Macbeth Essay

Morrison 1
CJ Morrison
Mrs. McManigal
British Literature, Period 2
2 December 2013
Greed: The Tragedy of Macbeth
Greed is one of the most dangerous attributes that a person can have. More so, it can
affect someone’s mind and their actions. Shakespeare wrote a play in the seventeenth century
called The Tragedy of Macbeth where greed is an ever present companion to Macbeth and his
wife, Lady Macbeth. There are also many motifs, or reoccurring themes, in Shakespeare’s play.
Two of the most presenting are reason versus passion, and the masculine versus feminine roles
throughout the play.
One of the motifs, reason versus passion, shows how greed can affect the minds
reasoning and sense of morality to make them pursue their passion, doing whatever it takes to
reach that particular goal. Originally Macbeth and his wife’s passion was to serve their king and
their reason was sound. Only after Macbeth had met the witches did things start to go astray.
Macbeth’s reasoning starts to falter and his passion starts to change when he sees a chance at
gaining power to the throne. He plans to kill King Duncan by thinking,
“If th’ assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch
With surcease, success; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all – here” (Shakespeare 1.7.2-5).
Macbeth hopes that his gaining of the throne will be the only consequence to the killing of King
Duncan. His new passion quickly changed from his loyalty to serve his king to greed for power,
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status, and authority. Meanwhile his reasoning is faulty in failing to consider the other
consequences that come with deciding to kill his King. Furthermore, Lady Macbeth is also
supporting her husband by silently praying,
“ Thou’dst have, great Glamis
That which cries. “Thus thou must do” if thou have it;
And that which rather thou dose fear do
Than wishest should be undone” (Shakespeare 1, 5, 20-23).
She is praying that her husband has the courage to do what he must to gain power to the
throne. Greed has also steered Lady Macbeth into helping her husband commit their treasonous
acts. Finally, earlier in the play, the three witches that affronted Macbeth and Banquo as they
walked down the path foretold of a new line of royalty birthed by Banquo. Macbeth, not wanting
this to happen, tries to kill Banquo by hiring three murderers and reminding them; because
Banquo was their sworn enemy and, “ So he is mine, and in such bloody distance / That every
minute of his being thrusts / Against my near’st of life” (Shakespeare 3.1.167-18).
Macbeth, saying this explains how much of a mortal enemy he is to Banquo as well. His
reasoning has been breached by this greed and passion for more power and authority over
others twisting into a mutilated version of his original passion of his loyalty and servitude
towards his King.
One other motif controlled by greed would be the masculine as opposed to feminine
roles. It can either strengthen or weaken their position in The Tragedy of Macbeth. Early on in
the play, Lady Macbeth seems to have more control over Macbeth and their plan to kill King
Duncan, shown by her greater greed for their elevation in status to come to pass. Macbeth on
the other hand, shows his weakness by letting Lady Macbeth alter his opinions or thoughts in
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the matter of killing his king. Lady Macbeth takes control of the situation when Macbeth starts to
back away from the plan by asking Macbeth,
“From this time
Such I account my love. Art thou afeard
To be the same in thine own act and valor
As thou art in desire?” (Shakespeare 1.7.39-41).
By asking Macbeth why he is afraid to act on what he feels, she is calling him to action by
stirring his feelings. However the masculine and feminine roles are switched later in the play as
Macbeth ascends to the throne, giving him a false boost in his actual authority over the
situation. He says, “be innocent in knowledge, dearest chuck / Till thou applaud the deed”
(Shakespeare 3.2.45-46). He does not want Lady Macbeth to Know of his plans to kill Banquo
until later because he wants to show her that he is in control by planning on his own. Lastly
greed can weaken the feminine role by guilt. She feels guilty about causing the death of King
Duncan through her greed for the wealth that comes with royalty. She voices her guilt one day
by stating, “The Thane of Fief had a wife, where is she now, what will these hands never be
clean?” (Shakespeare 5.1.37-38). Greed can be dangerous to those who cannot cope with the
consequences that are involved, as demonstrated by Lady Macbeth.
People always want more. Similar to Macbeth’s circumstances, greed has a way of
working its way into a passion that someone has, and it may very well ruin their reasoning or
mind. It also may switch the masculine and feminine roles based on passion because
throughout history the woman has always been characterized as being more passionate about a
subject than man would be. Although there are many other motifs in The Tragedy of Macbeth
such as violence, murder or even the outside influences of supernatural forces like the witches,
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the two that carry the most importance in the play are of the masculine and feminine roles and
reason versus passion because of the way they show that greed can affect a person.

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Morrison 1

British Literature, Period 2

Greed: The Tragedy of Macbeth

throughout the play.

gaining power to the throne. He plans to kill King Duncan by thinking,

“If th’ assassination

Could trammel up the consequence, and catch

With surcease, success; that but this blow

Might be the be-all and the end-all – here” (Shakespeare 1.7.2-5).

supporting her husband by silently praying,

“ Thou’dst have, great Glamis

And that which rather thou dose fear do

Than wishest should be undone” (Shakespeare 1, 5, 20-23).

minute of his being thrusts / Against my near’st of life” (Shakespeare 3.1.167-18).

towards his King.

back away from the plan by asking Macbeth,

“From this time

Such I account my love. Art thou afeard

To be the same in thine own act and valor

As thou art in desire?” (Shakespeare 1.7.39-41).

consequences that are involved, as demonstrated by Lady Macbeth.

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