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Examples Of Ambition In Act 1 Of Macbeth

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In Act 1 of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth transitions from a noble soldier to a murderer. During battle, Macbeth demonstrates loyalty when he kills the Norwegian Lord who betrays King Duncan. He remains faithful towards his king and never contemplates treason. After visiting the witches, Macbeth develops ambivalence about whether becoming king will require trust in fate or his own free-willed actions. However, Lady Macbeth officially chooses for him as she informs Macbeth that he will need to kill the king to succeed to that title. Lady Macbeth uses Macbeth’s manly weaknesses and cowardness to control him. Even though Macbeth continues acting trustworthy, his mixed feelings and desire for power leads him down a murderous path that he soon regrets. …show more content…

After Ross informs him that he received the title of Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth feels excited. He figures that since he already possesses the duty of Thane of “Glamis, and [now] Thane of Cawdor, The greatest is behind” (1.3.117-118). Macbeth believes that the new honor confirms that he will attain the throne and proof that the witches’ prophecies are true. After his pronouncement of Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth refuses to believe Banquo’s skepticism and warning of the witches’ possible evil intentions and the developing risks of remaining faithful to the prophecies. At this point, Macbeth develops contrasting thoughts about whether he should trust that “chance will have [him] king…[and]crown [him]without [his] stir” or kill Duncan to guarantee his title (1.3.144-145). However, between hearing about Malcolm’s designation to succeed Duncan’s throne and his “black and deep desires” for power, Macbeth makes the final decision to believe in free will rather than fate by concluding that murdering the king is necessary in order to immediately acquire King Duncan’s title

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