Ambiguity and Equivocation in Macbeth :: Free Macbeth Essays

Ambiguity and Equivocation in Macbeth          Macbeths voluntary misinterpretation of the ambiguity and apostasy of the witches relates to the plays theme, which states thatuncontrolled desire for power often leads to irregular or violent actions,resulting in death  and or destruction. After the first of the witchesprophecies comes true, Macbeth begins to believe in their truth.  However,he also believes that the prophecies must all lead to his enrichment andempowerment. To that end, he twists the witches words to fit his ownpurposes, ignoring the possibility that the prophecies might have other,less fortunate meanings. This voluntary misinterpretation, affiliated inpursuit of power, leads Macbeth to perform certain actions which result inthe death of the king, Macbeths friends, and eventually his own death.         From the beginning of the play, Macbeth desires great power. LadyMacbeths statement to Macb eth that When you durst do it, whence you were aman (I.vii.55) suggests that she and Macbeth have contemplated andpossibly committed murder for the sake of advancement before. Macbethprovides further support for this in his reaction to the witches prophecythat he provide be king. After Macbeth is made Thane of Cawdor, he realizesthat the witches were right, and immediately begins to ponder the otherpart of their prophecy. My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,(I.iii.153) he thinks, bringing murder to the previous of his mind almost assoon as the witches are proven right. Later in the play, Macbeths desirefor power, encouraged by the witches, leads him to kill the king and have a bun in the oventhe throne.         Macbeth and his wife use ambiguity and equivocation themselves inpursuit of power.         All our service / In every point twice done, and then done        double, / W ere short and single business to contend / Against        those honors deep and broad wherewith / Your Majesty loads        our house. (I.vi.17-21) With this announcement, Lady Macbeth states that if all she could do in hisservice had been done four propagation over, it still would not do honor to theking. The ambiguous nature of this statement is that it is true even thoughshe has not done everything she could. It is true, and so she gains thekings trust and grace of God through ambiguous honesty even though she plansto help Macbeth murder him.  Macbeth issues a similar statement in thekings presence he tells him Ill be myself the harbinger, and give wayjoyful the hearing of my wife with your approach his statement, like LadyMacbeths, is technically true, but bears murderous intent. He will tell