Theme Of Ambition In Macbeth

Register to read the introduction… 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 …show more content…
Comparably, Lady Macbeth is troubled deeply by a “spot” that she cannot remove from her hand. This is evident in the line Out, damned spot! Out, I say. . . What, will these hands ne’er be clean?” (V I 30-37). This is a physical reminder of the crime she committed, as the royal blood leaves permanent marks on the souls of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. The way in which both characters cope with the crimes they are guilty of shows their differences. Lady Macbeth is the character which initially has no doubts and urges Macbeth on to take action. However the consequences drive Lady Macbeth insane, to the point in which she commits suicide. This development shows that she is completely overpowered by the sense of guilt and remorse. On the other hand, Macbeth overcomes the guilt he was plagued by earlier on in the