Macbeth Ambition Essays

  • Ambition in Macbeth

    551 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ambition in Macbeth A key issue involved in Macbeth is ambition. Ambition is created when determination gets out of hand. It finds its most significant expressions in the plays two main characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The main reason why it all gets started is because of the witches' interference by putting suggestions into Macbeth's mind. Lady Macbeth's ambition forces him to act on these ambitions as well. The couple proves that unchecked ambition will ultimately destroy.

  • MacBeths Ambition

    685 Words  | 2 Pages

    The thematic importance of ambition is revealed throughout MacBeth in a manner that is not always instantly visually evident to a conscientious reader. Although it is responsible for MacBeth’s rise to power, his “vaulting ambition” is also to blame for MacBeth’s tragic downfall. MacBeth would not have been able to achieve his power as King of Scotland, or have been able to carry out his evil deeds, if it was not for his ambition. In these instances, ambition helped MacBeth achieve his goals to a certain

  • Macbeth - Ambition

    964 Words  | 2 Pages

    killing of Duncan begins with the witches prophesying that Macbeth will be king. Macbeth wants to fulfil this prophecy due to his high ambitions. However, the prophecy is fulfilled only because Lady Macbeth leads her husband through the barriers. It is Macbeth’s wife who causes the death of Duncan. Lady Macbeth acts as Macbeth’s superior while the murder of Duncan occurs. Lady Macbeth has high ambitions for her husband. She understands that Macbeth has a lust for the throne. However, she fears that her

  • The Tragedy of Ambition in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    1159 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Tragedy of Ambition in Macbeth Shakespeare's tragic play, Macbeth, shares common themes with many other stories and actual events. Many scandals, both historic and current, can be linked to greed, ambition, and abuse of power.  Typically, the key figures are motivated by, and are inevitably destroyed by, ambition.  This is also the case in Macbeth, where ambition leads to the downfall of the once great character, Macbeth. William Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, is a play about a man's

  • Corruption and Ambition in Macbeth

    2120 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Power of Corruption and Unbridled Ambition in Macbeth Very few producers of art can actually let their works claim the appellation 'classic.' For to create a piece of work - literature, art, or poetry, that stands the test of time, that proves the author's premise relevant not just in the period when he created it, but also in the generations that follow, is not an easy task. The works of William Shakespeare (1564-1616) have, more than once, proved worthy of the title 'classic.' Not

  • 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

  • Unprincipled Ambition in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    2206 Words  | 5 Pages

    Unprincipled Ambition in Macbeth The Bard of Avon saturates the pages of the tragedy Macbeth with ugly feelings of ambition - unprincipled ambition which is ready to kill for itself. Let's thoroughly search out the major instances of ambitious behavior by the husband-wife team. Samuel Johnson in The Plays of Shakespeare explains the place of ambition in this tragedy: The danger of ambition is well described; and I know not whether it may not be said in defence of some parts which

  • Macbeth Ambition And Ambition

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    accomplish it. This explains how Macbeth 's speedy rise to the throne. Macbeth makes quick work of becoming king because he sets his mind to the ambitions he holds, and accomplishes them with Lady Macbeth 's support pushing him. However, sometimes harmless ambitions set in motion a path of negative and harmful actions required to achieve them. Macbeth 's hasty rise to the throne is due to obtaining the knowledge of the future and possessing an overpowering amount of ambition (Shakespeare). When he hears

  • Unbridled Ambition in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    2198 Words  | 5 Pages

    Unbridled Ambition in Macbeth 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. In "Memoranda: Remarks on the Character of Lady Macbeth," Sarah Siddons mentions the ambition of Lady Macbeth and its effect: [Re "I have given suck" (1.7.54ff.)] Even here, horrific as she is, she shews herself made by ambition, but not by nature, a perfectly savage

  • Ambition In Macbeth

    631 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, ambition controls the lives of the characters. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s ambition cloud their judgment and lead to their downfall. Both characters use a negative ambition to make decisions and commit actions. Macbeth’s hunger for power triggers his tragic flaw, ambition. He is on a high from murdering Macdonwald. The king praises him, “o valiant cousin! worthy gentleman!” (Shakespeare I, ii) and this gets to his head. He is named Thane of Cawdor but Macbeth wants more, and

  • Ambition In Macbeth

    888 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Nowhere can we see the essential humanity of Shakespeare more clearly than in Macbeth, as he shows that the darkest evil may well be human, and so, though horrible, understandable in terms of our own lives and therefore pitiable and terrible” (Shanley, 2011). The destructive impact of ruthless political ambition manifested in the main characters of this play, makes Macbeth one of the darkest plays and most unsettling Shakespeare has ever produced. It allures the reader to examine the heart of a

  • Free Essays - Blind Ambition in Macbeth

    1277 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the reasoning of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is completely subverted and undermined by their insatiable ambition.  Macbeth was at first reasonable enough to keep his ambition in check, however it eventually became to strong for even Macbeth and therefor over powered him.  To the contrary, Lady Macbeth was overcome by her ambition from the very beginning.  Reasoning was abandoned after the decision to kill Duncan was made.  At that point we see no

  • Ambition In Macbeth

    655 Words  | 2 Pages

    Macbeth was “the innocent flower, but [was] the serpent under it” (1.5.72-73). He was a good-natured man turned evil at the hands of his desire for something greater. In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, he uses the repetition of “nature” and Macbeth’s ultimate demise to express how unmonitored ambition can lead to the corruption of a good person. In the beginning, it seemed like Macbeth was just ambitious. After hearing the witches predictions, he wanted to make them happen. He had “vaulting

  • Ambition In Macbeth

    1129 Words  | 3 Pages

    to have ambitions that succumb to the thoughts put in their head by the ideas they are surrounded by? In Macbeth written by William Shakespeare one can see a strong warrior named Macbeth become a tyrant through his acts of ambition caused by the people that he is surrounded by and his beliefs in weird sisters. Because of Macbeth’s desire, an individual can see change of ambition through positive and negative acts of himself and people around him. In the beginning of the play of Macbeth believes

  • Ambition In Macbeth

    1017 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, several evil deeds are committed out of sheer ambition. While the protagonist, Macbeth ultimately pays the price for these sinful acts, one can argue that Macbeth was manipulated into doing many, if not all, of the crimes. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth is easily influenced to commit all of the immoral acts in this play. At first Macbeth becomes influenced by the three witches and their leader Hecate due to his naive and trusting nature, Macbeth gets controlled

  • Example Of Ambition In Macbeth

    1122 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ambition means an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth; and the willingness to strive for its achievement (dictionary.com). Throughout history there have been many examples of ambition. There have been ambitions people all the way in since the beginning of time. An example of ambition is Adolph Hitler; he had such a strong desire for the perfect race he was not going to let anyone get in the way of it. Another example would be Walt Disney and

  • Macbeth Ambition Essay

    561 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the play Macbeth, ambition plays a big part, specifically in Macbeth’s and lady Macbeth’s lives. Macbeth’s ambition to be the best overtakes his real character, causing him to change tremendously. He will do anything to overstep others, which makes his character stand out. Lady Macbeth is ambitious for Macbeth’s sake, causing him to become ambitious. Shakespeare highlights the theme that devastation follows ambition when ambition oversteps moral boundaries, which is relevant not only in this play

  • Causes Of Ambition In Macbeth

    667 Words  | 2 Pages

    What Ambition Cause Many fictional stories include a tragic hero, which is also considered a protagonist. A tragic hero refers to a person who is high standing at the beginning of the story, but goes through a downfall as the story goes on because of their character flaws. An example of a flaw that a character may contain is ambition. Being ambitious can lead to self destruction because the character strives to accomplish their goals. William Shakespeare's novel Macbeth demonstrates a character,

  • Essay On Ambition In Macbeth

    536 Words  | 2 Pages

    reach that goal. In the story of Macbeth, the main character is a thane who is told that his fate lies in becoming king of Scotland and is willing to do anything he can to make sure that it happens. As the play progresses, Macbeth’s character is affected by his growing ambitions, which ultimately lead to his demise when they drive him towards heartlessness, insanity and arrogance. After the witches’ prophecy of Macbeth becoming Thane of Cawdor comes true, his ambition to be king of Scotland like the

  • Ambition and the Downfall of Macbeth

    1329 Words  | 3 Pages

    Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare’s most powerful and emotionally intense plays. Macbeth, once known for his courage and bravery is transformed into a ruthless tyrant. His wife, Lady Macbeth, once known for her strength and great ambition is soon engulfed by guilt and sensitivity greatly weakens her. As the tragic hero Macbeth is overcome by tensions in his criminal act and the reactions by his conscience (Nix). In the opening act of this play Macbeth is a solider who has just returned from

  • Ambition in Macbeth

    Macbeth is a tragic play written by the poet and playwright William Shakespeare, with a theme that captures the consequences of harboring extreme ambition and resorting to treachery to fulfil one’s desires. It is regarded as one of Shakespeare’s finest works, often adapted into theatre productions, books, and movies across the world even today.

    The Story of Macbeth

    On his way back from a war he has just won, the Scottish general Macbeth meets three witches who prophesize that Macbeth is destined to become the king of Scotland. Although Macbeth’s companion, Banquo, laughs at the predictions, Macbeth is thrilled to hear of this possibility. He goes home and tells his wife about his encounter with the witches. Lady Macbeth, who is equally thrilled, plots the murder of King Duncan with her husband. They manage to kill the king and smear his blood on his guards’ daggers, blaming them for the murder. The king's sons manage to escape and flee on hearing about their father’s death. Consequently, Macbeth becomes the king. More murders follow in an attempt to bury the truth. Banquo is also murdered by Macbeth, following which, he is driven mad by the appearance of Banquo’s bloody ghost. Overcome with guilt, Lady Macbeth kills herself. All hell breaks loose, and eventually Macbeth is killed by Macduff, the Thane of Fife.

    Through this play, Shakespeare explores how far a person can go to fulfill his ambitions. The thirst for power can corrupt even the best of minds, which is portrayed by Macbeth as he crosses the moral line and resorts to murder to fulfill his ambition, which took seed with the witches’ prophecy. The play, Macbeth, also underlines that there are consequences to each and every action. Apart from Macbeth, Shakespeare wrote multitudes of tragic plays like Hamlet, Othello, Julius Caesar, and more.

    Interested to know more about this theme in Macbeth? Check out our Macbeth essays and research papers that discuss and analyze the theme of ambition.