9)Īfter the weird sisters predict that Macbeth will be king, his thoughts turn to “murder,” which the sisters have said nothing about. So he concludes that the only way forward is to try to alter the prediction by murdering Banquo and Fleance.My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man that function Is smother’d in surmise, and nothing is But what is not.(1. His greed means that he wishes to keep power for himself and his own family. He thinks that everything he has done has ultimately been for their benefit ('For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind') he has even put his soul ('mine eternal jewel') in danger. Rather than so, come Fate into the list, /Īs Macbeth completely believes the Witches' predictions he must also believe that Banquo's descendants will inherit the throne after him ('the seed of Banquo kings'). To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings.

Put rancours in the vessel of my peace, / He is even unprepared to share power with his wife as he puts her to one side, making secretive decisions and apparently not even caring when she dies.įor Banquo's issue have I filed my mind /įor them, the gracious Duncan have I murdered, / He cannot accept that Banquo's descendants will become kings after him and sets out to alter the prediction by having Banquo and Fleance murdered. Even his courage, clearly reported at the start of the play, has deserted him as he terrorises and murders those around him.Īs part of Macbeth's ambition he becomes greedy and selfish. It is clear is that Macbeth does not have any of these virtues if anything he displays the absolute opposites. As part of the test Malcolm pretends that he has none of these qualities either. Malcolm lists the qualities of a good king or leader when he is testing Macduff's loyalty. Malcolm seems to strike a healthy balance and combines the good qualities of both men.Īs justice, verity, temp'rance, stableness, /īounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, /ĭevotion, patience, courage, fortitude - / Macbeth is strong but becomes a bullying dictator. Duncan is not a good king as although he is kind and generous, he is weak. In Macbeth, Shakespeare shows us three very different leaders. Had she not appeared at this point, the outcome might have been different. However, before Macbeth can complete the thought and turn away from the crime, he is interrupted by Lady Macbeth entering. As for the horse and rider, what is on the other side of the obstacle is unknown - it could, of course, be disaster. He reaches the conclusion that the only thing that is motivating him (his 'spur') is ambition which he compares to a horse leaping over an obstacle ('vaulting ambition').

Macbeth has been thinking about whether or not he should murder Duncan. Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself To prick the sides of my intent, but only /

His wife shares this fatal flaw with him. He is driven by a need for power which eventually sets him on a path to his own destruction. Macbeth is basically a good man who goes wrong. In a tragic play, the fatal flaw refers to the basic mistake in the central character's personality which drives their actions. In Macbeth, William Shakespeare examines the good and bad aspects of ambition and power. By the end of the play Malcolm has become King and it seems likely that he will be much fairer and treat his people justly. However, through the character of Macbeth, Shakespeare goes on to show that having too much ambition and total control of power is just as bad. Scotland is shown as a wild and savage place ruled over by a weak king (Duncan) who relies on his warrior thanes to keep control. Shakespeare set Macbeth in the distant past and in a part of Britain that few of his audience would have been familiar with. Macbeth's ambition and desire for power lead to his downfall

Macbeth ambition quotes