Macbeth's Ambition Quotes

Macbeth does whatever it takes to achieve his own ambitions, including killing his King who stands in his way of becoming ruler. When Lady Macbeth recognizes that her husband can become king she immediately starts planning how he can achieve that. Her ambition combined with that of Macbeth’s, leads to the couple killing King Duncan. Often times the true intentions and thoughts of Macbeth come out in his soliloquies. During his soliloquy when he is contemplating murdering Duncan he states, “I am his kinsman and subject”(1.7.13). He knows that to do harm to his King would be wrong especially since Duncan is Macbeth’s host. Naturally the subject is supposed to respect his King- the kinsman is not supposed to try and do the king harm. Macbeth recognizes that Duncan has done nothing wrong as is seen in Act 1 scene 7 when he says, “Besides, this Duncan hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been so clear in his great office”(16-18). This shows that Macbeth is acknowledging the greatness and kindness of Duncan. If he were to kill Duncan then he would be killing a king who was good to him, which would be a major flaw to Macbeth. Since he recognizes that killing his king, who has done nothing wrong, is something that he should not do, but does it anyway shows that Macbeth has a weak inner conscience. The killing lessens his character because of the recognition of Duncan’s innocence.