It is impossible to achieve happiness through actions motivated by greed and blind ambition. This is one of several themes explored in William Shakespeare's famous play, Macbeth, but it is probably the most relevant to modern society, which is so obsessively focused on achieving an idealized vision of prosperity. The theme is illustrated most effectively in the conversation between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth before the palace banquet, which shows that evil begets evil, guilt is a paralyzing burden, and wrongdoing leads to a haunting fear of retaliation. The story of Macbeth and his wife, who betray their country and their moral principles to elevate their status, serves as a warning to all those who believe they can be satisfied with the success achieved at the expense of others. In the speech between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth before the banquet, it becomes clear that evil deeds facilitate the perpetration of other evils. For example, near the end of the conversation, Macbeth appeals to the dark night: “Undo and tear asunder that great bond / That makes me pale!” (III, ii, l. 54-55). In this quote, Macbeth invites the forces of evil, represented by the dark night, to help him kill his friend Banquo. He senses that Banquo is suspicious of his recent actions and therefore poses a risk to his new exalted status. To hide the violent nature of his rise to power, Macbeth must perform increasingly desperate and violent actions, making it difficult for him to enjoy the benefits of his authority. Macbeth's discontent with his position is so significant that he prays for the death of one of his most faithful friends. Another example that shows that evil begets evil is found in... the middle of a sheet of paper... Discovered that he is a traitor, Macbeth becomes anxious and paranoid, which prevents him from achieving the happiness he had imagined when he decided to kill King Duncan. In conclusion, William Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, contains many themes, but none are more applicable to today's society than the idea that happiness cannot be achieved through acts motivated by selfishness and greed. The conversation between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth before the dinner successfully clarifies this thematic statement by illustrating how immoral actions give rise to further immorality, guilt punishes individuals for their crimes, and evil actions instill fears of retaliation. In a world increasingly obsessed with individual fulfillment and prosperity, the tragic story of Macbeth and his wife is crucial to understanding the fallacy of these harmful ideals..