Ambition Portrayed in Macbeth and The Crucible

The Emanation of Over Aspiration

In the myth of Icarus, the renowned artisan Daedalus and his son Icarus defied the gods in an act of hubris by flying, defying their mortal limits. Daedalus and his son flew with the aid of improvised wings composed of feathers and wax. Daedalus warned his son not to fly too low or too high or else the wings would be drenched by the waves or the wax would be melted by the sun. However young Icarus, filled with pride and ambition, while enjoying the act of flight, flew too high and the heat liquified the wax adhering the wings together. Icarus then plummeted into the Aegean Sea and drowned. (Shmoop editors) As seen in the myth of Icarus, his pride and youthful ambition coerced him to desire more, he was aware of the consequences previously indicated by his father yet he still opted for more. Just like any other circumstance, an excess of ambition can be a detrimental trait. Ambition is a common thread portrayed in both Macbeth, by William Shakespeare and The Crucible, by Arthur Miller that can be distinguished in a variety of similar and adverse ways such as ambition out of desperation, instilled ambition and ambition towards power.

Foremost, ambition is a common thread portrayed in both Macbeth and The Crucible that can be distinguished in a variety of similar and adverse ways such as ambition out of desperation. In Macbeth, desperation is a predominant trait that coerces characters to act ambitiously. An example of this desperation can be seen when a vindictive Macduff solely desires Macbeth who bereaved him of his family. “Oh, I could play the woman with mine eyes/And braggart with my tongue! But, gentle heavens,/ Cut short all intermission. Front to front/ Bring thou this fiend of Scotland ...

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... can be distinguished in a variety of similar and adverse ways such as ambition towards power.

In retrospect, ambition is a common thread portrayed in both Macbeth and The Crucible that can be distinguished in a variety of similar and adverse ways such as ambition out of desperation, instilled ambition and ambition towards power. Miller and Shakespeare exhibit the costs of over ambition quite similarly. And although the consequences of the actions a person commits are often assayed before the action is executed, why do people pursue such kismet regardless?

Works Cited

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York: Penguin Group Penguin Books USA Inc. 1982. Print.

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. New York: Washington Square Press. 1992. Print.

Shmoop Editorial Team. "Daedalus and Icarus Summary." Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 7 Apr. 2014.