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Macbeth Quote Analysis

Decent Essays

“So long as the opposing forces are at the outset approximately equal in numbers and moral and there are no flanks to turn, a long struggle for supremacy is inevitable.” This quote demonstrates that in roles of power hardships form because there is imbalance in the situation, which provides a contrast to the nature of the position. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the main character Macbeth desires to become King of Scotland therefore he commits horrendous crimes to obtain the position. However, flawed with an ambitious personality, Macbeth has a moral decay thus causing him to act irrationally which eventually leads to his death. Shakespeare’s main character demonstrates the problems of living an imbalanced life and obtaining …show more content…

In the beginning of the play, Macbeth appears to be loyal to King Duncan; however, he truly harbors feelings about being King. When the three witches told Macbeth his prophecies, he decided upon killing Duncan with a dagger in order to proclaim the throne. After, Macbeth had decided to kill Duncan he was hesitant at first, which showed a divided mind set, and his fear of possible consequences. However, when his contemplating his decision, he envisions a dagger “Is this a dagger which I see before me,/the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee”(1.2.). The dagger signifies how hypnotized Macbeth has become about killing Duncan and how his ambition plagues his decision-making. By murdering Duncan, Macbeth is able to fulfill his prophecies; nevertheless, with this power guilt consumes Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Which causes Lady Macbeth to envision bloodstains on her hand, which she constantly tries to remove when sleep walking. This action shows that guilt is consuming Lady Macbeth and by trying to remove the bloodstains, she is trying to dissolve her part in the crime. Macbeth wanted to appear as worthy royalty nonetheless the crimes he had committed shattered his vision and forced them to

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