The Spell of Ambition
It could be argued that love and ambition are essential to achieve one's desires. However, how far can one go? In this essay I will analyze the role of ambition in the relationship between the two epic protagonists, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Moreover, I will focus on the changes they go through, as a couple and individuals, as the drama progresses.
At the beginning of the play, Macbeth shows his first signs of ambition after getting the witches' prophecy. He starts to think of becoming king, though his moral mind fights his urges to kill his noble king, Duncan: "Stars…Let not light see my black and deep desires" [1.4.50-51]. Macbeth soon hastens to share the news with his beloved wife, Lady Macbeth. In …show more content…
For the first time she is in need for her husband's comfort, yet it is too late for them to reunite. All the deep guilt and emotions she has repressed during the day are out when she is at a dream state. She "rubs her hands" [5.1.23] to wash off imagined blood: "What, will these hands…this starting" [5.1.37-38], "Here’s the smell …O, O, O!" [5.1.42-43]. Her insane madness is raising as she cannot manage to clean her hands and mind from guilt, shame and remorse, as opposed to her suggestion to Macbeth to easily wash his hands after murdering Duncan. She mentions the murders of Duncan, Banquo and Macduff's family as crimes she regrets.
Macbeth puts his trust on the witches' prophecies, so even when a huge army invades his territory he is not startled. Due to his hot temper, Macbeth treats everyone with contempt and violence. When Lady Macbeth decides to commit suicide due to her severe psychological disorder and incurable insanity, Macbeth mourns her and his meaningless life: "She should have died hereafter …signifying nothing" [5.5.16-27]. Macbeth has become a nihilist who cannot see the worth and value of life. He experiences life rapidly, from being happily married and honored by his noble king to a lonely tormented man who has …show more content…
They both need each other's support in order to succeed and cannot survive on their own. They gradually drift apart as the brave strong man is revealed as dependent on his dear wife, who manipulates him with her ambition. Their alternate ambition cannot help them overcome their regret and sorrow. As their love fades away, they become more miserable and avoid opening their hearts. They are blind to each other due to the distance between them; Macbeth becomes a tyrannical king as his sick wife falls apart. The crime partners are tormented to live their miserable lives doubting what will come next, until they both give up. Their poisonous and foul ambition leads them to insanity and a humiliating downfall as Lady Macbeth ends her life and Macbeth's head is chopped
It could be argued that love and ambition are essential to achieve one's desires. However, how far can one go? In this essay I will analyze the role of ambition in the relationship between the two epic protagonists, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Moreover, I will focus on the changes they go through, as a couple and individuals, as the drama progresses.
At the beginning of the play, Macbeth shows his first signs of ambition after getting the witches' prophecy. He starts to think of becoming king, though his moral mind fights his urges to kill his noble king, Duncan: "Stars…Let not light see my black and deep desires" [1.4.50-51]. Macbeth soon hastens to share the news with his beloved wife, Lady Macbeth. In …show more content…
For the first time she is in need for her husband's comfort, yet it is too late for them to reunite. All the deep guilt and emotions she has repressed during the day are out when she is at a dream state. She "rubs her hands" [5.1.23] to wash off imagined blood: "What, will these hands…this starting" [5.1.37-38], "Here’s the smell …O, O, O!" [5.1.42-43]. Her insane madness is raising as she cannot manage to clean her hands and mind from guilt, shame and remorse, as opposed to her suggestion to Macbeth to easily wash his hands after murdering Duncan. She mentions the murders of Duncan, Banquo and Macduff's family as crimes she regrets.
Macbeth puts his trust on the witches' prophecies, so even when a huge army invades his territory he is not startled. Due to his hot temper, Macbeth treats everyone with contempt and violence. When Lady Macbeth decides to commit suicide due to her severe psychological disorder and incurable insanity, Macbeth mourns her and his meaningless life: "She should have died hereafter …signifying nothing" [5.5.16-27]. Macbeth has become a nihilist who cannot see the worth and value of life. He experiences life rapidly, from being happily married and honored by his noble king to a lonely tormented man who has …show more content…
They both need each other's support in order to succeed and cannot survive on their own. They gradually drift apart as the brave strong man is revealed as dependent on his dear wife, who manipulates him with her ambition. Their alternate ambition cannot help them overcome their regret and sorrow. As their love fades away, they become more miserable and avoid opening their hearts. They are blind to each other due to the distance between them; Macbeth becomes a tyrannical king as his sick wife falls apart. The crime partners are tormented to live their miserable lives doubting what will come next, until they both give up. Their poisonous and foul ambition leads them to insanity and a humiliating downfall as Lady Macbeth ends her life and Macbeth's head is chopped