Ambition is a central theme in William Shakespeare's play, Macbeth. The play portrays how unchecked ambition can lead to the downfall of individuals and even entire nations. The play follows the story of Macbeth, a Scottish general who receives a prophecy from three witches that he will become king. Driven by his ambition, Macbeth murders the current king, Duncan, and embarks on a path of destruction that ultimately leads to his own demise. This essay will explore the theme of ambition in Macbeth and how it drives the actions of the characters. The play opens with the three witches, who prophesize that Macbeth will become king. This prophecy serves as the catalyst for Macbeth's ambition, as he becomes obsessed with the idea of becoming king. He initially resists the idea of murder, but his ambition eventually overcomes his moral compass. Lady Macbeth, Macbeth's wife, also plays a significant role in fueling his ambition. She urges him to take action and murders Duncan herself when Macbeth hesitates. …show more content…
He orders the murder of his friend, Banquo, and his son, Fleance, out of fear that they will threaten his reign. He also becomes obsessed with maintaining his power, even if it means killing innocent people. His ambition blinds him to the consequences of his actions, leading to his eventual downfall. Lady Macbeth also suffers from the consequences of her ambition. She initially encourages Macbeth to kill Duncan, but she is haunted by guilt and becomes increasingly unstable as the play progresses. She ultimately takes her own life, unable to cope with the weight of her actions. The theme of ambition is not limited to the Macbeths. Other characters, such as Macduff and Malcolm, are also driven by their ambition to overthrow Macbeth and restore order to Scotland. While their ambition is ultimately justified, it also leads to violence and
As the play continues, Macbeth's desire for the throne amplifies, ultimately leading him to murder the king and manipulate those around him to secure his maintained his crown. The prophecy becomes self-fulfilling as Macbeth's ambition drives him to carry out terrible acts, which in turn causes his descent into tyranny and, eventually, his tragic downfall. Through this clever foreshadowing, Shakespeare illustrates the corrupting nature of ambition and
Macbeth is a narrative of conflict. When it comes to killing everyone who stands in his way of becoming king, Macbeth is driven. When the first of the three witches' assumptions that he will succeed as Thane of Cawdor comes true, he places his faith in their words and prophecies. Lady Macbeth, Macbeth's wife, encourages him when he feels he has gone too far and plots for success, which is crucial to Macbeth's desire. The Macbeth themes that are used throughout the story in figurative language are ambition, guilt and revenge.
The play Macbeth by William Shakespeare explores the concepts that belong to ambition as well as kingship. The play happens to be about Macbeth, an existing Scottish nobleman who happens to be motivated by his aspiration to become king. Scotland happens to be where it takes place. The play demonstrates how ambition becomes unchecked as well as how power corrupts. Macbeth happens to be an existing person who happens to be consumed by desire.
The murder of Duncan is a major turning point in both Lady Macbeth's and Macbeth's relationship, this eerie search for power would lead to their demise. This conflict showcases Lady Macbeth's ruthlessness and ambitious nature “I would have given suck, and know/How tender tis to love the babe that milks me;/ I would, while it was smiling in my face, /Have plucked… had I so sworn as you have done to this.” (1.7.62-67). Although this contradicts her later thoughts “Had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done’t. ,” revealing that her steely determination does indeed have a thin line that she would not dare cross genuine remorse.
Ambition is a pro-dominant theme throughout this adventurous drama. To begin with, Macbeth was a brave and well-respected nobleman of Scotland but once he heard the witches’ prophecy, his ambition intensified. He was
Ambition is a major theme in William Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth. Throughout the play, Macbeth's unchecked desire for power and Lady Macbeth's ambition to become queen drive the plot forward. Macbeth's initial ambition is revealed in Act I, Scene 3 when the witches prophesy that he will be "king hereafter. " This sparks Macbeth's desire for power and sets the plot in motion. Macbeth's soliloquy in Act I, Scene 7 confirms his ambition when he admits that it is "vaulting" and that he is willing to risk everything to become king.
Macbeth is the Shakespearean play that features the triumphant uprise and the inevitable downfall of its main character. In this play, Macbeth’s downfall can be considered to be the loss of his moral integrity and this is achieved by ambition, despite this, Lady Macbeth and the witches work through his ambition, furthering to assist his inevitable ruin. Ambition alone is the most significant factor that led to Macbeth’s downfall. The witches are only able to influence his actions through Macbeth’s pre-existing and the three witches see that Macbeth has ambition and uses it to control his action. Ambition alone is displayed throughout the play to be the most significant cause for Macbeth’s downfall.
Ambition for power is also notable as the most crucial theme in the plot of Macbeth’s tragic flaw. The three bearded Witch’s distort Macbeth's morals and stimulates his ambition for power through the act of killing those who are a threat to his throne, as seen through their prophecy in Act 1, "... All, hail, Macbeth, though shalt be king hereafter" Prior to the killing of Duncan by Macbeth, Shakespeare
In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is an ambitious Scottish warrior who receives a royal prophecy from the three witches that he will become the King of Scotland. The first step in Macbeth's rise to power is the death of the current King, Duncan. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth contemplate carrying out Duncan's murder when visiting their castle, but Macbeth decides against it. To influence Macbeth into the murder, Lady Macbeth plays with the strict gender roles set by society. While initially, Macbeth appears to embody the ideal man, Lady Macbeth manipulates him by questioning his manhood, resulting in mayhem.
Ambition, being a driving force within the human spirit, has always been a long studied topic of fascination. It is an innate desire in all people to strive for more, to reach heights that were previously thought impossible. There is a notable distinction between different types of ambition, however. Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor famous for his philosophical work once said that: “A noble man compares and estimates himself by an idea which is higher than himself; and a mean person, by one lower than himself. The one produces aspiration; the other ambition, which is the way in which a vulgar person aspires.
Even after listing all of the reasons why not to kill Duncan and coming to the conclusion that it is only ambition driving him, he still quickly succumbs to Lady Macbeth’s
Ambition is hailed today as a positive feature: one that top CEOs, actors, and politicians all possess. However, ambition can be a flaw when one lets it run rampant. In William Shakespeare’s classic The Tragedy of Macbeth, the title character Macbeth is led down a fatal path due to prophecies, greed, corruption, but most importantly ambition. Macbeth’s ambition is a driving factor in the play; the more ambitious he becomes, the deeper into evil he falls. His unchecked ambition is his tragic flaw and can be seen developing as the story progresses.
Macbeth’s true character reveals his natural cruelty when Lady Macbeth persuades him to kill Duncan for
Beliefs in supernatural elements and ambitions for power can lead to psychological downfall in people’s life. During the Renaissance, from early 14th century to the late 16th century, the beliefs in supernatural elements were influenced by storyteller Bards from Middle Ages. Renaissance is the time period where everything was advancing, new ideas were being developed, and writers like Shakespeare were producing their own masterpieces. William Shakespeare was an English playwright, actor, and poet. When Queen Elizabeth I died, her cousin King James VI of Scotland took over the throne of England and become King James I of England.
Macbeth Essay Ambition helps us get up in the morning, to strive for better and achieve our goals. Too much ambition however, can consume a person and make him do evil or extreme acts to achieve his goals. In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, Macbeth’s title as a great and honourable warrior is replaced with that of a tyrant whose name is feared by all. After Macbeth’s encounter with the three witches and some persuasion from his wife; Macbeth’s ambition consumes him with darkness making him do immoral acts to achieve and satisfy his ambition.