Ambition, the strong desire to do or to achieve something, is present in all of us. However, this drive can remain hidden until it has a reason to become active. Once ambition becomes present, it can take over, causing a lack of self-control. In The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have strong ambitions that compel the actions of the play. In the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is extremely ambitious and wants to become queen. However, in order for this to happen, the present king, King Duncan, must die. The death of King Duncan starts off the plot with the ambition of Lady Macbeth as its driving force. Throughout the rest of the play, Macbeth has his ambition take over through wanting to maintain
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Lady Macbeth desires to become queen and hold a higher position in the kingdom of Scotland, but must first must persuade Macbeth to make sure he agrees. As stated in The Tragedy of Macbeth: “Hie thee hither,That I may pour my spirits in thine ear/And chastise with the valor of my tongue/All that impedes thee from the golden round,...” (I.v. 15-18) In other words Lady Macbeth is certain that she wants Macbeth to become king so that she can become queen, while Macbeth is not really sure, as his ambition is not yet active. As explained by Charles Boyce, Lady Macbeth’s urge to become queen is the primary reason for the unstable relationship of ambition between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. “However, the play...suggest sublimated passions whose energies have been displaced onto political ambition. It is clear that their relationship...withers...of mistrust and emotional disturbance that is unleashed with Duncan's murder.” (Boyce, Lady Macbeth) In other words, the differences in the desires of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth eventually come together due to their shared potential ambition that leads to them to agree on killing King Duncan so that they may receive power and status. The initial ambition of Lady Macbeth, with a newly persuaded Macbeth by her side, causes them to commit the task of killing King
Lady Macbeth desires to become queen and hold a higher position in the kingdom of Scotland, but must first must persuade Macbeth to make sure he agrees. As stated in The Tragedy of Macbeth: “Hie thee hither,That I may pour my spirits in thine ear/And chastise with the valor of my tongue/All that impedes thee from the golden round,...” (I.v. 15-18) In other words Lady Macbeth is certain that she wants Macbeth to become king so that she can become queen, while Macbeth is not really sure, as his ambition is not yet active. As explained by Charles Boyce, Lady Macbeth’s urge to become queen is the primary reason for the unstable relationship of ambition between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. “However, the play...suggest sublimated passions whose energies have been displaced onto political ambition. It is clear that their relationship...withers...of mistrust and emotional disturbance that is unleashed with Duncan's murder.” (Boyce, Lady Macbeth) In other words, the differences in the desires of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth eventually come together due to their shared potential ambition that leads to them to agree on killing King Duncan so that they may receive power and status. The initial ambition of Lady Macbeth, with a newly persuaded Macbeth by her side, causes them to commit the task of killing King