Ambition is a trait that can be found within everyone, however sometimes it can drive people to partake in actions they generally would not do, and can drive people to a point where it leads to bad choices. As shown in ‘’Macbeth’’, one of William Shakespeare's more intense, powerful and bloody plays. Macbeth, who was once known as an honest, courageous and honourable soldier, quickly transformed into a selfish, cruel and ruthless tyrant. When one is under the influence of unchecked ambition, and the corruption of power, one partakes in action that have substantial and devastating consequences for oneself and the people around him. In the play ‘’Macbeth”, William Shakespeare uses the the main character Macbeth to make bad choices through unchecked …show more content…
ambition and guilt. The three prophecies that the witches told Macbeth and Banquo at the beginning of the play result in having a substantial outcome on the rest of the play.
Macbeth takes in all he was told and executes the prophecies and executes them to a degree where it affects him negatively and results in his death. ‘’ All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter! ‘’ (Act 1 Scene 3, 48) the witches sparked Macbeth’s ambition to become powerful and gain authority. ‘’Stay you imperfect speakers tell me more; by sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis’’ (Act 1 Scene 3, 70) this quote sparked his ambition, Macbeth was intrigued and for the rest of the play, he was curious and did not know what the witches meant. After being told that he will have the title of being king, makes him change his behavior and act up as a tyrannous king. The quotation ‘’fair is foul and foul is fair’’ is a key paradox at the beginning of the play and foreshadows evil things to come as of that point in the play. It represents what happens in the play and that not everything is what it seems and what you think will happen doesn’t always happen and that represents …show more content…
Macbeth. Macbeth’s behavior, actions and emotions changed drastically throughout the play - but it all started when the first killing occurred.
The killing of King Duncan was the trigger point to a series of unfortunate events followed after this key event. Macbeth at this point in the play had already experienced glory, was awarded the title Thane of Glamis and the Thane of Cawdor but the power hungry Macbeth was not satisfied with those accomplishments. I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself And falls on the other.’’ (Act 1 Scene 7, 25) Macbeth figured that King Duncan was the man in his way to the throne and Macbeth’s theory from then on was to eliminate one of the men standing in his way. ‘’I go and it is done. The bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan for it is a knell, that summons thee to heaven or to hell. (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 1-3). A key turning point and start of Macbeth’s quest for the throne, at this instant Macbeth is awaiting a bell that signals weather Duncan goes to heaven or
hell The death of Banquo was a key component in the play - started as Macbeth’s close friend and dead at the end of the play. When Banquo and Macbeth met the witches, they were told "Lesser than Macbeth, and greater." "Not so happy, yet much happier." "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none" (Act 1 Scene 3, 65). Being told those three previews by the witches, left the two speculating what they really meant and questioning if the vague statements could be a reality. Having already killed King Duncan, Macbeth the newly appointed king was drawing suspicion from lots of the locals and Banquo being the second substantial death in a short period of time that left lots of people speculating. In the eyes of Macbeth, killing Banquo and Fleance had to be done, but not by himself of course, the dirty work for Macbeth could now be handed to someone else to do now that he is king. Macbeth viewed Banquo and his son Fleance as threats to his throne, but the murderers that Macbeth hired could not get the job done after all and Fleance fled and that caused major chaos for Macbeth. Macbeth also speculated that Banquo could see right through him and secretly knew that he was King Duncan’s murderer and would spread the world therefore destroying Macbeth’s kingminship.’’ I am in blood stepp’d in so far, that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er. ‘’ (Act 3 Scene 5, 137) Macbeth is second guessing his actions and that is when the theme of guilt comes into play and Macbeth cannot resist himself from acting crazily, which shows that his inner guilt cannot be hid inside of him. Macbeth realizes that since the beginning, he has changed so much due to plans that were not well thought out like the killing of Duncan he is second guessing that and now is second guessing killing his best friend. He transformed into an unlawful killer and can not stop. He knows he has done wrong, but it is truly too late to turn around and step back.
Many people seek power, even if it will bring undesirous actions. In some cases, individuals bring their own destruction when they want more than they need. People’s greed can lose their sanity and allow them to do scandalous actions they would have never done. As a courageous warrior greedy for power, Macbeth allows his ambition take over and assassins his friends and family. Ambition harms more than it can benefit when powers with greed. In the Elizabethan play, The Tragedy of Macbeth, William Shakespeare shows through the usage of blood that greedy ambition creates a guilty conscience to the mind and vengeance from the past.
Our main character Macbeth is very driven by his need for what he believes to be the truth. The play starts out with the quote “Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” (1.1.6) meaning nothing is, as it seems. This quote was from all three witches, who decided they were going to seek out Macbeth who at the time was Thane of Glamis and a prized solider on the battlefield. Macbeth at this time was looking for more in his life. The witches then gave him and his friend Banquo three prophecies. They were that he would become Tha...
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.
Until his death, King Duncan was misled by Macbeth’s false loyalty. When the Thane of Cawdor had been found guilty of being a traitor and was hanged, King Duncan thought so highly of Macbeth, that he gave the title to him. The Thane then ironically dies with pride while Macbeth dies a foe of Scotland. The King was under the impression that Macbeth was a loyal and brave soldier, calling him “O worthiest cousin” (1/4/14), but Macbeth was actually already planning to kill the King, “whose murder yet is but fantastical” (1/3/139). Even when Duncan goes to visit Macbeth, he praises the castle’s pleasant environment and hospitality, “This castle hath a pleasant seat” (1/5/1), but is totally unaware of Macbeth’s plans to murder him.
Macbeth’s ambition to obtain power convinces him that it is his destiny to become King of Scotland, and that he should do anything to fulfill that destiny, even if it involves him committing tremendously immoral acts such as murder. After Macbeth realizes that the witches may actually speak the truth due to the second prophecy (Thane of Cawdor) becoming true, he begins to have an eerie and frightening thought of him killing his king and friend, Duncan, in order to ac...
To begin, Macbeth experiences an internal downfall due to his ambition where he battle between his desires and moralistic values. Initially, the idea of attaining power over Scotland by killing King Duncan sparks a sense of fear and paranoia in Macbeth, however, his conscience struggles to take over his ambition: "that we but teach/ Bloody instructions, which being taught, return/ To plague the inventor. [...] I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Valuing ambition, which o'erleaps itself/ And falls on th' other-" (1.7.8-28). At this moment, Macbeth contemplates on killing King Duncan as he visualizes the long term consequences of committing the crime. The reader can grasp his moral judgement as he understands that by proceeding with the murder, he is only causing his own demise and punishing himself. With that b...
The one who thinks blindly following ambitions is the goal in life is being deceived by the illusion of the pursuit of objectives being the principle of human development. The prevailing notion of the relentless quest for attaining aspirations being the goal in life is profoundly dangerous as it deceives people into their downfall, and subsequently others as well. William Shakespeare uses his play, Macbeth, to outline the detrimental consequences of, in turn, pursing of a burning desire. The Vindictive pursuit of ambition about Macbeth's goal to become King becomes a virus within Macbeth's life which infects him, and those who are close to him, like Lady Macbeth, both in equal measure.
“Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others” – Niccolo Machiavelli Ambition can drive people to do spectacular things. It can also drive people to perform narcissistic actions. It all depends on the intent and value of the act. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, written in 1606, conflict is clearly driven by the vaulting ambition of the determined protagonist, Macbeth. When ambition begins to consume an individual, relationships deteriorate and conflict arises.
Among the greatest gifts that the renaissance produced was the eloquent and incredible Shakespearean plays. Written mostly in the 1590s these plays have been performed and admired countless times; entertaining mass audiences by providing interesting tales that explore the depth of human insights and the different universal themes. Among the many Shakespearean plays Macbeth, written in 1606, stands out with its short composition but multiple themes. This tragedy narrates the tale of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s quest to grasp ultimate power by ignoring their morals and succumbing to their dark desires, which ultimately leads to their downfall. This tragic play portrays the desires, needs, and temptations that accompany ambition in men and women. However the ambition in Macbeth is blind, it does not abide to the morals, but it allows space for dark actions as means necessary for accomplishment. Blind ambition serves as the main driving force that drives Macbeth to subdue to his dark desires, defy his noble behavior, and ultimately his downfall.
Lady Macbeth and the witches have both planted the seed of ambition inside of Macbeth Because of Lady Macbeth’s wicked behavior, which resulted in Macbeth’s evil transition; he was led to become a murderer. Macbeth should not be held accountable for his actions completely since she is the one who lead him towards committing both crimes. The major theme ambition and greed for power have played a key part in Macbeth’s fall from a great Scottish general to a murderer. People should be content on what they have and not strive for things which destroy a person even if we are influenced. In this case Shakespeare’s thought proving play of Macbeth.
Seeking for greater power, Macbeth murders Duncan who is the king at that time, which caused a great pain for the kingdom. Duncan is a great king, but just not a so good human reader. He has never been aware of Macbeth. He never have a thought that Macbeth might be a danger, who is willing to kill him for the throne. On the other hand, Macbeth does not accept to be just a general for the rest of his life. He wants a greater power, higher position than he is having at the time. Because of the suggests from the trio witches: “ All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!/ All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!”(1.2.49-50), Macbeth has the thinking about killing the king to take his throne. By calling Macbeth the Thane of Cawdor, they give Macbeth the thought that being a king is his fate. On the night Macbeth is planning to murder Duncan, the Old Man see many strange events: “And Duncan’s horses (a thing most strange and certain),/ Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, /Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out/ Contending ‘gainst obedience, as they would/ Make war with mankind” (2.4.14-18). It creates a scary feeling in the kingdom, and means something bad will happen to the kingdom.
Unchecked ambition, along with other traits, comes upon Macbeth in the form of a curse and carries on throughout the story. The curse is put on him by three witches who tell him of multiple prophecies concerning his future. His unchecked ambition causes enough fear for him to kill those who he is loyal to, and to have Banquo and his son murdered. Later on in the story the witches present him with three ghosts that show him his inevitable doom that he misunderstands and misuses as a confidence boost.
Unchecked ambition to attain goals is conveyed in William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, as not having proper deservance of these goals will lead to demise. He exemplifies this by illustrating Macbeth’s downfall, as he sought supremacy and predominance for himself because of of his reckless ambition motivating him to obtain power using easier, but more wrongful alternatives. Macbeth’s metamorphosis of change is a result of numerous outside influences used to foreshadow occurrences in short-lived tyrannical reign as king.
By listening to and fueling their own ambition, by committing despicable acts that caused their own guilt, by following free will instead of letting fate take its course, and by committing unnatural deeds, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth ultimately led to their own destruction. Ambition can be a good thing; it can help people get what they want and can help drive
The Corrupting Power of Unchecked Ambition The main theme of Macbeth - the destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints - finds its most powerful expression in the play's two main characters. Macbeth is a courageous Scottish general who is not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds, yet he deeply desires power and advancement. He kills Duncan against his better judgment and afterward stews in guilt and paranoia. Toward the end of the play, he descends into a kind of frantic, boastful madness.