Robbins 1

Ashley Robbins

Mr. Clark

Honors British Literature 12

13 December 2017

The Greed, Power, and End in Macbeth

William Shakespeare conveys the relationship between greed and power in several ways

throughout his seventeenth century play titled The Tragedies of Macbeth. The tragedy

demonstrates that greed drives the thought that material things, such as power, give one purpose,

which hinders the recognition of what is truly important in the end. The main character,

Macbeth, becomes King of Scotland by unrighteous acts to say the least. Although Macbeth is

faced with such greed and consumed by his own power, Shakespeare gives a glimpse of

humanity through other characters and shows their different approaches to this prevalent quality

of man which affects one’s interpretation of life as a whole.

Macbeth’s greed proves to be his only motivator in life. When the witches foreshadowed

Macbeth would take the throne, he immediately finds purpose and power here. His greed drives

him to continuously strive for power over everything and he goes to extreme lengths to ensure

his authority over Scotland. It all started when Macbeth murdered King Duncan one night. Still

greedy for the throne, he kills Banquo, one of his only friends, because he found Banquo and his

children as a threat to his power. This greed lead Macbeth to think that his purpose in life was

defined by how much power he had.

Shakespeare gives a comparison between two characters who have completely different

reactions to the witches’ portrayal of the future. The two very different reactions ultimately have

an effect on what the characters feel is truly important in the end. Macbeth wants to know more
 Robbins 2

about his power and glory as King of Scotland. Banquo recognizes that there is something better

awaiting in the end. He knows that the witches are giving them reasons to be greedy and says

they should not be used as a source to look into the future. Banquo states, “And oftentimes, to

win us to our harm,/ The instruments of darkness tell us truths,/ Win us with honest trifles, to

betray’s/ In deepest consequence./ Cousins, a word, I pray you” (Shakespeare I.iii.123-127).

Banquo refuses to give into the evil sources because he knows there is something better beyond

this life that focuses on irrelevant power. Although the witches are telling Banquo and Macbeth

the truth, Banquo knows this will lead to greed and take a turn for the worse in the end.

In addition to his conversation with the witches, Macbeth says life is meaningless when

he finds out Lady Macbeth died. In this scene, Macbeth says some of the most famous lines of all

Shakespeare’s plays. He exclaims, “Out, out brief candle!/ Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor

player/ That struts and frets his hour upon the stage/ And then is heard no more. It is a tale/ Told

by an idiot, full of sound and fury/ Signifying nothing” (Shakespeare V.v.24-28). According to

Macbeth, life is an illusion with no purpose and everyday is a step closer to death. Therefore,

everything in between is simply insignificant noise because death is always the end.

Not only did Macbeth respond in such a dark and insensitive manner, but he did not even

ask how his wife died. Macbeth was so focused on protecting his crown that he failed to

acknowledge the unexpected death of his own wife. In contrast, when Macduff was informed

that Macbeth murdered his wife and children, he strived for revenge. Macduff ordered, “Bring

thou this fiend of Scotland and myself;/ Within my sword’s length set him. If he ‘scape,/ Heaven

forgive him too!” (Shakespeare IV.iii.233-235). Macduff wanted to put an end to Macbeth, the

devil of Scotland, so he could return the country to peace and harmony. Additionally, in his

conversation with Malcolm, Macduff implies that he believes there is a Heaven beyond this life.
 Robbins 3

He asks, “Did heaven look on,/ And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff,/ They were all

struck for thee! Naught that I am,/ Not for their own demerits but for mine/ Fell slaughter on

their souls. Heaven rest them now!” (Shakespeare IV.iii.221-227). Macduff questions if God saw

this and did not save his wife and children from being slaughtered. He acknowledges that there is

a God and Heaven beyond this world of greed by phrases like “Heaven rest them now!”

While Macbeth had the crown, he constantly wanted to control the future because his

power was all he had. Once Macbeth is killed, Malcolm prepares to take the throne righteously.

This new leader expresses his acceptance of God’s plan and what awaits one at the end of their

time. He uses this to promise Scotland that they will be returned to a peaceful state. Malcolm

said, “This, and what needful else/ That calls upon us, by the grace of Grace/ We will perform in

measure, time, and place” (Shakespeare. V.viii.71-73). The “Grace” Malcolm is referring to is

God. Under Malcolm’s rule, Scotland will do whatever they are called to do by God at the right

time and place according to His plan.

The many characters in Macbeth each take a different approach to the greed and power

very present in the world. Shakespeare is right that greed and power are very powerful attributes

and it is how one responds that affects their outlook on life. Through the character of Macbeth,

Shakespeare demonstrates that greed drives one to think that material things, such as power, give

one purpose, thus hindering the recognition of what is truly important in the end. Macbeth began

to see life as an illusion with no significance when he allowed his power to define him as a

person. Shakespeare uniquely portrayed Macbeth in this way to show that it is wrong to let greed

and material things take control because this can ultimately prevent one from seeing what is

really important at the end of the day. This is exactly why Shakespeare includes other characters

that acknowledge the danger in greed and power, and therefore accept that there is eternal life
 Robbins 4

beyond life on earth. He was brilliant to include Banquo, Macduff, and Malcolm in the play

because these characters each have a different response to greed and power compared to the

response of Macbeth. Banquo, Macduff, and Malcolm each understand that their purpose is not

defined by how much power they possess because there is a Heaven beyond this life that does

not focus on worldly possessions. Shakespeare is right to portray the two very common and

different responses to greed and power in Macbeth. His writing allows readers to understand the

importance of recognizing Eternal Life that awaits in the end.

Work Cited

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedies of Macbeth. Edited by Sylvan Barnet, Singet Classic,

1998.