Ambition And Uncertainty In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

Throughout the story Macbeth created and written by William Shakespeare, Macbeth shows himself to be a man of many sides. Macbeth displays three character traits bravery, passion/ambition, and uncertainty during the play. Macbeth is an example of the gruesome effects passion/ambition and guilt can have on a man who lacks strength of character. Although some people make out Macbeth as an evil person, his weak character proves that he is not tough enough to vanquish guilt and uncertainty. Macbeth is a good warrior with no doubt, but he is badly equipped for the mental consequences of crime. When Shakespeare first introduces Macbeth which is at the beginning of the play, He is seen as a loyal and trustworthy/honorable warrior. There are different …show more content…
This viewpoint is a problem, nonetheless, once we see Macbeth first interact with the three witches. We realize that Macbeth’s physical bravery is united by a consuming ambition and a trend of uncertainty. The prophecy that he will be King brings him satisfaction, but it also creates inner anxiety. When Lady Macbeth is having a conversation with him, although he is tormented by worry and almost doesn’t commit the crime, Lady Macbeth, with her strong sense of purpose, pushes him into the deed. Lady Macbeth threatens his manhood by saying, “When you durst do it, then you were a man; and to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man” (I.VII.). This proves that Lady Macbeth has most of the power in their relationship and Macbeth will do anything Lady Macbeth’s makes him do. Even after he kills Duncan and knows he is going to become king he still feels very guilty for what he has done. “What hands are here? Ha, they pluck out mine eyes! Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hands? No; this my hand will rather The multitudes seas incarnadine, making the green one red.” (II.II.) Macbeth