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Lust And Ambition In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

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A very explicit theme in the play Macbeth is: lust and ambition. This is can be probably seen in every character in the play: Macbeth, Young Siward, Malcolm, Lady Macbeth and many more. All of the characters are driven by a desire to do what they believe is best: it usually begins with ambition. Ambition tends to lead a person to lust whatever they desire and to try to achieve it. Lust is usually thought to be a bad emotion: in such a way that it tends to become evil, but in Macbeth it also shows a good side: showing the perseverance and pride it gives to the person.
Lust tends to blind a person from the reality of his ambition, driving them to do evil actions, no matter the consequences. This can be seen in Lady Macbeth, who after being told that the witches’ prophecy about how Macbeth will become …show more content…

This pride and perseverance can be seen in young Siward who was not afraid to deal with Macbeth. After Siward was told his son died because of a chest he said, “Why then, God’s soldier be he!/ Had I as many sons as I have hairs,/ I would not wish them to a fairer death/. And so, his knell is knolled (V. viii. 47-50). Young Siward was brave to confront and risk his own life to be able to accomplish his ambition of bringing back Scotland to its original ways. All of Malcolm´s ambition was for Scotland and if he did not do what is right for Scotland he failed his country and family, “Oh, I could play the woman with mine eyes/And braggart with my tongue! But, gentle heavens, /Cut short all intermission. Front to front/Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself./Within my sword’s length set him; if he ’scape,/ Heaven forgive him too” (IV.iii. 237-242). Malcolm lust and ambition was greater because he felt responsible for his family, but also for Scotland. This proves that lust is not a bad thing, it can also be done for the right

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