The Nature of Humanity in Shakespeare's Works

The nature of humanity always forces individuals to choose between right and wrong. Sometimes, there is a conflict between personal desires and moral decisions. In the play Macbeth, William Shakespeare illustrates humankind as dark an immoral. He displays the negative side of the human side of human nature through three of the main characters. Not only in Macbeth but in the real world today does this portray. Forced loyalty and too much greed for power can lead to corruption of the mind. Banquo who appears to be noble but scrubs to his desires. Lady Macbeth reveals ambition that leads to her destruction of the mind.

Macbeth becomes engulfed in greed that leads to horrible deeds. Thus, Shakespeare emphasizes that reed overrules human kindness in human nature. Banquo reveals greediness in hunt of his desires. He reveals his first greed when he hears Macbeth's prophecies by the three witches. Banquo states: “My noble partner You greet with present grace and great prediction of noble having and royal hope, that he seems rapt withal speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear your favors nor your hate.” (I.iii.55-62). Banquo, who appears to be a nobleman, also displays his greed by wanting to receive a great prediction just like Macbeth. Banquo also exposes his overruling by committing the sin of omission. After the death of Duncan, Banquo talks to himself.

As the witch promised: “if there come truth from them as upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine Why by the verities on thee made good, May they be my oracles as well and set me up in hope?” (III, I,2-10). Banquo does not reveal the secret of the prophecies and his suspicion about Macbeth because Banquo believes that his prophecy will not come true if he reveals this information. Banquo makes a promise towards Macbeth that holds Banquo from spilling their secrets. There are some good qualities but also bad qualities in human nature that leads to a downfall. In addition, Shakespeare shows a much greater greed in Lady Macbeth. After hearing the news about the prophecies, Lady Macbeth tells her ambitions. “The raven himself is hoarse That cracks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlement. Come, your spirits That tend on mortal thoughts! Unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty; make thick my blood.” (I.v.36-41). Lady Macbeth shows the disgrace of a female character normally recognized as sympathetic and obedient during this time.

However, Macbeth comes upon an image of a female character that becomes mad in her desires her and Macbeth’s future. In addition, Lady Macbeth convinces her husband to act upon his desire and his fate. As she knows Macbeth does not have the will to actively pursue the throne, she manipulates him out of greed and wants: “Was the hope drunk from this time Such I account thy love. Art, thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and velour As thou esteem’s the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting I dare not wait upon I would, Like the poor cat I the adage? (I.vii.35-44). Not only does Lady Macbeth carry out her own role, she also whips Macbeth into the act to accomplish her want. Lady Macbeths natural humanity is shown when she is not able to kill Duncan herself because he resembles her father. This exemplifies that she is trying to overpower her human nature and allow her ambition to rule.

Though, even after accomplishing her goal, she is unsatisfied throughout the rest of the play. Lady Macbeth expresses her feelings, but not to Macbeth: “Nougats had, all’s spent. where our desire is got without content is sifter to be that which we destroy than by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy. [Macbeth enters] why do you keep alone, of sorriest fancies your companions making what’s done is done. (III.ii.6-14).

Even though her ways aren’t quite met, she tries to keep her emotion to herself to keep her throne. The greed in human nature is so strong that it can overtake morality. The New Orleans Saints were found to have operated a bounty system in which players were paid bonuses for, among other things, hard hits and deliberately injuring opposing players. Players showed “Greediness” by doing unlawful acts for a bonus. Just as Lady Macbeth.