Ambition In Macbeth

Macbeth is a tragic drama written by the world’s pre-eminent writer, William Shakespeare. This play portrays the psychological and physical damage caused by the unrestrained political ambition of Macbeth, a well-renowned Scottish general. He was prophesized by a trio of witches that he will become King of Scotland, unbeknown to him that they are luring him into a false sense of security and power, which will ultimately crush him due to his over ambitiousness. Blinded by the drive to succeed, he murders the King and takes the throne for himself. The rest of the play follows the transformation of a loyal and gallant general compelled into realms of madness and paranoia while simultaneously sinking into the depths of despair to remain King. Shakespeare

It displays Macbeth’s feelings of betrayal and guilt when his conscience is overcome by his vile thoughts. This is exemplified when he says, “Stars, hide your fires/Let not light see my black and deep desires” (1.4.57-58). When he learns that King Duncan has named his eldest son, Malcolm, as his successor to the throne of Scotland, vicious and twisted thoughts of committing a regicide and usurping the throne for himself consume him. His conscience is shrouded by his wicked greed to become King which overcomes his initial reluctance to kill people to achieve it. The witches prophecies acted as a catalyst to ignite this desire. Darkness also exhibits the malicious and ruthless nature of Lady Macbeth. This is depicted when she says, “Come, thick night,/And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,/That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,/Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,/To cry, ‘Hold, hold!’” (1.5.53-57). She summons the darkness of the night to wrap itself in the darkest smoke from hell and blanket the Earth so that nobody will be able to find out her murderous intentions. A smoke so dark, that she herself nor the light from the heavens be able to see whom she murdered. She feels that nobody, including heavens, can stop her from committing this horrific crime and does not feel any guilt about it. Her alpha-personality gets the better of her and she has