Ambition can have either a positive or negative affect on a person’s decisions. In most cases, an ambitious person is viewed as someone who is very determined towards achieving their goals. However, the other type of ambitious people are those who have a strong desire to be powerful, usually in a negative and controlling way. These ambitious people tend to have unrealistic and immoral goals, usually in a way for them to gain competence. In Macbeth, written by the famous playwright William Shakespeare, the main character Macbeth is seen to portray these traits. Macbeth’s personality changed a tremendous amount in this play, shifting from an innocent and kindhearted general to a corrupt and unscrupulous king. His cowardness leads him to become …show more content…
At the beginning of the novel, he always appeared very compassionate and noble, even being crowned Thane of Cawdor because of his good deeds. However, because of the influences from people around him, Macbeth’s ambition changed his personality and behavior, shifting his path toward evil. Macbeth’s ambition started to evolve when he was told by the witches that “[he] shalt be king hereafter!” (Shakespeare. 1.3.53). Possessing a gullible attribute, Macbeth believed their statements and became very determined about becoming king. Even though Macbeth was an exceedingly humane person starting from the beginning of the play, he still chose to kill off the king to inherit his crown. However, after he committed the murder, he returned to Lady Macbeth, frightened, and said, “I am afraid to think of what I have done. Look on ‘t again I dare not.” (Shakespeare. 2.2.66-67). Macbeth speaks in a very panicked tone, using words like “afraid” and “I dare not” to express how paranoid and guilty killing Duncan has made him. Even though Macbeth used to be such an innocent person, his ambition of becoming king caused him to fulfill an unlawful act. Macbeth’s frantic act of murder indicates how ambition can cause even the most charitable people to do …show more content…
After Macbeth found out about his prophecy from the witches, he decided to take matters into his own hands, altering what was set out for him, leading to many disastrous outcomes and deaths. When Macbeth heard Banquo’s prophecy, he was infuriated. Filled with jealousy and greed, he was envious that Banquo’s sons would become king, yet “upon [his] head [the witches] placed a fruitless crown.” (Shakespeare. 3.1.66-67). Macbeth included a very compelling metaphor here. He goes on to compare his reign as King of Scotland to a “fruitless crown”. He’s stating that becoming king without any royal offspring is no use, further expressing his greed towards Banquo’s children. The word “fruitless” is exemplifying a tree that has no fruit, basically indicating a useless tree. This quote not only reveals Macbeth’s disappointment towards his and Banquo’s prophecies but also exhibits his strong sense of selfishness throughout the book. Furthermore, instigates Macbeth’s determination on changing the prophecies set out by the witches. He fulfills this promise by executing his best friend, admitting that “there shall be done a deed of dreadful note.” (Shakespeare. 3.3.48-49). Macbeth’s tone of language here is strong, using words like “dreadful” to describe what he is going to do to Banquo. It is astonishing to the reader how a man’s ambition could be so strong that he would even
Macbeth decides he needs to take action to keep his crown, “Given to the common enemy of man/ to make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings/ Rather than so, come Fate into the list” (3. 1. 70-72). After seeing that all of his prophecies come true Macbeth thinks about Banquo and fears losing his crown. Macbeth hires murderers to go and kill Banquo and Fleance so that he remains king.
Macbeth understands the gravity of his plan and admits that one murder will only end in more bloodshed. While acknowledging the King’s trust in him, Macbeth notes that by committing this crime, he will be betraying his role as a loyal nobleman however, the loss of his honor is not enough to keep his ambition tame. Here, we can see the beginning of the end as Macbeth wrestles with his thirst for power. At this point, he cherishes the King’s faith in him and deep down, knows that obtaining the title through violence is not morally correct. However, his ambition, which is personified as a wild animal, clearly cannot be controlled.
According to Eric Maisel, “Ambition is vital, but dangerous: it is a keen motive and a driving force, but over what edge can it drive the artist?” This quote expresses the idea that ambition drives people into following their dreams or pursuits but it could also be a dangerous weapon. The Tragedy of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, tells a story about a once humble man who turned into a tyrant because of his ambition. Shakespeare demonstrates this theme by showing a humble man descending into a tyrant on a monstrous quest for power. In the end, this shows that too much ambition could lead to the downfall of a person who misuses it.
Syed Raza Ms. Castro World Literature 05 April 2023 The Demise of One’s Ambition In Shakespeare’s distinguished play Macbeth, the readers explore how ambition developed in the main character Macbeth and how Shakespeare portrays the devastating consequences of unchecked ambition and how the corruption of power can lead to one's downfall.
Ambition might be a steering force for success, but when it consumes you, it links to negative consequences. This is exhibited in Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" and in contemporary society, where ambition links to a relentless pursuit of victory and power. In this essay, I will show that ambition is killing us like the character Macbeth was killing himself and everyone around him. Shakespeare Macbeth and the world we live in, have something very closely in common and that is, ambition is killing us.
Despite his reservations, Macbeth’s ambition to attain his desires becomes greater than his moral compass or regard for the after-life, causing him to not only carry out the murder of the king and attain the crown, but destroy any friend or foe that threatens his newly acquired power. Macbeth’s ambition to maintain his powerful role as king clouds his judgement and leads to his disastrous end as his murderous actions to maintain his ambition have irreparable consequences, so powerful, that those opposed to Macbeth overcome and destroy him. Due to Macbeth disregarding his hesitations and acting on his ambition to become king, he has to consolidate his power, ridding himself of powerful forces he believes threaten his reign as king, going to extreme measures to make sure this is achieved, no matter how violent or irreparable the damage. After coming to the decision to murder King Duncan regardless of the consequences, everyone around Macbeth knows there is some kind of foul play, but Macbeth, being the murderer, is not the main suspicion for
The character, Macbeth, driven by his ambition to become king, turns to a dark path of murder and greed. This is shown in Act 3 scene 3 when he doesn’t kill Banquo because he fears him but because he fears that Banquo’s “dauntless temper of mind” is a threat to
Ambition is a powerful trait which can drive an individual to greatness; however, one must be careful not to let their ambition drive them so far that they end up falling over an edge. In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the protagonist, Macbeth, allows his ambition to control him to such an extent, that he loses sight of what is right and wrong. Macbeth's ambition of becoming king blinds his moral compass, and leads him into a spiral of committing evil after evil. Macbeth's ambition, which is often cited as his hamartia, significantly deteriorates his mental stability, which is evident from his indecisiveness, immoral judgements, and guilty conscience.
Ambition is defined as a strong desire to achieve something. Ambition is normally a really good thing to have, because it motivates you to reach a goal that you have set. But in this case, Macbeth had way too much ambition and so he was willing to go to any length to reach his goal, which was to become king. Another reason why Macbeth’s ambition is bad is because he wants to be king for the wrong reasons. The reason he wants to be king is not to make Scotland better, or change some things he feels are not right.
Everyone has flaws, but how they dictate a person’s life is up to them and this is shown in Shakespeare ’s play Macbeth. Macbeth is one of these characters whose flaws damage him in many ways. Throughout the story, the reader can see the changes in Macbeth’s emotions and actions. He went from hero to tyrant, from honor to tyranny, and from ambition to greed.
Macbeth has really evolved from being a kind and caring person to a really ambitious and prideful person. Nearing the end of act IV and the beginning of act V, Macbeth has really become a prideful person and he is starting to let the pride that he has, take advantage of him. One example of this is, “I’ll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked. Give me my armor.
After achieving the title of the King of Scotland, Macbeth wants to secure his position as the king and desires to inherit the Scottish throne to his ancestors. His aim was showed in “To be thus is nothing, /But to be safely thus” (III, i, 52-3). This quote reveals that Macbeth not only wanted to become the king but also wants to secure his position as the King of Scotland for the welfare of his upcoming generation. This reveals Macbeth’s is implying the witches’ prophecies; as long Banquo’s sons live, Macbeth’s throne would not be able to inherit down to his ancestors. As the play progresses, Macbeth’s hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance, as represented through, “Banquo, thy soul’s flight, /If
Ambition is a very strong trait to have, whether you use it for good or for evil. Throughout the play of Macbeth, power and ambition are extremely evident. The dark ambition shown in the play can drive some characters to do some hysterical things. Lady Macbeth is quite a dynamic character in the play. In the time of tragedy, an individual’s personality can easily change; this can be extremely dangerous if someone loses their self awareness, as seen by Lady Macbeth
Macbeth is a tragic hero in Shakespeare's play Macbeth. He is a complex character with a multifaceted personality. Macbeth's personality undergoes a significant transformation throughout the play, from a loyal and respected general to a ruthless and paranoid tyrant. In this essay, I will discuss the different aspects of Macbeth's personality, including his strengths, weaknesses, and how they contribute to his downfall.
However, it was not Macbeth’s idea to murder King Duncan at first. His wife, Lady Macbeth, persuades him into doing so. Macbeth had always been loyal to King Duncan and would have never committed such a sin. Macbeth tells his wife, “I am afraid to think what I have done; look on 't again I dare not,” and because of the witches and help from Lady Macbeth, he follows through with killing the beloved King and is immediately starting to regret his actions (Mac.2.2.65-67). After Macbeth slaughters King Duncan, he is named king himself and starts to get paranoid about people finding out the truth.