Ambition can influence individuals to perform actions that result in undesirable and harmful consequences. In the 17th century tragedy Macbeth, William Shakespeare utilizes blood to describe how uncontrollable ambition leads to the downfall of a person; therefore, individuals face extensive consequences when they allow ambition to overwhelm them.
When individuals experience ambition, their lives can change drastically. Macbeth describes how his life begins to change when his ambition brings guilt into his life: “will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / clean from my hand” (II.ii.78-79). Shakespeare describes how ambition can lead to unavoidable regret. Macbeth takes many lives, and will never rid himself of his victims’ blood. However,
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Macbeth describes the difficulty of returning to his previous ways of life after he indulges in his uncontrollable ambition: “I am in blood / stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, / returning were as tedious as go o’er” (III.iv.168-170). Shakespeare describes the difficulty of quitting after reaching a certain point. Individuals decide how far they take an action, and determine the appropriate time to withdraw. Once individuals reach a certain threshold of ambition, however, they will have a challenging time when they attempt to return to originality. The thematic topic of blood explains how profound blood seeps, which relates to how ambition manipulates individuals’ morality. When Macbeth delves into his ambitions, he feels the need for revenge that leads to his downfall: “So is he mine, and in such bloody distance / that every minute of his being thrusts / against my near’st of life” (III.i.32-34). Shakespeare uses the thematic topic of blood to show how one responds to power. Individuals become paranoid and driven to uncontrollable ambition when gaining a large amount of power. People feel the need to ensure their position when risks threaten their power, which results in ambitions that can lead to their downfall in power. The use of “bloody distance” shows the hate and need for vengeance one can develop when put into a position of …show more content…
Macbeth loses his reign on the ambition he holds within, and releases his anger out on others; “seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword / his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls / that trace him in his line” (IV.i.172-174). The use of “edge o’ th’ sword” creates the thematic topic of blood in the near future. The uncontrollable ambition that Macbeth contains results in the murder of many people, thereby showing how individuals will stop at nothing for power, even murder of the innocent. One may act upon his or her feeling of greed, but rushed decisions may not have favorable results for the person. Macbeth feels remorseful for the actions he commits while unruly ambition controls him: “Stars, hide your fires; / let not light see my black and deep desires” (I.iv.57-58). The use of “black and deep” creates a cynical and tragic feeling, where individuals feel regret towards their ambitious impulses. One does not want the light, which represents the heavens, to judge his or her immoral actions. The consequences of these wrongful deeds can create guilt in the individual for what he or she has
You can see this when Macbeth comes home after killing Duncan and he is full of guilt due to the fact that he still has a human part in him and taking the life of another person pains him. The blood on the daggers that he used to kill Duncan remind him that he did kill someone. Macbeth can’t get that image out of his head for the time being, but after time he becomes more ambitious and loses the human side of him. All he is worried about now is getting everyone and everything out of his way. He doesn’t care about the blood that has to be shed or the lives that have to be taken. If he can stay in the power position then he is happy. You can also see this theme in Lady Macbeth when she says “..Making the green one red.” (2.2.81) Lady Macbeth ones to become evil and lose the human side of her just like Macbeth is. This allows her to arrange killings without feeling bad about it and gives he an excuse for the murders her and Macbeth are
Just like any of us, Macbeth’s ambition caused him to be easily influenced. Based on the text, the witches say to Macbeth and Banquo, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!” “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee Thane of Cawdor!” “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, that shalt be king hereafter!” After the witches speak his prophecy, Macbeth with great interest and desire then asks to here more about what the witches have to say. Soon after Macbeth was given the name Thane of Cawdor, he believed what the witches said had some truth to it causing his ambition to be influenced by the wicked weird sisters. When Macbeth tells his wife, Lady Macbeth about the prophecy, Macbeth’s ambition then faces Lady Macbeth’s influence. According to the
The concept of ambition as seen in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Adolf Hitler’s rule of Nazi Germany is the cause for both the rise and downfall of those whose ambition consumed them. When an individual or group is ambitious in gaining power by immoral ways, there is little to do to stop them from trying to achieve their goals. In Shakespeare’s time, those higher up in society such as nobles, wealthy land owners, and those of royal blood were constantly in search of more and more and would do whatever it took to obtain their desires. Macbeth was written to show how ones ambitions can over take morals and delude right and wrong. One of the most infamous men
For every occurrence there must be a motivation; this ideal is exemplified in Macbeth by Shakespeare. As this story progresses many ghastly murders unfold, furthering the ideal of how a simple drive for ambition can turn dark very quickly. Throughout this illustrious play, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth develop, and then suffer the consequences of their cold-blooded corruption of ambition.
Ambition is frequently seen as desirable - it provides purpose, motivation to work hard, and a goal to strive towards. Yet it also has a dangerous side, when it becomes too great and out of control. Although ambition is often positive, an excess of it can have detrimental effects. This unrestrained ambition is predominant in the tragedy Macbeth. In this play, Shakespeare employs the use of hallucination, blood, and prophecy motifs to emphasize the theme of ambition, which, when goes unchecked by moral constraints, wreaks destruction upon an individual. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hallucinate, which propels the consequences of ambition. Blood is shed in the pursuit of ambition, when desire for power overwhelms morality. Ambition is further
While in Hamlet and others of Shakespeare's plays we feel that Shakespeare refined upon and brooded over his thoughts, Macbeth seems as if struck out at a heat and imagined from first to last with rapidity and power, and a subtlety of workmanship which has become instructive. The theme of the drama is the gradual ruin through yielding to evil within and evil without, of a man, who, though from the first tainted by base and ambitious thoughts, yet possessed elements in his nature of possible honor and loyalty. (792)
What is the cost of ambition? For as long as history tells, ambition was a way for people to move forward with their lives and advance past others. Whether it means competing for a promotion or fighting to stay alive, this emotion gives people the motivation and perseverance to work through their obstacles and reach their goal. Although ambition allows many great opportunities and rewards, it can create selfish, egocentric people who do not take much consideration of others. Ultimately, if ambition consumes one’s thoughts and desires, their actions will not only cause chaos within themselves, but also within the lives of the people around them. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, ambition played a significant role throughout the play. Lady Macbeth was
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, but in our world today.
Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them.” The main character of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth, is filled with ambition. Macbeth is a Shakespearean play in which Macbeth is given a prophecy by three witches which tells that he will eventually become king of Scotland. Macbeth, filled with ambition to fulfill these predictions, let’s nothing get in his way. The principles within Macbeth direct him and his ambition to perform very bad acts. Between Macbeth and his wife, the theme of ambition without morales leads to absolute destruction is abundantly present, especially as the play progresses.
In Macbeth, as with all of plays, often are trying to make a point about the human psyche and how different people react differently to different situations. Macbeth, being a tragedy, deals with these ideas, but uses certain techniques to help the audience better sympathise, and to better show Macbeth’s dark descent downwards. Guilt, ambition and the influence of the supernatural all use an array of techniques to help the audience fully understand the concepts and messages Shakespeare was trying to push through this play. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s internal struggle with guilt is further underpinned in the play by the use of various techniques. One such example is the use of symbolism, specifically blood.
“Sometimes we want what we want even if we know it’s going to kill us.” Donna Tartt. In the story of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth kills everyone around him in search for power. This ultimately caused his demise. Just like the story of “Goldilocks” Macbeth had too much ambition just as the porridge was too hot. A character can have too much, just right, or even too little of any virtue. Ambition can be a great thing in moderation or a curse in excess.
Ambitions can be positive or negative, but in Macbeth’s case, his aspirations are evil and lead to a negative outcome for him and his wife, Lady Macbeth. With the peer pressure of Lady Macbeth on his side, he is able to murder many innocent, yet powerful people. Throughout the story of Macbeth, the corrupt ambitions of the murderous couple guides them to their own deaths. The cause of their deaths is ultimately their cynical intentions to kill everyone in their path. Their ambitions, intentions, and aspirations lead them to a negative outcome.
The vigorous desire to achieve and willingly attain something holds the capability to greatly affect one's life. William Shakespeare's play Macbeth establishes the immense effect and influence of ambition. After gaining power over his country Scotland, the protagonist, Macbeth, experiences an internal downfall as he battles between his wants and moral judgement. He struggles to maintain stable relationships with others as his selfish desires and goals hurt those around him when achieved. In addition to clashing with himself and others, he is seen as a tyrant leader and is slowly turned against by Scotland's nation as well as England. Shakespeare's play Macbeth provides the reader with a clear understanding of ambition's corrupting power in Shakespeare's tragic character Macbeth, through his inner conflicts, struggle to maintain stable relationships with those surrounding him, and clash with society.
...rn day society, illusive ambitions can be incredibly detrimental, just as they are demonstrated to be in Macbeth. Ambitions, if they are untamed, can be an impediment to free will; they can overpower your good conscience, possibly leading you into causing death and destruction. They can also corrupt one’s mental health, while practically morphing that person’s perception of reality into something demonstrably wrong and twisted. Finally, they can boost ones ego to a point where that person is engulfed and imprisoned in the vehemence of their own denial, which can ultimately bear fatal consequences. If one’s hopes and desires are innately destructive, then it logically follows that that one’s ambition is also innately destructive; be wary of one with an immense ambition.
Stars hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires.” (I, v, 49 – 52). The words ‘black and deep desires’ relate to Macbeth’s evil desire and the vaulting ambition shown to be present in him. This first sign of Macbeth’s evil nature is shown in this scene as he slowly begins to open up and show the real man he is.