Influence Of Ambition In Macbeth

Does ambition impact on one’s personal choices? No matter what the situation is ambition can affect one’s life, either positively or negatively. It can impact one’s personal choices. In the play “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, Macbeth, the main character, pursues his ambitions through poor choices. His ambition is to bear the crown and become the King of Scotland. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth shows nobility and loyalty to the King and everyone else in Scotland. People praise him for his valiancy in the battlefield during the war. But when the witches appear before him and tell him the prophecies, his life changes. His awareness of the prophecies strengthens his ambition and greed for power. Eventually, it triggers him to make poor …show more content…
He is once a brave captain and a great warrior of Duncan’s army. An encounter with the witches somehow changes his character.¬¬ He believes the witches’ prediction that he will become a King and, that it is his destiny to become one. Macbeth is very happy and joyful with the mindset that someday he will become the King of Scotland, as what the witches predict. His physical courage is now joined by his consuming ambition to become a King. His wife, Lady Macbeth, greatly influences his personal choices. She is a strong and ambitious woman. Because of her ambitions, she plots to kill Duncan and push his husband into committing murder in order for them to live as King and Queen of Scotland. Her decisions mostly override her husband’s objection. She does everything to be in power and stay in power. Also, because of Macbeth’s gullibility, his wife easily manipulates him. Eventually, he decides to kill Duncan and blame the guards for committing the horrible crime. Malcolm and Donalbain, the sons of Duncan, run away to escape threat and danger. Hence, Macbeth becomes the new King of Scotland. But, becoming the King does not satisfy his greed for power. He suffers from guilt and paranoia. This eventually leads to Banquo and Fleance’s murder. Banquo, Macbeth’s friend, also receive a prophecy from the witches. His prophecies say, “You are lesser than Macbeth, but also greater.” “You are not as happy as Macbeth, yet much happier.” “Your descendants will be Kings, even though you will not be one.” For Macbeth, the third prophecy is a threat to his position as a King and to his ambition. Eventually, he hires three murderers to murder Banquo and Fleance. Consequently, the people start to see Macbeth as a tyrant. The people suspect him to be the one behind the murder of Duncan and Banquo. His friends leave his side gradually, including Maduff, the Thane of Fife. Macbeth’s comrade, Macduff,