What Role Does Ambition Play In Macbeth's Downfall

In the play ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare, ambition is characterised as dangerous and irrational. To have an ambition is to have a strong desire to achieve something, in the play Macbeth himself has a strong desire to become king, causing him to act irrationally and certifiably insane. Macbeths ambition is dangerous as he believes the only way to become king (after hearing the witches prophecy) is to murder King Duncan. Macbeth believes that Duncan’s death will bring him success he believes it to the point of being willing to risk his life, ‘we’d jump the life to come’ (I.VII.7). Lady Macbeth’s ambition is for Macbeth to become king and for them as a couple to have more power. In the play lady Macbeth starts plotting Duncan’s assassination

Shakespeare presents the theme of ambition in Macbeth. Ambition is a strong desire to do or achieve something, ambition can also be presented in a positive and negative way. Shakespeare presents ambition in a negative way through some characters who are Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and King Duncan. The reason these characters present ambition in a negative way is because they end up dying. Ambition is also present in a positive way through some characters who are Macduff, Witches and Malcolm these are the characters who survive in the play showing that you can be ambitious but not too ambitious.

Macbeth is the Shakespearean play that features the triumphant uprise and the inevitable downfall of its main character. In this play, Macbeth’s downfall can be considered to be the loss of his moral integrity and this is achieved by ambition, despite this, Lady Macbeth and the witches work through his ambition, furthering to assist his inevitable ruin. Ambition alone is the most significant factor that led to Macbeth’s downfall. The witches are only able to influence his actions through Macbeth’s pre-existing and the three witches see that Macbeth has ambition and uses it to control his action.

The play “Macbeth”, by William Shakespeare illustrates many themes through the characters from the beginning to the end of the story. But the main central theme introduced is Ambition and Greed. As the play goes on we read how Macbeth permits his Ambition and Greed to dictate the outcomes and tragedy’s that occur to himself and others. The main examples of Ambition and Greed is seen through Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff.

Hamartia is the fatal flaw of a tragic hero. Macbeth’s hamrita is being too ambitious. One if the time that Macbeth showed his ambition is when he killed Duncan. Macbeth killed Duncan because he wanted to be king, but before that, Duncan, the King of Scotland had just pronounced his son next in line for king. Macbeth says this to himself when he is preparing to kill Duncan.

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.

Helen Keller once said “character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” People inspired by ambition can accomplish great things. However, when tempted by their desires, people can destroy themselves as well. 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.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare presents a concept wary of the damaging psychological and political consequences of ambition unchecked by morality. To prove this, the essay will chronologically connect a tragedy’s structural component, (initial incident, rising action, climax, falling action and denouement), with a corresponding stage of Macbeth’s rise and fall from tyranny. Additional themes like the supernatural, the corrupting power of ambition and kingship against tyranny explore the multitudinous expressions of his ambition. Analysis from themes reinforced by the greater concept will ultimately reveal enduring ideas about the common nature between Macbeth’s Shakespearean ambition with contemporary ambition.

Lastly, the motif of prophecy emphasizes the theme of ambition. The first prophecy from the three witches illustrates this. The witches reveal to Macbeth that he will be the thane of Cawdor and the future king of Scotland. They say to Macbeth, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (I, iii, 49-51) The prophecy from the three witches influences Macbeth, making him believe that he can become king of Scotland. All doubt is removed from Macbeth’s mind. He knows that the prophecy will become true; that he will eventually become king. Macbeth’s ambition is realized here, because since he now knows that his efforts to become king will not fail, he can resort to methods such as murder. Macbeth believes in the witches’ prophecies, so he asks them for a second vision. This second vision also represents Macbeth’s ambition. Macbeth asks the witches to reveal possible threats, and becomes reassured when he hears the prophecy. He says, “And take a bond of fate. Thou shalt not live, That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, And sleep in spite of thunder.” (IV, i, 87-89) The second prophecy symbolizes Macbeth’s desire to maintain his position as king. Macbeth knows that the witches’ prediction will come true due to his experience with the first prophecy. Nevertheless, he asks about his downfall to try and prevent it. Macbeth’s ambition to become king is so strong that he will try to twist destiny satisfy his ambition. The three witches’ prophecies strengthen Macbeth’s ambition. They remove all doubt from his mind and guarantees success, and also makes Macbeth try to change his fate to stay as

Throughout Shakespeare’s Macbeth it becomes evident that Macbeth’s demise as the tragic hero occurs as a consequence of his own actions. Macbeth examines themes of overarching ambition, changing and controlling fate, and disruptions in the natural order. These ideas are exemplified through Macbeth’s characterisation as the tragic hero, through the emphasis that is placed upon his hamartia and through the evidence of his attempts to change his fate. This is supported through Act 1, Scene 7 as Macbeth encounters the witches and his fatal flaw is exposed, throughout Act 3 as the disparity of Macbeth’s morality and psychological state progressively declines, resulting in his eventual demise

To concluded, Macbeth through the whole play you can see his desire rising more and more. The witches’ prophecy dud wrong to Macbeth and made him ending up in a bad place which its death. Ambition didn’t leave anything good him. He committed murders and even lead him to lose everything he

What is ambition? Ambition is the determination to achieve one’s goals. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare the protagonist, Macbeth, possesses ambition, which led to his downfall. In the play Macbeth’s ambition is driven by prophecies from witches and his wife’s aspiration. Ambition caused Macbeth to commit multiple homicides and after those wrongdoings Macbeth is left with nothing. At the end of the play, Macbeth’s ambition caused him to lose Lady Macbeth to suicide and to no longer have moral sense. Ambition led to Macbeth’s downfall because Lady Macbeth and the witches caused him to make brainless decisions that caused his collapse.

Ambition is a powerful force and is a common motif. While ambition does positively benefit the wielder by giving them the necessary will and motivation to pursue after their goals and dreams, it can also harm those around the person. In doing so, the person themselves is also harmed. In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, it is clearly shown how ambition’s negative impact on others plays into the harm it beings on the wielder.

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.

The tragedy of Macbeth is a story of a man reaping the consequences of selfishness, pride, lust, and, ultimately, greed. Macbeth is greatly honoured in the eyes of King Duncan. He allows the opinions of others and the evil prophecies of sorcery to dictate his attitude and actions. Macbeth commits a series of gruesome deeds, convinced that he will have complete happiness as king. He gets everything he desires, yet is still overwhelmed by the power of paranoia and guilt from his actions. His greed brings temporal joy, but later causes social and mental insanity. Although the fictional tragedy portrays a practical lesson for one’s character, it also has a spiritual application.