The Role Of Ambition In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

Improved Essays
The play Macbeth is similar to any cliche action movie when the main character wants total power and will do anything to get it with just a little convincing. “At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a perfectionistic person whose solution has been highly successful. He precipitates his own psychological crisis by violating his dominant set of shoulds in order to act out the arrogant-vindictive trends which are reinforced by his wife” which is why he slips into evil ways (Gale, Cengage Learning). With his wife and three witches forcing him to commit these acts he became more corrupt over time. When the three weird sisters popped in to give Macbeth prophecies about his future he became intrigued when they mentioned that he would become Thane …show more content…
“The concept of ambition, however, is trickier than it appears and demands closer ethical examination. Aristotle expatiates on the topic of ambition, or love of honor, a number of times in Nicomachean Ethics. Ambition is a labile concept, which…” is an aspiration to achieve success (Associated University Presses). He thought he deserved to be king and didn't actually use his own skills he took the easy way out by killing anyone who got in his way. The only reason he became a cold-blooded-killer is that the witches forced him to be by telling him his fate. The three witches told Macbeth his apparitions which are, “Beware Macduff. Beware the Thane of Fife. Let me go. Enough. Be violent, bold, and firm. Laugh at the power of other men, because nobody born from a woman will ever harm Macbeth. Be brave like the lion and proud. Don’t even worry about who hates you, who resents you, and who conspires against you. Macbeth will never be defeated until Birnam Wood marches to fight you at Dunsinane Hill” (Macbeth, Act 4; scene 1). The witches convince Macbeth to believe that he is immortal because he will think he can do anything without consequences. Macbeth told Macduff, “Thou losest labor. As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed. Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; I bear a charmèd life, which must not yield To one of woman born” (Macbeth, Act 5; scene 8). Macduff was born through a c-section so Macbeth actually wasn't immortal and the witches deceived

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    In today’s society many people possess strong ambition when it comes to getting a job, following a passion and being immensely successful in life. Having an abundance of ambition can have both successful and faulty outcomes depending on the situation and how individuals respond to the circumstance. For example, in the play Macbeth written by Shakespeare, a prime example of an excessive amount of ambition is displayed through both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s actions. Essentially, Macbeth becomes power hungry and goes on a rampant killing spree that causes Lady Macbeth and Macbeth to be overcome with guilt. They both possess an excessive amount of ambaition due to their ultimate goal being for Macbeth to be crowned king. However, throughout…

    • 1005 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Does ambition have the ability to shake a whole nation to its very knees? The author William Shakespeare wrote a bloody drama titled “The Tragedy of Macbeth”, which took place in the distance past of Scotland, England. In this piece, the main character, Macbeth wanted to become king, and in doing so he murdered anyone in his path. In the end was only slain by the forces of the true air to the throne. The theme of this drama can be portrayed through the ambition of these three men: Macbeth, Macduff, and Malcolm.…

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare depicts Macbeth as he is overcome with ambition. When Macbeth first appears in the story, he was described as a hero when he comes to save the Scottish army against Irish invaders. Following the battle, three witches appear to Macbeth informing him that he will one day be king. Putting his faith in the prophecy, he believes that the only way to the throne is to kill Duncan, the current king. While he has his doubts, he is convinced to carry on by his wife Lady Macbeth. He murders Duncan and becomes king. He continues on to kill anybody he sees a threat to his throne, including his best friend Banquo. While Macbeth becomes increasingly paranoid, Lady Macbeth is tortured by her conscience and commits…

    • 208 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ambition In Macbeth

    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages

    There are lots of modern values found in Macbeth. Macbeth is a tale of ambition written by Shakespeare. Shakespeare used the tale of Macbeth to convey the dangers of being too ambitious. Macbeth would’ve been considered a villain in the olden days, but in today's society, he is viewed no more than a person that wanted to be more than just a thane. Macbeth teaches an important lesson to exercise restraints when it comes to desires and be aware of the consequences that come with the desires. Macbeth is a play written about Ambition, Masculinity/Cruelty, and Guilt.…

    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It is a natural human inclination to achieve success; however, any desire in excess can become a destructive force. This is what happened to William Shakespeare’s tortured protagonist Macbeth in one of the Bard’s most unsettling tragedies. Although Macbeth’s ambition initially appeared to be typical of a soldier’s need to succeed and receive recognition from his leader, it would eventually take over his life, obliterate his conscience, and transform his character from hero to villain. Macbeth was clearly his own worst enemy, but there were others in his life who contributed to the orchestration of his downfall. The witches and his equally ambitious wife fed his ego and whetted his appetite for power. The tragedy of Macbeth manifested itself…

    • 253 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Shakespeare reinforces the theme of ambition throughout the passages of the book we have read so far in class, which caused aggressive behavior and regret. In the book there have been multiple themes in the book, but the one theme that stands out the most is ambitions. Ambitions have impacted the lives of multiple characters including Macbeth in his case causing regret.…

    • 178 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Great Essays

    One may try and argue that Lady Macbeth or ambition drove Macbeth to commit his murderous acts to become king, but they are missing out on the main catalysts of everyone’s actions including Macbeth; the witches. Without these three demonic figures, Macbeth would be a history rather than a tragedy. By sparking Macbeth’s most inner desires, they were able to guide him down his dark path, which ultimately led to his death. The ideas they pushed to the front of his mind eventually drove this heroic man to become as dark as the devil himself. The manner of the witches’ prophecy also highlights the brilliance of the plot they have and highlight Shakespeare’s ability to write. Shakespeare cannot have his witches directly cast a spell on Macbeth,…

    • 1762 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Scottish play written in 1606 is counted among one of Shakespeare’s Four Greatest Tragedies. Macbeth being set in a fatalistic society whilst Macbeth Re-told being set in a consumerist secular society quite obviously reflect different values and ideals however through the composers of each text we are able to gain greater insight to the universal themes that are highlighted in both texts.…

    • 949 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Macbeth Unchecked Ambition

    • 1120 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Ambition is a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. This is an awesome quality to have, but what happens when it becomes unchecked? Shakespeare's play, The Tragedy of Macbeth does a great job of showing the consequences of unchecked ambition. The Tragedy of Macbeth is about a man named Macbeth, who is told by three witches that he is destined for the thrown. Being told this, Macbeth is hesitant, but after telling his wife Lady Macbeth, he feels as if the witches were right. The only thing holding him back was King Duncan. Through out the play Macbeth struggles with his ambition and listening to his wife who keeps telling him that killing King Duncan is the only way to get the power he wants, or listening to his heart which is telling him that this action is…

    • 1120 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In her madness on her quest, Lady Macbeth is willing to take the risk of losing everything and she believes they will get away with it if Macbeth does exactly as she orders. After the murder she continues to persuade Macbeth by telling him “These deeds must not be thought after these ways: so, it will make us mad”, suggesting that if they don’t think about the murder then they can pretend it never…

    • 775 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Instantly Macduff took note of Macbeth's insanity and fled the country; leaving his wife and children behind. Taking Macduff's absence as a gateway to inflict pain on him for being a threat to his throne, Macbeth decides to kill Macduff’s family. “ From this moment The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand.../ The castle of Macduff I will surprise, Seize upon Fife, give to th' edge o' th' sword. His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line” (Shakespeare 4.1. 152-160). Through manipulation and lying, Macbeth convinced the three murderers that previously killed Banquo; to kill Macduff and his family. By killing the Macduff family, he eliminated further threats of overthrowing his kingdom. In the movie “Macbeth” by Justin Kurzel, Lady Macduff states, before being brutally murdered with her children, that Macbeth who once had all the respect in the world had lost it due to his inhumane actions. In one simple sentence, Lady Macduff summarized the downfall of Macbeth through the eyes of his people. Some may claim that Macbeth had not lost all his honor if people were still willing to kill and die for him during wars or for personal requests. Respect does not always come with loyalty. “Those he commands only move in command. Nothing in love. Now does she feel his title” (Shakespeare 5.2 18-21). The actions followed through by Macbeth's servants were not related to respect to him, but to the title he held. The people of his land did not condone or respect any decision Macbeth made during his time in power. Their loyalty remained in the name of the crown not the name of Macbeth. Their actions are not representations of their true feelings. The people of Cawdor fought because they committed and pledged their allegiance to their…

    • 703 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    If a person’s choices involve being greedy or ambitious, things will not turn out well. A person’s tragic downfall is caused by his or her own free will and is enhanced by fatalistic imagery. Blood imagery, clothing imagery, and hand imagery are what help enhance the tragic downfall of Macbeth in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. Macbeth is a noble person that becomes a cruel king due to his greed and ambition.…

    • 1592 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Macbeth, a tragic play written by Williams Shakespeare, shows a couple and their ambition for Macbeth to become King of Scotland. This play implies that ambition can cause people to commit treason or even murder in order to achieve power. This has been shown in other places of literature, such as Lord or the Flies, and in real life as well.…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Macbeth is aware of the threats of his obsessive ambition saying: I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself / And falls on th’other” (25-28). But witches’ prophecy places a seed of strong temptation in Macbeth’s soul that he was unable to control and eventually succumbed to it. When Macbeth doubts killing King Duncan, Lady Macbeth demands: Was the hope drunk / Wherein you dressed yourself” (35-36)? Ironically, Lady Macbeth must herself rely on intoxicants to “make [her] bold” before executing her ambitious and murderous plans (II ii 1). Lady Macbeth refers to “hope” as an another word for “ambition” or even “temptation”. After the alcohol’s impact wears off, Lady Macbeth is not able to handle the consequences of her “hope”. For both the Macbeths it proves that their ambition and temptation turn…

    • 961 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    William Shakespeare’s 1606 tragedy, Macbeth, is a drama depicting the destructive unbridled ambition and downfall of the tragic hero, a recognisable human flaw that contributes to the enduring value of the play. Along with the political context, Macbeth highlights that excessive and disproportionate hubris will have terrible, tragic consequences. In the beginning, Macbeth’s ambition has been fuelled by devious characters such as Lady Macbeth and the three witches; this reveals the hamartia of the protagonist and the irreversible perversion of his moral compass. Shakespeare’s intent in this play is to convey the psychological and character impact that comes with excessive power and its abuse, obsession and particularly, ambition. The reader…

    • 1055 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays