Ambition In Macbeth

1004 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Literary analysis of lady macbeth

William Shakespeare is known for his own and unique way of conveying and using tragedy and drama throughout his text. With the use of drama as a way to keep his audience attention shakespeare ultimately leads up to his grand and distinctive finals which are usually tragic. In the play The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare there are many events that play a big part and lead up to the main tragedy, Macbeth the protagonist of the play is portrayed as a hero at the beginning, and is then influenced by an evil ambition to get what he wants. In a theme of tragedy the story or play is followed by many misfortunes, catastrophes or disastrous events. The play The Tragedy of Macbeth follows this dramatic and tragic theme by using asides, the …show more content…

Macbeth’s ambition was not only to become king, he to keep the throne no matter what cost, and when he remember the prophecy the witches had told Banquo he felt threatened by his son becoming king and the witch tell Macbeth three new prophecies that will lead him to his tragic death. “He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor To act in safety. There is none but he Whose being I do fear…”(3.1.53-55). This quote shows how Macbeth fears of Banquo, the way he acts so brave but is always being careful of his every move and Macbeth states that he does not fear anyone but Banquo. This is a tragedy because he is killing someone because he is afraid of losing the crown for his own ambition of staying king. The witches inform Macbeth about three new prophecies that will lead him to his death and he could die if these prophecies become true. “Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet I’ll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate. Thou shalt not live; That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, And sleep in spite of thunder.” (4.1.83-86). This quote shows how Macbeth is not worrying about what the witches are informing him about and it also shows how he trusts the prophecies that he is being told. This show how dramatic the witches make the scene and it also show the beginning of a

Show More
Related

  • Ambition in Macbeth

    1798 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the play of “Macbeth”, Shakespeare gradually and effectively deepens our understanding of the themes and most importantly the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The main theme of Macbeth is ambition, and how it compels the main characters to pursue it. The antagonists of the play are the three witches, who symbolise the theme appearance and reality. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relation is an irony throughout the play, as most of their relation is based on greed and power. This is different from most of Shakespeare’s other plays, which are mostly based on romance and trust. There is also guilt that leads Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to the final consequences of the play. As the progresses, the constant changes in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are exposed.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Figurative Language In Macbeth

    1119 Words  | 3 Pages

    This anger exposes how Macbeth will do anything to maintain his power. Macbeth continues to think about how he wont have anyone to pass his crown onto while thinking about Banquo’s sons he states, “ Only for them; and mine eternal jewel/ Given to the common enemy of man,/ To make them kings” (3.2.67-69). Macbeth uses a metaphor to compare his soul to a jewel. Jewels are seen as one of the purest things in the world he says that he gave his away to evil, meaning that he gave his purity away by killing and only for Banquo’s sons. As he begins to regret killing Duncan he also shows anger towards Banquo and his sons as he fears that they can derail his power. The last line of the soliloquy is “Rather than so, come fate into the list,/ and champion me to th’utterance” (3.2.70-71). The quote foreshadows the future the words “champion” and “th’utterance” put together means fighting till death. Through saying this Macbeth is explaining that he will fight for his power until he dies. Macbeth also personifies fate by saying it will come into the list. This could mean that Macbeth wants to alter his fate and change what the witches told him. This quote shows how Macbeth desperately wants power and will fight till death to keep it. The use of foreshadowing and metaphors showing Macbeth's anger helps show Macbeth's dedication to his power, and his resentfulness towards someone he once called a

    Read More

  • Examples Of Arrogance In Macbeth

    843 Words  | 2 Pages

    Consequently Macbeth’s decisions on how he let himself believe what he wanted to let his arrogance cloud his judgement, and he let all of his common sense out the window, along with his chance to remain king. This play and the characters in it teach us to not believe everything we hear and to not act hastily to get what we want in life without thinking of the

    Read More

  • Theme Of Ambition In Macbeth

    1035 Words  | 3 Pages

    Macbeth is willing to twist destiny and change the prophecy to protect his ambition, asking about his downfall to try and prevent it. The three witches’ prophecies strengthen Macbeth’s ambition; the first prophecy makes Macbeth realize his ambitions, and the second prophecy displays his willpower to protect that ambition. Being over-ambitious brought about the demises of not only Macbeth, but his family as well as the many people he killed in order to bring about his rise to power. This theme was demonstrated through several motifs, including hallucinations, blood, and prophecies.

    Read More

  • Ambition And Pride In Macbeth

    729 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are myriad fine lines in life, seemingly unattainable happy mediums that we endeavour to find, and spectrums that we attempt to exist in between. As sentient beings, we are continually evolving, and yet we are always searching for something that will remain constant in our often haphazard lives: Balance. Without it, one may see structure within their life deteriorate, as an overwhelming sense of chaos begins to percolate day to day existence. When we fail to achieve balance, adverse effects soon transpire. In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Macbeth, the type of balance being discussed is that of ambition and pride. The author suggests that ambition and pride are both respectable qualities to possess, and can coexist within a person

    Read More

  • Unbridled Ambition in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    2198 Words  | 5 Pages

    Where is there a page in William Shakespeare's tragic play Macbeth which does not present the selfish virtue of personal ambition. This paper addresses the problem of ambition in the drama.

    Read More

  • Duality Of Ambition In Macbeth

    861 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ambition and desire are double-edged notions present in all who crave success and power. While ambition is most often associated with unfavorable greed and overwhelming need, people who express this desire are simultaneously praised for being goal-oriented and steadfast in achieving their goals. In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, this duality of ambition is explored through the character of Lady Macbeth. In the play, Lady Macbeth’s husband, Macbeth, is prophesied to be king, and in order to expedite his path to the throne and their combined rise to power, Lady Macbeth plots to murder the current King Duncan. Throughout her Act I soliloquy, Lady Macbeth reveals not only her malevolent and scheming nature, but also profound determination

    Read More

  • Macbeth Ambition And Ambition

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    To achieve a goal you need to dream it, set your mind to it, and accomplish it. This explains how Macbeth 's speedy rise to the throne. Macbeth makes quick work of becoming king because he sets his mind to the ambitions he holds, and accomplishes them with Lady Macbeth 's support pushing him. However, sometimes harmless ambitions set in motion a path of negative and harmful actions required to achieve them.

    Read More

  • The Isolation of Macbeth

    1318 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...le Macbeth tells them that ‘every man be master of his time’ so that he can ‘keep alone’. By choosing to isolate himself and not inform Lady Macbeth of his plans to murder Banquo we see how Macbeth feels as if he can’t even trust his closest companions. After turning his back on Lady Macbeth, Macbeth becomes fixated not only on the prophecies of the witches but when he hints to Lady Macbeth that ‘a deed of dreadful note’ will fall upon Banquo and his son he talks like the witches. This shows how Macbeth has turned his back on seeking council from his lords and advisors and begins to act as a king who instead of rationally thinking things out, he chooses to justify his reasons on prophetic predictions from a world of sorcery.

    Read More

  • The Relationship Between Macbeth and the Other Characters

    1301 Words  | 3 Pages

    As Macbeth got more powerful, he relies more on the witches’ advice and trusts them more, causing him to follow his destiny to his downfall. Macbeth understands that the witches "ha...

    Read More

  • Ambition In Macbeth Essay

    926 Words  | 2 Pages

    Just like any of us, Macbeth’s ambition caused him to be easily influenced. Based on the text, the witches say to Macbeth and Banquo, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!” “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee Thane of Cawdor!” “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, that shalt be king hereafter!” After the witches speak his prophecy, Macbeth with great interest and desire then asks to here more about what the witches have to say. Soon after Macbeth was given the name Thane of Cawdor, he believed what the witches said had some truth to it causing his ambition to be influenced by the wicked weird sisters. When Macbeth tells his wife, Lady Macbeth about the prophecy, Macbeth’s ambition then faces Lady Macbeth’s influence. According to the

    Read More

  • Macbeth Ambition Analysis

    809 Words  | 2 Pages

    This is evident in (III, i, 47 – 50) where Macbeth says “.To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus. – Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be fear’d.” this demonstrates Macbeths fear and the threat he faces. Macbeth says that Banquo’s royalty of nature should be feared, through this we are able to understand that Macbeth has evidently lost his grasp on his moral conscience and begins to take down any threat he sees, even if that threat is his best friend. Macbeth goes on to refer to Banquo as his enemy and although he could kill him himself, he fears to offend mutual friends they may have (III, i, 115 – 120).

    Read More

  • Ambition And Greed In Macbeth

    523 Words  | 2 Pages

    Macbeth shows how greed and ambition can bring down a person as well as others and how the changes of power occur because of loyalty and betrayal. Macbeth is the play’s main unhappy character. The play tells of Macbeth's greedy thirst for power is a dangerous trait.

    Read More

  • Ambition in Macbeth by Shakespeare

    783 Words  | 2 Pages

    Words are the basic elements of the English written language. With words, one can say precisely what one wants to say, a skill that Shakespeare has mastered. In Macbeth, he carefully chooses each word so as to say exactly what he wants to say, and often leaves these words open to the reader’s interpretation. One such carefully chosen word is the word “slave,” a simple word meaning “someone entirely under the dominion of a person or an influence” (Random House, 674). Although this word appears only four times within the play, it’s importance should not be underestimated. Every time that Shakespeare chooses to use the word “slave” he is using it to show a “slave of ambition,” an important symbol within the play.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Ambition In Macbeth

    954 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Macbeth, Shakespeare confronts audiences with universal and powerful themes of ambition and evil along with its consequences. Shakespeare explores the powerful theme of the human mind’s decent into madness, audiences find this theme most confronting because of its universal relevance. His use of dramatic devices includes soliloquies, animal imagery, clear characterisation and dramatic language. Themes of ambition and mental instability are evident in Lady Macbeth’s reaction to Macbeth’s letter detailing the prophecies, Macbeth’s hallucinations of Banquo’s ghost and finally in the scene where Lady Macbeth is found sleep walking, tortured by her involvement.

    Read More

More about Ambition In Macbeth

Open Document