Importance Of Ambition In Macbeth

Ambition is the path to success, but more than one path leads to the same destination, and not all paths lead to success. This importance of one’s decisions and their outcomes is explored by William Shakespeare, in his play, Macbeth. He uses character development to portray the idea that uncontrolled ambition cannot expand forever, and therefore will lead to the ultimate implosion of its source. Accordingly, the protagonist Macbeth starts off with a motivation ruled by his honour and integrity, but then he allows his “deep and dark desires” to “unconstrain” him. As he permits his greed for power to control him, his traits that once made him a man slowly decay, leading to his subsequent physical death.

Initially, ambition always allows individuals to reach for a goal, which seems to benefit both them and others. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a good man, a good husband, a good soldier, and a good subject. For example, these statements are evidenced by the soldier reporting the news to Duncan after the battles at the front; he is only full of praises for Macbeth’s courage, and loyalty to the king. The soldier goes into more detail and describes Macbeth’s dedication, as he …show more content…
Similarly, Macbeth becomes hungry for power as he gains a taste of the newly-gained authority and is assured by the witches’ prophecy that he will become the king. On the other hand, he still respects the value of his honour, and therefore faces a dilemma; Macbeth has to either suppress his ambition in order to retain his virtues, or he can sacrifice them and Duncan’s life in order to become king. He chooses the latter, and gains the crown, but he also gains enemies in the people who now doubt his integrity, and in Malcolm and Donalbain, whose father he murdered. This time, those in Macbeth’s vicinity suffer so he could fulfill his “deep and dark