Overambition: A Downfall in Macbeth and Dr. Jekyll

Have you ever thought about the possible results for someone who is overly ambitious? That’s exactly what is shown in the novels Macbeth and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In the novels Macbeth, written by the author, William Shakespeare and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, written by author Robert Louis Stevenson, that is exactly what is being presented to the reader. It is shown in many cases how characters, Macbeth and Dr. Jekyll, are drowning in a pool of ambition that soon overcomes them to the point where they face conflict not only with others surrounding them but themselves also. The story of Macbeth follows a noble Scottish soldier named Macbeth, who receives a prophecy from three witches saying that he will

Jekyll’s demise is their external conflict with another individual. A case where this external conflict is portrayed in Macbeth occurs between Macbeth and Duncan, king of Scotland, the only person standing between Macbeth and fulfilling the witches’ prophecy. The night Macbeth goes forth with the plan to murder King Duncan, he is standing over Duncan with the dagger clenched in his hand, “[he] [goes], and it is done: the bell invites [him]. / Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell / That summons thee to heaven, or to hell” (II.I.62-64). The time Macbeth has been waiting for has finally come, leaning over the king with a dagger in his hand, Macbeth says “summons thee to heaven, or to hell”, he is referring to the dagger, the weapon that will end Duncan’s life and send him to wherever it takes him, heaven or hell. Relating to The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this person versus person conflict sparks between Jekyll and Hyde. As Jekyll being the reason Hyde was created, he is responsible for all the horrific actions caused by Hyde. Jekyll often feels ashamed of Hyde and refers to him as a separate entity of himself. Hyde’s impact on Jekyll’s life has driven him to be overwhelmed by guilt and isolate himself from everyone he has ever cared of. Dr Jekyll declares that “[he] learned to recognise the thorough and primitive duality of man; [he] saw that, of the two natures that contended in the field of [his]

Both novels prove how one being overly ambitious will lead to their demise. In both novels, internal conflict is portrayed in a way that plays enhances both Macbeth and Dr. Jekyll’s inner conflicts help develop them throughout the story. In addition, the external conflict involving society is displayed in both Macbeth Hyde, how they’re overwhelmed with ambition that they lose track on their morals and values, that lead society to turn against them. Finally, the external conflict involving another individual is presented in both Macbeth and Dr. Jekyll, how they must overcome this conflict if they want to fulfill their ambitions. These are all reasons how one being overwhelmed with ambition can lead them to their