Examples Of Ambition In Macbeth

Ambition can drive almost anyone to do things that their consciences normally would not let them do. For this tragic hero, ambition is his folly. Macbeth’s ambition causes him to be susceptible to outsides influences, overrides his conscience and ultimately brings his destruction. Macbeth’s actions have a profound effect on his character for the rest of the play.

Macbeth a man driven on by ruthless ambition and tortured by regret Ambition is an earnest desire familiar to most that provides us with motivation to reach specific goals no matter the consequences or troubles one will have to endure. Shakespeare conveys this desire remarkably through a tragic hero, who is known as Macbeth. The play focus on the downfall of Macbeth and how ruthless ambition can psychologically damage and ruin the character. The play underlines how irrational and selfish thoughts can bring dissonance and disorder. The realization of moral decline throughout the play brings about regret and despair, as the imaginary world that Macbeth has built with the absence of responsibilities and fear, is finally crushed by reality.

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Hands have the power to create and destroy, to show loyalty and to overthrow, and to save a life just to end it in one fell plunge of a dagger. As an extension of one’s body, the actions that the hands perform are dictated by one’s desire to enact them. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth’s conscience, corrupted by his greed for power, transforms into a catalyst in which results in the appalling deeds carried out by his hand. The masterful symbolism of the hand as the instrument for potential good or evil, cautions against the abuse of its power by demonstrating the devastating effects of egomania through Macbeth’s vanquishment. The hand is shown to become a fatal weapon for greed when wielded by the corrupt conscience of Macbeth, demonstrating the effect of the detrimental selfish motives on the actions it performs.

From the beginning, Macbeth’s intentions are made clear to the reader; he wants power and authority. After hearing that he will become king, Macbeth’s mind immediately turns to the thought of murdering Duncan as demonstrated in his aside where he says, “... Why do I yield to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs/ Against the use of nature?” (Shakespeare, Macbeth 1.4.134-37).

Due to the outside influence from the witches, he thinks that it is his destiny and that he must do everything to fulfil it; Lady Macbeth’s constant harassment pushed Macbeth to commit all evil. “When you durst do it, then you were a man; and, to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man.” Through his own ambitions, the ambition of his wife and the witches’ prophecies, Macbeth caused his own destruction and downfall. Ambition and power are something sought by many people, however, intentions of different people are

“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves”, is a quote by the man himself, William Shakespeare, concerning human responsibility, otherwise known as the capability of completing an obligation, or duty sufficiently. These commitments or duties play a role in how a situation will play out, and dictate the consequences that follow. The choices made from the beginning to the end in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet are all examples of how people’s decisions, primarily those of Tybalt, Mercutio and Friar Lawrence, lead to a heartbreaking fallout. The pressure and burden weighing down the young lovers ultimately overwhelms them, causing an expeditious chain reaction. The influences behind each character’s ill-considered judgments,

Shakespeare once said, “Suspicion always haunts a guilty mind.” Guilt is a common emotion that is experienced by many individuals. It is the guiding force that enables individuals to make a clear distinction between good and bad actions. Although, when one conceals their guilt, it leads them to a path of destruction. In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare depicts this idea through the use of imagery.

Ambition is hailed today as a positive feature: one that top CEOs, actors, and politicians all possess. However, ambition can be a flaw when one lets it run rampant. In William Shakespeare’s classic The Tragedy of Macbeth, the title character Macbeth is led down a fatal path due to prophecies, greed, corruption, but most importantly ambition. Macbeth’s ambition is a driving factor in the play; the more ambitious he becomes, the deeper into evil he falls. His unchecked ambition is his tragic flaw and can be seen developing as the story progresses.

The undeniable power of ambition and its aftermath are portrayed in William Shakespeare’s, “The Tragedy of Macbeth”. In the play, we discover that the main character Macbeth is very ambitious, courageous and a moral coward. All these characteristics lead to his down fall. These characteristics are represented throughout the play with his actions. At the beginning of the play Shakespeare describes Macbeth as a hero.

Macbeth’s state of mind is now centered on possible ways to become king. Macbeth is willing to do anything to gain power. (This is the point) Macbeth begins to slowly transform into a conscienceless man. Being Duncan’s kinsmen, he’s duty is to protect his king from all kinds of danger but instead Macbeths desire for power increases and starts planning the murder of Duncan.

When ambition is overlooked, it has the ability to become extremely dangerous. Macbeth from Shakespeare is a clear example of this. As he rises to power, he becomes more and more of a threat to those around him, killing those he was once loyal to. Destruction when ambition goes unchecked is present throughout the play because of Macbeth’s strong desires that ultimately lead to the deaths of Duncan, Banquo, and nearly Macduff. The death of Duncan was the first corrupt act stemming from Macbeth’s ambition.

The play Macbeth by William Shakespeare is a Testimony to the negative repercussions of vaulting ambition. In Macbeth, character's morals are put to the test by supernatural forces. This is illustrated by the character Macbeth, whose tragic downfall is ultimately the result of his ambition. Furthermore, Macbeth’s ambition leads him to kill King Duncan, Banquo; both he was originally loyal too, and Macduff’s family. Macbeth’s vaulting ambition causes him to make faulty decisions, thereby causing not only his own destruction, but the deaths of family and foe.

Ambition is a powerful motivating force, but can you ever really be too ambitious well in Macbeth ambition cause him to become a murder to try to reach his goal. This dark path cause him to kill and left him with a mentality twisted consions and all thanks to his big desire of power. This desire of power started when he met the witches in Act 1 scene 3 where they tell him “ All hail ,Macbeth, hail to the Cawdor!” “All hail, Macbeth, thou stalt be king here after!”

The Power of Ambition For many individuals pride is the driving force behind motivation and ambition but when one’s pride gets the best of him or her it can cause the individual to break down and self destruct. Every human has a little pride in them but when that pride becomes selfish and done for personal benefit that is when it can become dangerous, taking focus away from the things that really matter like honor, love, family, friends and integrity. In his play, Macbeth, Shakespeare suggests that if one’s motivation is selfish and pride-driven, eventually honor and integrity are lost leading to one’s destruction. Initially, when one’s selfish ambition and motivation is just starting to grow, one is able to maintain honor and integrity.