Dreams Do Come True Many people have hopes and goals that they would like to accomplish. They may desire powerful positions or jobs, while others may desire prosperity and riches. This is known as ambition, the spell binding force that leads people towards success. However, ambition may result in harmful acts to get their satisfaction. In William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Macbeth, the protagonist, Macbeth, is described as a very loyal and noble soldier. As the play progresses, Macbeth’s character dramatically changes because of several different factors. These factors influence Macbeth greatly and cause him to make numerous bad decisions.
The influence of the witches’ prophecies, the influence of Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth’s blind ambitions are the most important factors that lead to Macbeth’s tragic deterioration. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth shows high self esteem because he is appreciated and loved by everyone. Macbeth never even thought of changing his position in life. He seems completely satisfied being the thane of Glamis. However, he meets with the three witches; Macbeth’s life starts to change. After the witches inform Macbeth of his prophecies, his ambition start to accumulate.
The witches greet him calling him “All hail, Macbeth! ail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter” (1. 3. 50-54). Their greetings confuse Macbeth and even though the idea of becoming king is appealing to him, Macbeth explains that it cannot be possible because there are other people in his way, and decides to dismiss his prophecies. After a messenger informs Macbeth of becoming thane of Cawdor, Macbeth starts believing in the witches foretelling explaining: This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill; cannot be good; if ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth?
I am thane of Cawdor: If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Are less than horrible imaginings: My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day (1. 3. 140-144,148-149,154-156,160) Although, the witches never suggest to murder king Duncan, Macbeth gets obsessed with the thought of all the power and wants to rule over Scotland as soon as possible. Macbeth’s state of mind is now centered on possible ways to become king.
Macbeth is willing to do anything to gain power. (This is the point) Macbeth begins to slowly transform into a conscienceless man. Macbeth is willing to kill his own relative in exchange for power also being Duncan’s kinsmen, he’s duty is to protect his king from all kinds of danger but instead Macbeths desire for power increases and starts planning the murder of Duncan. Lady Macbeth is a very persuasive and controlling person. After receiving Macbeth’s letter, Lady Macbeth’s immediate response is “That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan/Under my battlements” (1. 5. 42-43).
Being a loyal soldier, Macbeth becomes uncertain with the murder of Duncan is the wise thing to do. Lady Macbeth knows that Macbeth’s desire is not strong enough and uses his reputation to cause Macbeth shame. Lady Macbeth accuses her husband saying “Art thou afeard/ To be the same in thine own act and valour… And live a coward in thine own esteem” (1. 7. 40-41, 46) at which Macbeth takes great insult. To prove to Lady Macbeth wrong, Macbeth finally agrees on the murder of Duncan. Macbeth wants to prove to Lady Macbeth that he has the courage to kill Duncan and he is very manly and will not stop until Duncan is dead.
Once he kills Duncan Macbeth begins to change mentally and emotionally. Macbeth’s hallucinations are the product of fear and guilt. In Inverness, when Macbeth is left alone, he sees a dagger in the air leading him towards Duncan: Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
Mine eyes are made the fools o’ the other senses, There’s no such thing: It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes (2. 1. 40-56). Macbeth did not have it in him to murder; he forces himself to kill Duncan, his hallucinations demonstrate how disturbed he is over the crime. Macbeth starts feeling paranoid and nervous about what Macbeth is doing to Duncan. His paranoia also leads to Macbeth killing everyone next in line for the throne to secure his position as king of Scotland. He is paranoid someone might murder him just like Macbeth does to Duncan.
His murders cause Macbeth sleeplessness; he is so tormented by his guilt that Macbeth is not able to sleep restfully. Macbeth fears being killed in his sleep, just like Duncan died. This paranoia caused by Lady Macbeth forcing him into, murder makes Macbeth kill several innocent people capable of becoming king after Macbeth. Macbeth’s ambition grows throughout the play without it he would never have a strong enough desire to commit such disastrous crimes. Macbeth’s ambition is the most influential and pushes him to accomplish his desires of becoming king: The Prince of Cumberland!
That is a step On which I must fall down, or else o’er-leap, For in my way it lies. 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 (1. 4. 55-60). Macbeth has noticed his ambitions and described them as “black and deep”, which makes them seem evil and unstoppable. Macbeth’s ambitions are so powerful he has noticed them himself taking control over his mind. The three witches and Lady Macbeth increase his ambition but his own actions result in his deterioration.
Macbeth’s ambition blinded him from reality. Once the three witches inform him to be “Be bold, bloody, bold and resolute; laugh to scorn/The power of man, for none woman born/Shall harm Macbeth” (4. 1. 85-87), his confidence is boosted and Macbeth is reassured that he will remain king till his natural death. Macbeth’s strong desire for the throne gets in the way of his conscience. However, when Duncan is named the Prince of Cumberland, Macbeth knows he must act immediately. The thought of murder comes to Macbeth at once and he sees it as a shameful deed.
Macbeth calls on darkness “starts to hide your fires/Let not light see my black and deep desires” (1. 459-59). He has a conscience with great opposition between the good and evil he is willing to accomplish. Macbeth has the ambition of becoming king but he uses one murder to cover up another which leads to an endless hole of murders. Macbeth thinks to himself, he is “in blood/ Stepp’d in so far” (3. 4. 167-168), that it would be easier to continue down the same path then struggle getting out of it. Macbeth’s ambition leads to his deterioration. Macbeth’s harmatia is his blind ambition.
Macbeth’s deterioration is greatly influenced by the three witches, Lady Macbeth but most importantly his strong ambition for power. Macbeth’s ambition takes control over his conscience and results in Macbeths making several bad decisions. However, without his strong desire for power he would never reach his dream of becoming king. Humans set goals for themselves that they want to reach but without any ambition it is difficult to accomplish. Ambition can take over a conscience and cause people to make harmful acts and may result in severe consequences.
