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Theme Of Macbeth's Ambition

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In Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, Macbeth’s ambition is his downfall

Ambition is defined as a strong desire to do or achieve something. It has an important role in William Shakespeare’s play the Tragedy of Macbeth.

The main character Macbeth starts out as a brave warrior. At the very beginning the captain describes his and Banquo’s actions on the battlefield: “I must report they were / As cannons overcharged with double cracks, / So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe" (1.2.37-39).
The three witches prophecy that he will become first the Thane of Cawdor and then the King of Scotland. When he gains the title the Thane of Cawdor, he realizes that there might be some truth to the prophecy and his ambition starts to grow. As King Duncan, much to Macbeth 's astonishment, announces that his son Malcom will be the next king, Macbeth says: "[s]tars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires" (1.4.50-51), which gives the audience an insider sight to his jealousy. He agrees to his wife 's ambitious plan to murder King Duncan, but he has second thoughts about it until Lady Macbeth haunts him to continue with the plan. …show more content…

After he 's crowned the King of Scotland, Macbeth remembers the witches ' prophecy how Banquo 's descendants will be kings, and due to his ambitious nature and a great hunger for power, he hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son

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