Ambition in Macbeth
In Macbeth, a play set in Scotland, William Shakespeare wrote a tragedy of a man's ambition. In the play, Macbeth is described as a man who has ambitions of becoming king. After the first part of the prophecy by the witches whom he has met returning from battle comes true, he begins to think the second part may also come true, "supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good." The witches have predicted that Macbeth would first become Thane of Cawdor and then king of Scotland. Encouraged by his wife, Lady Macbeth, he murders King Duncan who stays as a guest in his castle. Macbeth then becomes king of Scotland. According to his critical essay on Macbeth, "Shakespeare and the Hazards of Ambition," Robert N. Watson comments that ambition becomes the enemy of all life, especially that of the ambitious man himself, in this play. In Macbeth, Shakespeare interprets a man's lifelong ambition that seems to be fulfilled, but causes consequences that his mind cannot handle. Macbeth's desire to gain wealth and status completely overpowers him. Macbeth becomes more ambitious as his wife and the witches make him question himself and his desires. Lady Macbeth is the biggest encouragement to his ambition, s
During the course of the play, Macbeth changes from a person with some moral sense to a man who will stop at nothing to get and keep what he wants. By the play's end, he has lost all emotion. He cannot even react to his wife's death saying that life is only "a tale/ told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,/ signifying nothing." In Macbeth, ambition is the fatal flaw that causes his downfall. The play shows that one may get easily influenced by other people when he/ she is over- ambitions. After becoming king, his endless ambitions lead him into misery and tragic ending. Being obsessed by the witches' prophecy, he even tries to control his future, " He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour/ to act in safety. There is none but he/ Whose being I do fear; and under him/ My genius is rebuked, as it is said/ Mark Antony's was by Caesar. Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown,/ And put a barren scepter in my gripe,/ Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,/ No son of mine succeeding (Act III, Scene I)." Macbeth considers Banquo and his son Fleance as threats to his security as King. Although outwardly friendly to Banquo, Macbeth is jealous and fearful of him. In Act I, Scene v, Lady Macbeth also influences Macbeth's ambition,"Hie thee hither,/ that I may pour my spirits in thine ear,/ and chastise with the valour of my tongue/ all that impedes thee from the golden round,/ which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem/ to have thee crown'd withal." She tries to influence him to kill Duncan. She says, "Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it," meaning that Macbeth is not without ambition, but lack of ruthlessness that is needed. In Act I, Scene iii,
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Approximate Word count = 1150
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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