaps the witches). By going against all morals to pursue ambitions of being queen, she unleashes chaos. Similarly, Lady Macbeth unleashes chaos on the natural world, after ignoring her conscious, and helping Macbeth kill Duncan. After Macbeth has trouble laying the scene for Duncan’s murder, she assists him in pinning the murder on the servants. It becomes clear the next day, the night was filled with many strange happenings. “Threescore and ten I can remember well:/within the volume of which time I have seen/Hours dreadful and things strange; but this sore night/Hath trifled former …show more content…
In the first place, Macbeth causes the destruction of his mind, by ignoring his conscious, and killing Duncan. After the witches predict that Macbeth will become king of Scotland, Macbeth plans to kill Duncan but faces a moral dilemma. This turmoil is made more prevalent after he actually murders Duncan. “Will all great Neptune 's ocean wash this blood/Clean from my hand?” 2. 2. 77-78. Blood is used to represent guilt in Macbeth. Therefore when Macbeth asks if the blood will ever be washed from his hand, he is referring to his guilt over killing Duncan. Macbeth knows that killing the king is an evil, and immoral act. He even acknowledges that Duncan has treated him well. Yet, he still yearns for power despite what his conscious is telling him. This is why, after he has actually killed him, Macbeth still faces emotional turmoil. By ignoring his conscious, in order to pursue his ambitions of being King, Macbeth ensures the destruction of his mental state. In the same way, killing his friend Banquo in order to protect his ambitions, ensures the destruction of Macbeth’s good name. After Macbeth has been crowned King, he suspects that Banquo may know what he has done to become king. Therefore he sends murderers to kill him. Later he sees apparitions of his friend. “ Thou canst not say I did it: never shake/Thy gory locks at me.” 3. 4. 63-64. It is obvious that this apparition of Banquo is