In Shakespeare's Macbeth, Macbeth contemplates murdering his king and friend, Duncan. Not long after a vicious battle, Macbeth receives a prophecy from three witches and he is told that he will assume the throne. Their prediction encourages Macbeth to act upon is secret desire to obtain the throne, as does his insistent wife, Lady Macbeth. Macbeth must make a choice to pursue his desires but his thoughts revolve around the consequences of committing the crime. …showed first 75 words of 1004 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1004 total…troubled by plotting to kill him. He nearly convinces himself that he cannot kill Duncan except, that he is interrupted by his wife, Lady Macbeth. The fact that his speech is interrupted holds a certain amount of significance because it suggests that he is easily persuaded. Just as he is moved by the prophecies of the three witches, Macbeth's wife soon wipes clean his slate of reasoning and renews his thirst of ambition once again.