The Effect of Greed for Power on Regretful Actions
Everyone possesses greed, and everyone longs for power. Especially in individuals next-in-line to the throne, to soon become a ruler seems exciting and becomes a goal to work towards. However, the state of mind that makes a position of power a priority in one’s life often causes the individual to commit regretful actions that have permanent effects. In the seventeenth century tragedy of Macbeth, William Shakespeare reveals that people commit unthinkable actions out of the great desire for power, which causes internal grief of the individual as well as irreversible harm of the victims.
The commission of immoral, power-driven actions results in great internal struggle and grief …show more content…
Macbeth’s grief builds up in him and causes him to commit more and more immoral …show more content…
The whole kingdom of Scotland weeps over the homicide of King Duncan after Macbeth murders the king out of greed: “O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!” (II.iii.73-74). Shakespeare enunciates the tragedy of the crime through the reactions of the townspeople. To see their royal ruler dead horrifies all the citizens of Scotland. The regicide not only rids the kingdom of King Duncan, but negatively affects the whole town when they see their ruler gone. Additionally, the dreadful news of the ordered death of Macduff’s family by Macbeth brings tragedy to Macduff and many others, which includes Ross. Ross, as a messenger, depicts Lady Macduff and her son’s death as “the heaviest sound” only worthy of a “howl... in the desert air” because nobody should hear such news (IV.iii.237, 225). Shakespeare strengthens the sorrow of the deadly event and builds empathy for Macduff. Ross does not want to upset Macduff with the awful news because he knows that Macduff will express hurt at the situation and anger towards Macbeth. To lose a loved one proves hard for everyone to say and accept, as Ross and Macduff display. The murders of King Duncan and Macduff’s family, which Macbeth causes, proves to have irreversible effects on the citizens, the kingdom, and the monarchy, just as all actions that reflect one’s greed bring irreversible