Macbeth Ambition Essay Plan

Ambition Essay Plan

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.

àMacbeth and Banquo have just learnt that Macbeth is Thane of Cawdor which confirms the witches prophecy

àBanquo says that the stories told but the witches may be attempts to manipulate Macbeth

àAre the witches dictating the men’s destinies or do men maintain the ability to avoid or affect the prophecies being presented?

àBanquo contends that the witches are actively exploiting him and Macbeth yet he also notes that they ‘tell us truths; which would seem to imply that nothing they recount is false

à The resolution comes in a similarly paradoxical phrase ‘honest trifles’ that ‘betray’à Banquo means that aspects of the witches prophecies are true but that those components are ultimately insignificant

à Believes that instruments of darkness’ will use the prophecies to gain control over him and Macbeth and manipulate them

à Banquo argues that he and Macbeth should resist believing the witches

à This beliefs posits a worldwide view which humans can act freely from the influence of supernatural forces. 

à Shakespeare uses two characters mixed responses to present two different ways of viewing the supernatural forces in his work, as either manoeuvring or merely recounting fate. 

Stars, hide your fires!
Let not light see my black and deep desires.

àAfter hearing that Duncan will visit his castle he fins himself…