Shakespeare's Macbeth - Subversion of Reason by Ambition

1220 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: How is lady macbeth a reason behind macbeth's downfall

Macbeth: Subversion of Reason by Ambition

Throughout the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the reasoning of the central characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, is completely subverted by their insatiable ambition. At first, Macbeth is reasonable enough to keep his ambition under control. However, his ambition gradually becomes stronger and eventually overpowers Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is controlled by ambition from the very beginning. After the decision is made to kill Duncan, all rational thought is abandoned. Once the murder is planned, there is no serious questioning of the misleading predictions of the three witches. Macbeth even goes as far as to ask for the witches’ advice a second time - this second time would lead to his downfall. The decision to kill Duncan also signifies the last serious attempt at moral contemplation on the part of Macbeth. Throughout the novel we see evidence of reason being subverted by ambition thus resulting in the destruction of the Macbeths.

Macbeth, who initially is a very reasonable and moral man, cannot hold off the lure of ambition. This idea is stated in the following passage taken from Mark Scott’s Shakespeare for Students:

One of the most significant reasons for the enduring critical interest in Macbeth's character is that he represents humankind's universal propensity to temptation and sin. Macbeth's excessive ambition motivates him to murder Duncan, and once the evil act is accomplished, he sets into motion a series of sinister events that ultimately lead to his downfall (Scott, 236).

Macbeth is told by three witches, in a seemingly random and isolated area, that he will become Thane of Cawdor and eventually king. Only before his ambition o...

... middle of paper ...

...nfall.

Bibliography

Blakemore Evans, G. (Editor). The Riverside Shakespeare. Houghton Miffin Company. Boston, Massatsus. 1974

Bradley, A.C. Shakespearean Tragedy. Toronto: Penguin Books Canada Ltd., 1991.

Campbell, Lily B. Shakespeare’s Tragic Heroes, Slaves of Passion. Gloucester: Peter Smith Publisher Inc., 1973.

Frame, Douglas. Night’s Black Agents. Thunder Bay: La Mancha Books Ltd., 1967.

Hawkes, Terence. Twentieth Century Interpretations of Macbeth. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc., 1977.

Hunter, G.K. “Macbeth in the Twentieth Century.” Aspects of Macbeth. Ed. Kenneth Muir and Philip Edwards.

Knight, G. Wilson. The Imperial Theme. London: Methuen & Co Ltd., 1965.

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Oxford: OUP, 1994.

Scott, Mark W. (Editor). Shakespeare for Students. Gale Research Inc. Detroit, Michigan. 1992

Show More
Related

  • France and Russia: Poverty and Revolution

    803 Words  | 2 Pages

    Note: This is accessible when one has internet access. The website is very easy to use and it is very reliable.

    Read More

  • Analisis of The State of the Union 2014 Speech by President Obama

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

    The State of the Union 2014 speech by President Obama is going to be analyzed. The president gave out this speech on 28th January 2014 in Washington D.C. the speech was delivered before a joint session of the congress.

    Read More

  • Code of Ethics Comparrison

    1778 Words  | 4 Pages

    Clinton, T. & Ohlschlager, G. (2002). Competent Christian counseling: Foundations and practice of compassionate soul care. Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook Press.

    Read More

  • Blind Violence and Desire in Macbeth

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Ed. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. New York: Washington Square Press New Folger Edition, 1992

    Read More

  • The Breakdown and Restoration of Order in Macbeth

    1297 Words  | 3 Pages

    Campbell, Lily B. Shakespeare's Tragic Heroes, Slaves of Passion. Gloucester: Peter Smith Publisher Inc., 1973.

    Read More

  • Pragmatic Assimilation Of Christian Counseling

    1404 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ot be based on my own understanding and interpretations. Yes, I must fuse personal knowledge into counseling sessions, but I have to discipline myself to heavily rely on God for ultimate confirmation and decision making with clients.

    Read More

  • Unbridled Ambition in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    2198 Words  | 5 Pages

    Where is there a page in William Shakespeare's tragic play Macbeth which does not present the selfish virtue of personal ambition. This paper addresses the problem of ambition in the drama.

    Read More

  • The War Inside The Character of Macbeth

    1104 Words  | 3 Pages

    Two important themes in the play Macbeth are power corrupts good morals and unchecked ambition leads to destruction. Shakespeare uses Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to show how power corrupts good morals; and motifs to illustrate the self-punishment of crime. From the beginning of the play until his death Macbeth’s character changes drastically. At first he is seen as an honorable man, but becomes a power hungry, paranoid man. Lady Macbeth had an immense influence on the corruption of Macbeth. Her lust for power impacted Macbeth in many ways. Both characters were over taken by unchecked ambition and a greed for power.

    Read More

  • Corruption of Unchecked Ambition in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    1294 Words  | 3 Pages

    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. Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, pursues her goals with greater determination, yet she is less capable of withstanding the repercussions of her immoral acts. One of Shakespeare's most forcefully drawn female characters, she spurs her husband mercilessly to kill Duncan and urges him to be strong in the murder's aftermath, but she is eventually driven to distraction by the effect of Macbeth's repeated bloodshed on her conscience. In each case, ambition helped, of course, by the malign prophecies of the witches is what drives the couple to ever more terrible atrocities. The problem, the play suggests, is that once one decides to use violence to further one?s quest for power, it is difficult to stop. There are always potential threats to the throne?Banquo, Fleance, Macduff?and it is always tempting to use violent means to dispose of them.

    Read More

  • Integrating Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling

    1434 Words  | 3 Pages

    The author maintains that the Christian counselor must not only utilize these practices in their counseling sessions, but must also live a Christian life, modeling the attributes of Christian values and core concepts to their clients (McMinn, 2011). The book begins with a discussion of prayer and scripture, and the way these elements can be successfully integrated into the counseling relationship, providing several models for the use of prayer as a counseling technique (McMinn, 2011). The book also outlines ethical dilemmas associated with the use of prayer and scripture as counseling techniques, including misinterpretation, overuse, and lack of training (McMinn, 2011). When applying Christian counseling techniques, McMinn suggests comparing techniques to scripture to ensure that therapeutic techniques are found in scripture directly, or are implied (McMinn, 2011). The counselor should use caution to avoid implementing techniques that are inconsistent with Biblical teachings (McMinn,

    Read More

  • Contrast Effective Biblical Counseling Concepts

    1423 Words  | 3 Pages

    In order for Biblical counseling to be effective, a counselor must be completely prepared to work in the ministry of helping others. Beyond the worldly challenges, a Christian counselor also faces humanistic therapeutic false views of secular therapy. Christian counselors maintain a focal point in guiding people to living a life that is full of spiritual richness and maturity. Yet, secular therapist focuses on self-gratification and self-actualization. As Christian ministry helpers, you must be living by the truth and exemplify a Christ-centered life. Crabb (1977) developed a counseling model that teaches us how to develop individualized life maps that will guide people to spiritual growth, maturity, and a long-lived Christ-centered life. It is essential as Christian counselor’s we are able to bring people to understand that the elucidation to their problems God has the answer prearranged scripturally. Furthermore, enlighten the client that their inclusive security is in Christ Jesus that our negative life events have no precedence, as HE will accept us no matter the circumstances. Scripture offer direction to lay helpers “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).

    Read More

  • Ambition in Macbeth

    1798 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • powmac Macbeth’s Obsession with Power

    995 Words  | 2 Pages

    Foakes, Francis. "A New Perspective of Macbeth." Readings on Macbeth.   Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1999. 58-64.

    Read More

  • The Corrupting Power of Ambition in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

    1335 Words  | 3 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • Theme Of Ambition In Macbeth

    954 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ambition is an underlying theme throughout Macbeth, it is the tragic flaw in human kind, bound to lead to disaster. In Act 1 scene 7 this is one of the most interesting scenes of the play. This is the last time as we see Macbeth a freeman, he can still make the decision whether he wants to be good or evil. The choices that are preventing Macbeth are committing the murder, fear of the consequences on this earth, variety of feelings of kinship, loyalty, and hospitality he admires Duncan’s goodness as he is not the most moral character but hes power is what urges him on that are motives of good A soliloquy, which is found in Act 1, scene 7, in the lines 1-28, Macbeth debates whether he should kill Duncan. The imagery that is in this speech can be dark and moody for most people. Some examples we hear of imagery are “bloody instructions,” “deep damnation,” and a “poisoned chalice”—and suggests that Macbeth is aware of how the murder would open the door to a dark and sinful world. When the soliloquy ends, Macbeth goes to resolve to not kill Duncan but this only...

    Read More

More about Shakespeare's Macbeth - Subversion of Reason by Ambition

Open Document