Macbeth was always power-hungry as soon as he found out that he can kill Duncan , his first thoughts about it was “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man ,That function is smother 'd in surmise, and nothing is but what is not.” Macbeth’s first thought after realising that he can be a king was to murder Duncan, That indicates that Macbeth always wanted to kill King Duncan to take the throne and when Lady macbeth got the letter from his husband explaining that the witches prophesied him saying that he can be a king the first thing that came in her mind was to kill Duncan and take over. She also talks about Macbeth always wanted to do it but he isn’t man enough to do this task “ Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be ,What thou art promised.
To continue his family’s name but also assuring he has a lot of power he had to kill King Duncan as shown in Act 2 Scene 1 lines 33-35 Macbeth says “Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?” this was when he was on his way to murder Duncan. Macbeth also had to murder his companion Banquo and others to keep his ambition going.
The theme of ambition is clearly seen from the several hallucinations that Macbeth experiences throughout the play. Moments before the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth imagines a bloody dagger with the handle pointing towards his hand, and said dagger guides him into Duncan’s room before vanishing. While following the dagger, Macbeth says to himself, “I see thee yet, in form as palpable /As this which now I draw. /Thou marshall’st me the way that I was going; /And such an instrument I was to use.” (2.1.47-50) The dagger strengthens Macbeth’s conviction to murder the king. The dagger prompts Macbeth to hold its handle, guides him to Duncan’s room, and splotches of blood materialize to confirm that the king will die. Therefore, the actions
Both greed and power, if not controlled, can lead to destruction. Throughout William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, Shakespeare uses both characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to demonstrate how ambition can change one’s personal relationships. As in the beginning of Act 1, Scene 7 Macbeth and Lady Macbeth do not share the same ambition, and it is because of this that their relationship lacks love and affection however through the use of persuasion and other means, Lady Macbeth is able to get Macbeth to pursue her ambition. This not only changes their relationship drastically but it also changes Macbeth’s attitude towards ambition.Throughout the play, Shakespeare shows us through Macbeth, the possibility for ambition to eventually turn into greed and how the lust for power may corrupt us. This type of sentiment can be seen when Macbeth says “ Bloody instructions,being taught, return to plague the inventor” (Act 1, scene 7). Here, with the use of personification, we can see that Macbeth is wrestling with his ambition, as he is still toying with the idea of whether to kill Duncan or not. Macbeth is aware that murdering Duncan is bad and could eventually lead to even more bloodshed, he is also aware that murdering Duncan could ruin his honor which he greatly values. Macbeth states that Duncan is a good man and a good king, and from this he decides that ambition is not enough to justify the possible regicide of King Duncan. Lady Macbeth, on the other hand will do anything to pursue
Through the tragic play Macbeth, William Shakespeare depicts that unchecked ambition unsupported with effort will lead to nothing but detrimental outcomes. More specifically, Macbeth's “vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself” ended up being a larger hinderance than advantage, single handedly leading to the demise of himself and the demise of others around him. Macbeth's ambition was the cause of death of many people that surrounded him. The first to die to because of Macbeth's ambition was the king.
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.
Typically, ambition is seen as a positive attribute. However in the play of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, it is seen as a character flaw that will be a central character's downfall, as is the case with Macbeth. His self proclaimed “vaulting ambition” corrupted his once intact morals and was his undoing. Macbeth is an example of a Shakespearean tragedy, where the protagonist starts at the top and, due to hubris, loses everything. The prophecy, “All hail Macbeth!
Macbeth is also one of the most ambitious character as he does many crimes to achieve the power and become the King. Macbeth’s ambition started when the witches told him about the prophecies because of these prophecies he killed King Duncan and planned to kill Banquo. Before Macbeth killed the King, even though he was really ambitious he still thought before killing Duncan this shows ambition in a positive way. However, he still killed King Duncan this shows ambition in a negative way. The first time Macbeth met the witches one thing they said to Banquo was that his son will rule the world in the fear that someone will take his kingship he tried to kill Banquo’s son.
A play that I have studied which explores the important theme of ambition is Macbeth, a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The Thane of Glamis receives prophecies from three witches, which Macbeth tells. However, the king must be killed for these prophecies to be fulfilled. Shakespeare uses characterisation and soliloquies to help us understand this theme. We are shown how ambition affects Scotland as a whole – we see how Shakespeare demonstrates how this can deeply affect characters and relationships between both couples and friends.
Macbeth was working toward being the king of Scotland in the beginning after meeting the three wired sisters. And being told that he was king to be, so it inspired him to do anything that he had to to become king. It did not matter the circumstances he would do it. Even if that meant killing his best friend. He down was cause by him killing Macduff’s family.
In Macbeth, ambition is presented as a dangerous quality. It causes the downfall of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and triggers a series of deaths throughout the play. Macbeth’s ambition
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.
Corruption, it’s something that can destroy a nation, a country, a family, a friendship. It can obtain many forms, and it can happen in many ways. It could happen to anyone, including a loyal and brave soldier. Macbeth being a respectable soldier and friend had let power corrupt him, but what ensures us that power is what corrupted him.
These desires can simply be too much for any one person or two to overcome. In William Shakespeare’s dramatic tragedy ‘Macbeth’, ambition is portrayed throughout and Macbeth, a Scottish Noblemen is overcome by his desires. His downfall and destruction was caused by his blind ambition leading to his fatal flaw. Before his ambition overtakes him, Macbeth is a loyal, honest man. He serves Duncan, the king of Scotland, with total devotion.
Is it not weird how ambition for power corrupts one corrupt and leads them to their destiny? Ambition for power is lust which tempts one to be corruptive to acquire and protect it. However, in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, it is evident that ambition for power ultimately leads to corruption when Macbeth’s ambition for power causes the assassination of King Duncan, when Macbeth’s ambition for power compels him to execute those who obstruct his inheritance to the Scottish Throne, and finally, when Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to assassinate the people who impede his Kingship of Scotland out of lust for power.