Desire and It's Consequence

Within In Cold Blood and Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the desires of individuals act as incentives that manipulate the choices a character makes. However, these desires are seldom attained. Perry exemplifies this notion. After his discharge from the military, he departed for Alaska to aid his father in building “Trapper’s Den Lodge” (134). The two believed as Perry states “we’d make a fortune” (134). Unfortunately, the fortune did not arrive, as the “huntsmen did not materialize” ( 135). The dollar signs that clouded the eyes of Perry and his father then caused the end of their relationship. By consuming their thoughts with the prize of wealth, they each received a devastating loss. Perry and Dick also believed that they were going to gain capital by robbing the Clutter house. It was supposed that the Clutters had ten-thousand dollars hidden away in their house, but sadly did not. Rather than obtaining this wealth, Perry and Dick took away the lives of a family of four, and eventually lose their own lives. Again, the reward proves to be less than what is lost. While in Macbeth the particular desire is not blatantly stated, the image of Macbeth becoming king would result in great wealth and power. Lady Macbeth recognizes, from the prophecy given by the witches, this potential. She and Macbeth then plot to kill the king. Evidently the life of Kind Duncan will be lost. However, it is still unclear as to what the outcome of the murder may be, it can be predicted that there will be negative repercussions. Through the events that took place within In Cold Blood, and the upcoming events in Macbeth, it can be concluded that a reward does not come without great harm.