Effects Of Ambition In Macbeth

The play, Macbeth serves as Shakespeare's most notorious play ever written. The play demonstrates the damaging physical and mental effects of political ambition for those who seek power for their own selfish reason. Shakespeare loosely based the play on the Holinshed’s Chronicles which told events that transpired in history. Macbeth was based on the regicide in Scotland that occured in the 1600s. Although Shakespeare integrated historical events to enlighten people on the regicide, the play was written erroneously for certain reasons. During Shakespeare’s time period, King James I was the new reigning king. Shakespeare developed the play specifically for him. In order to not injure the King’s reputation, Shakespeare purposely wrote the play differently. According to historians, the king may have been a descendant of Banquo. According to the Holinshed's Chronicle, Banquo assisted Macbeth in the murder of King Duncan I and established that Macbeth should be King. In order to secure the King’s throne, Banquo murdered Macbeth. To not ruin the family name, Shakespeare altered Banquo’s character so people would not put murderer as the title for King …show more content…
Upon their arrival, the witches give Macbeth his prophecy. Witch 1 says “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!” (Act 1 Sc.1 ln 48). The witches state that Macbeth would be crowned King of Scotland which ultimately lead to the series of events. The Holinshed Chronicles tell otherwise. It was recorded that Macbeth and Banquo were actually visited by the three Norns of Norse mythology instead of the three witches. According to mythology, these females are beings who ruled the destiny of God and men. This event was supposedly made up by Malcolm in order to jeopardize the King’s name. To not display scenes that would offend King James I, Shakespeare modified this