Greed in Macbeth
Greed is the excessive desire to acquire or possess more, and it is also one of the biggest creators of tragedy. This is so vividly shown in both the novel The Sun Also Rises and in the play Macbeth. In The Sun Also Rises, this greed is directed toward a person, Lady Brett Ashley. Five men; Mike, Jake, Pedro, Bill, and the Count, are fighting to be with her throughout the book. In Macbeth, this greed is directed toward power as Macbeth wanted to become King, and what he does to become it. However, this greed led to the collapse of each character. Lady Ashley left all five men, leaving them devastated, while in Macbeth; an opposing army overthrew Macbeth. In both stories, greed drives the main character to do something, which is then achieved, but eventually leads to the fall of him. The Sun Also Rises and Macbeth, greed causes the ultimate downfall of the main character.
Macbeth and Jake are led by greed to have ideas and thoughts that they should not have. Jake's greed was driven by Brett's physical beauty, once he saw her, he could not resist having her for himself. This is proven in the quote: "Brett was damned good-looking. She wore a slipover jersey sweater and a tweed shirt, and her hair was brushed back like a boy's. She started all that. She was built with curves like the hull of a racing yacht, and you missed none of that in that wool jersey." (Page 29-30) This is showing his lust for Brett, as he exaggerates her looks comparing them to other things. This is comparable to Macbeth, when the three witches tell Macbeth that he is going to be King. This causes him to be greedy and he wants to believe them. However, he is not supposed to think disloyally to the King, and in those days, plotting against the King is considered like plotting against God. For example, when Ross informs Macbeth that he is the Thane of Cawdor, and after Banquo warns Macbeth not to trust the witches, Macbeth speaks aside and contemplates that he might be King, and then realizes
Macbeth and Jake are led by greed to have ideas and thoughts that they should not have. Jake's greed was driven by Brett's physical beauty, once he saw her, he could not resist having her for himself. This is proven in the quote: "Brett was damned good-looking. She wore a slipover jersey sweater and a tweed shirt, and her hair was brushed back like a boy's. She started all that. She was built with curves like the hull of a racing yacht, and you missed none of that in that wool jersey." (Page 29-30) This is showing his lust for Brett, as he exaggerates her looks comparing them to other things. This is comparable to Macbeth, when the three witches tell Macbeth that he is going to be King. This causes him to be greedy and he wants to believe them. However, he is not supposed to think disloyally to the King, and in those days, plotting against the King is considered like plotting against God. For example, when Ross informs Macbeth that he is the Thane of Cawdor, and after Banquo warns Macbeth not to trust the witches, Macbeth speaks aside and contemplates that he might be King, and then realizes
Bibliography: Shakespeare, William, "Macbeth" Trenton Publishing Hemingway, Ernest, "The Sun also rises" High Styme Publishing