Macbeth's Ambition Is Dangerous

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 also one of the most ambitious character as he does many crimes to achieve the power and become the King. Macbeth’s ambition started when the witches told him about the prophecies because of these prophecies he killed King Duncan and planned to kill Banquo. Before Macbeth killed the King, even though he was really ambitious he still thought before killing Duncan this shows ambition in a positive way. However, he still killed King Duncan this shows ambition in a negative way. The first time Macbeth met the witches one thing they said to Banquo was that his son will rule the world in the fear that someone will take his kingship he tried to kill Banquo’s son.

In Macbeth, when he is told a prophecy by the weird sisters, “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (1.3.53), it is arguable this is the most critical point that led Macbeth down the rabbit hole of murder and ruthless ambition. The witches make a claim stating, “[Macbeth] that shalt be king hereafter” but do not supply how he will achieve it. Macbeth’s actions are caused by his ambition and twisted interpretation of the prophecy. This once-in-a-lifetime event is a golden opportunity that Macbeth seizes which causes his ambition; the prophecy fulfills itself.

The play Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare about an ambitious nobleman, Macbeth, who is given prophecies from three strange witches. He is motivated to make these prophecies come true regardless of the consequences. In the play, Macbeth has unchecked ambition which eventually leads to his death. For example, one of the prophecies proclaims he will become king. Instead of letting this naturally happen, the ambitious Macbeth thinks he should kill the king and take the throne right away.

Macbeth in a very significant aside remarks, “Glamis and Thane of Cawdor: / The greatest is behind.” (I iii 117). He then begins to dream of being King, that in order to do so he has to kill Duncan, to whom he had been loyal so long is swept aside as a necessary deed. Macbeth is aware of the dangers of overzealous ambition: “I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself / And falls on th’other” (I vii 25-28). But the temptation to render the witches’ prophecy into reality ultimately proves to be too strong for Macbeth to curb his ambition”(Afzal 319).

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.

When the first part becomes true, Macbeth takes the prophecy as a fact, and begins his violent and bloodthirsty quest to make the prophecy true. Macbeth is an ambitious character, who establishes at points in the story that he truly does want to become the king, and ensure his children have a future as royalty. Despite this, he is a man conflicted between ambition and conscience, showing that he does have a sense of morality. However, Macbeth chooses to abandon his principles because he feels justified in achieving his goals. This leads him to commit terrible atrocities in the name of ambition.

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a testimony to the difference between greed and ambition, good and evil, and right and wrong. The story shows that when one becomes obsessed with power, they will often resort to methods of manipulation and retaliation to achieve their desired outcome. In the case of Macbeth, he is approached by the Three Witches who inform him that he will one day become Thane of Cawdor and the King of Scotland. Additionally, they inform Macbeth’s comrade Banquo that his sons will one day be kings.

The ambition in Macbeth serves as a warning about the dangers of ambition and the need of restraint and self awareness. In Macbeth the idea of ambition’s impact on one self is the moral corruption and loss of self that can result from it. During the play we can see Macbeth change from being a loyal and honorable soldier and leader slowly into a ruthless and power hungry tyrant, the complete opposite of what he was. As Macbeth becomes more consumed by his ambition, he loses sight of his moral compass and becomes willing to do anything to achieve his goals.

Despite his reservations, Macbeth’s ambition to attain his desires becomes greater than his moral compass or regard for the after-life, causing him to not only carry out the murder of the king and attain the crown, but destroy any friend or foe that threatens his newly acquired power. Macbeth’s ambition to maintain his powerful role as king clouds his judgement and leads to his disastrous end as his murderous actions to maintain his ambition have irreparable consequences, so powerful, that those opposed to Macbeth overcome and destroy him. Due to Macbeth disregarding his hesitations and acting on his ambition to become king, he has to consolidate his power, ridding himself of powerful forces he believes threaten his reign as king, going to extreme measures to make sure this is achieved, no matter how violent or irreparable the damage. After coming to the decision to murder King Duncan regardless of the consequences, everyone around Macbeth knows there is some kind of foul play, but Macbeth, being the murderer, is not the main suspicion for

Ambition is a powerful trait which can drive an individual to greatness; however, one must be careful not to let their ambition drive them so far that they end up falling over an edge. In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the protagonist, Macbeth, allows his ambition to control him to such an extent, that he loses sight of what is right and wrong. Macbeth's ambition of becoming king blinds his moral compass, and leads him into a spiral of committing evil after evil. Macbeth's ambition, which is often cited as his hamartia, significantly deteriorates his mental stability, which is evident from his indecisiveness, immoral judgements, and guilty conscience.

In the tragedy Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is a tragic hero and a noble figure under King Duncan, who, after hearing three prophecies, becomes ambitious. The three prophecies are presented by witches who explain how he will become Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis, and king after that. Although he is initially in disbelief, Macbeth begins to develop a need for power and status. These needs become stronger, causing him to resort to extreme measures such as murder. He begins down the slippery slope of murder, starting with regicide and then takes innocent lives; ultimately, the play ends with his own death.

No boasting like a fool; This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool, (iv, ii, 149-153) This shows macbeth's ambition because he is willing to kill kids and a whole family just so he can stay king. Macbeth is a tragic hero because he meet that first requirement which is Hamartia This shows the that Macbeth is very desperate to stay king. By now, Macbeth has changed a lot.

Macbeth’s ambition is what is causing him to intervene with his prophecy and pursue his goal (rather than leave it to chance). In a way, it is Macbeth’s own “black and deep desires” that make him kill in the first place as the witches never tell him to do so. Furthermore, apart from ambition, it is Macbeth’s own weak will and moral system that causes him to do the actions that result in his downfall. Macbeth’s weak will is undeniable and is illustrated before killing Duncan. “I have of spur/To prick the sides of my intent, but only/Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself/And falls on the other” (I, VII, 25-28).

As a result of Macbeth’s ambition, he creates a path of destruction, thinking that in the end, he will gain ultimate power, authority, and success but really ends up establishing his own death. Macbeth’s ambition steers Macbeth in an aggressive and murderous trail to the throne. Macbeth’s ambition is his tragic flaw in which he suffers from. After the witches prophecy, Macbeth’s crave for authority led him to kill King Duncan. When Macbeth was crowned King, Macbeth entered dangerous paranoia, frightful that anyone with bloodlines to the throne, was a threat.