The Results of Ambitious Pursuits
Dictionary.com states that ambition is “an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment.” Throughout Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare, the main character slowly grows more and more ambitious as the play progresses. Because of Macbeth’s ambitious nature, his resulting actions, and the dreadful consequences that follow, it is safe to say that possessing ambition is not a good trait.
Before Macbeth was an ambitious king looking for more power to augment his wealth, he was already in a prosperous position. After Macbeth returns from serving in a civil war, he finds himself confronted by three witches. …show more content…
“It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
(V. v. 29-31).
In short, possessing ambition negatively changes a person as evidenced from Macbeth’s experiences.
While most of the play suggests that possessing ambition is a negative trait, there are other instances where ambition can be viewed as something positive. For example, Banquo clearly wanted to be something greater than a general to the king. Banquo requests that the witches look into the future for him. BANQUO. “To me you speak not. If you can look into the seeds of time and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then to me.
(I. iii. 60-64).
Even though the witches revealed that Banquo’s family would be lesser and the same greater than Macbeth, he decided to do nothing about it. He knew that the prophecy would come true in time. Another positive example of an ambitious character is Malcolm and Macduff. These two characters want Macbeth off the throne, but there is still the chance that one of them might take over the throne and act completely like Macbeth. Because of this, Malcolm tests Macduff. After seeing that the both of them want to free Scotland from Macbeth’s tyranny, Malcolm and Macduff plan on overthrowing the evil king. Malcolm concedes that he …show more content…
I would, while my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sword as you have done to this.
(Act 1. Scene 7. Line 4-67).
After Macbeth has killed Duncan, Lady Macbeth takes the consequences in stride. During the first part of the play, Lady Macbeth is cold and steely and more of a man than her husband. However, it isn’t until Act 5 that the audience fully sees how ambition affected Lady Macbeth. As the Doctor observes Lady Macbeth while she sleepwalks, he comments,
“Unnatural deeds do breed unnatural troubles”
(V. ii. 75-76).
From that statement, the audience realizes that Lady Macbeth is no longer ruthless and cunning as she was in the first act. Lady Macbeth has fallen into disgrace and guilt haunts her as she sleeps. Again, this is another case of character transformation when they finally embrace their ambitious nature. Whereas Macbeth grew cold and distant, Lady Macbeth became guilty and later killed herself.
All in all, there are many ways to interpret the possession of ambition. For some people, they use ambition to get farther in life. Others seek to destroy other people’s lives with no regard for others. In Macbeth’s instance, he only managed to damn himself and fall in a downward
Dictionary.com states that ambition is “an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment.” Throughout Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare, the main character slowly grows more and more ambitious as the play progresses. Because of Macbeth’s ambitious nature, his resulting actions, and the dreadful consequences that follow, it is safe to say that possessing ambition is not a good trait.
Before Macbeth was an ambitious king looking for more power to augment his wealth, he was already in a prosperous position. After Macbeth returns from serving in a civil war, he finds himself confronted by three witches. …show more content…
“It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
(V. v. 29-31).
In short, possessing ambition negatively changes a person as evidenced from Macbeth’s experiences.
While most of the play suggests that possessing ambition is a negative trait, there are other instances where ambition can be viewed as something positive. For example, Banquo clearly wanted to be something greater than a general to the king. Banquo requests that the witches look into the future for him. BANQUO. “To me you speak not. If you can look into the seeds of time and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then to me.
(I. iii. 60-64).
Even though the witches revealed that Banquo’s family would be lesser and the same greater than Macbeth, he decided to do nothing about it. He knew that the prophecy would come true in time. Another positive example of an ambitious character is Malcolm and Macduff. These two characters want Macbeth off the throne, but there is still the chance that one of them might take over the throne and act completely like Macbeth. Because of this, Malcolm tests Macduff. After seeing that the both of them want to free Scotland from Macbeth’s tyranny, Malcolm and Macduff plan on overthrowing the evil king. Malcolm concedes that he …show more content…
I would, while my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sword as you have done to this.
(Act 1. Scene 7. Line 4-67).
After Macbeth has killed Duncan, Lady Macbeth takes the consequences in stride. During the first part of the play, Lady Macbeth is cold and steely and more of a man than her husband. However, it isn’t until Act 5 that the audience fully sees how ambition affected Lady Macbeth. As the Doctor observes Lady Macbeth while she sleepwalks, he comments,
“Unnatural deeds do breed unnatural troubles”
(V. ii. 75-76).
From that statement, the audience realizes that Lady Macbeth is no longer ruthless and cunning as she was in the first act. Lady Macbeth has fallen into disgrace and guilt haunts her as she sleeps. Again, this is another case of character transformation when they finally embrace their ambitious nature. Whereas Macbeth grew cold and distant, Lady Macbeth became guilty and later killed herself.
All in all, there are many ways to interpret the possession of ambition. For some people, they use ambition to get farther in life. Others seek to destroy other people’s lives with no regard for others. In Macbeth’s instance, he only managed to damn himself and fall in a downward