Theme Of Ambition In Macbeth

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Morals are one's standard for how they behave, what is acceptable to do, and what is not. In William Shakespeare's Macbeth we see, unfortunately, how sometimes in order to achieve great success quickly, morals will be forgotten to let one become overwhelmed and taken over by their ambition. Macbeth starts the play with good morals, and as the play progresses he begins to question such morals, ending with his morals being cast aside in order to achieve and maintain success.

Before his ambition has consumed Macbeth he is slowly, but honestly, gaining success. Macbeth is happy and he is selflessly fighting for Scotland in the war against Norway, killing a traitor to the king, Macdonwald. He is rightfully the thane of Glamis and is not actively seeking a greater position. He fights nobly and morally and because of his bravery is gifted the title of thane of Cawdor by King Duncan. As the thane of Cawdor is still alive …show more content…

Before he goes to kill King Duncan, he is still questioning whether he should follow through with the plan to murder, but with the convincing of Lady Macbeth, he surrenders to his ambition. Although he goes against his morals by killing Duncan he has not completely disregarded his morals yet. When Lady Macbeth says he must go back to return the bloody daggers to the guards he says "[he'll] go no more. [He is] afraid to think what [he has] done" because his still existing morals are telling him that it was wrong. (2.2.65-7) Once being the one who defended the king against a traitor, Macbeth has had a role reversal becoming the traitor himself. He is in the midst of developing and becoming less focused on his morals compared to where his ambition can take him, while still trying to hold on to his original values. He is beginning to become more successful and to get there he had to let his ambition guide him, but he has still not let it engulf

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