Macbeth Ambition Research Paper

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Impact of Ambition on self and others Desires, needs, and temptations are all normal in the sense that they are part of the human nature. However, the question remains; how far is one willing to go, to achieve these yearning wants? When an individual loses all sense of their morals, they are only then driven by ambition; thus loosing themselves as individuals because who you are as a person, is a reflection of one’s beliefs. This idea is portrayed in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, where the constant disputes between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s aspirations and principles, destroy every bit of their morals. Hence, their plan to murder King Duncan is the stepping-stone that ultimately …show more content…

As a result, Macbeth and his wife’s desire to gain superiority and wealth empowers them, hence, blinds them from their humanity. Contrastingly, Macduff uses his morals to drive his ambition, who in return gains success and restores hope for Scotland. Macbeth’s vaulting ambition to become the King of Scotland drives him to abandon his moralistic values, even if it means to inflict harm upon others, regardless of how close they are to him. When he encounters the witches who present him with the prophecies, he learns that he has become the ‘Thane of Cawdor, fulfilling two of the witch’s prophecies. Macbeth figures out that the last prophecy may also become true. However, he does not take any actions himself to inherit the crown instead, leaves it to fate because he believes “if chance will have me king/why chance may/crown me/without my stir,” (Act 1.3). However, as the play proceeds, Macbeth becomes more ambitious through the influence of his wife Lady Macbeth who understands that Macbeth has a lust for the throne except, fears that her husband would be a coward when attempting to murder Duncan and overthrow him. Lady Macbeth regards her husband as an individual who is “full of the milk of human kindness”. …show more content…

Lady Macbeth’s first response to Macbeth’s letter; telling her about the witches’ prophecy, is to kill King Duncan. While Macbeth is hesitant at first, she does not fluctuate; not once, which shows how ruthless she is. Lady Macbeth does not care about the effect of her actions upon others, ultimately herself as well. When Macbeth questions her plan to kill the king she responds, “look like th’ innocent flower/but be the serpent under’t,” (Act 1.5). At this point, Lady Macbeth is only considering after herself, however, as the guilt starts to catch up to her, she begins to lose all sanity when she says, “out dammed spot!,” (Act 5.1) to something that isn’t even there-blood. This proves her inability to think rationally, which makes her go insane and thus is the reason what causes her

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