What is ambition? Ambition is the longing to obtain success and power. The literature pieces during the Anglo- Saxon and Renaissance era illustrated the firm aspect of ambition. In Beowulf, Federigos Falcon and Macbeth ambition is both evident but strong. The characters in the literature pieces illustrated ambition throughout their triumphant journeys and showcase their braveness, desire, and power.
Everyone dreams about perhaps one day achieving their goals and dreams that could sometimes be impossible unless braveness is demonstrated. Why do individuals still try even though their chances could sometimes be very minimum? Initially, several characters demonstrated the idea of ambition with their act of braveness. In both the epic poetry Beowulf and the play Macbeth, Beowulf and Macbeth demonstrated braveness upon many ways. Beowulf demonstrated how you should never be afraid of anyone or anything size doesn’t matter. Beowulf decided to fight the tremendous dragon without worrying of the outcome. Beowulf showed braveness in the poetry because he did something that no one else would do, which was to fight the dragon. As mentioned in the poetry “no one else could do what I mean to, here, no man but me” (Beowulf 645). Macbeth portrayed his braveness in a different perspective. Macbeth chased his ambition to become the King he was willing to do anything for it. Macbeth showed the act of braveness by instead of protecting his king he would kill him. Macbeth mentioned “I am
“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erlaps itself and falls on th’ other-” (Shakespeare 321). Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth portrays many characters with high aspirations that not only shape the plot and action of the story, but also the themes. Additionally, the intentions of the characters and the intensity of their pursuit varies as the action of the play progresses. Throughout The Tragedy of Macbeth, main characters exemplify the positive and negative influence of ambitions through their thoughts, traits, actions, and motivations.
Within Macbeth, there are numerous representations of human values and conflicts, including duty vs. desire, the effects of a guilty conscience on the human journey and the differences between genders, and the superiority of men within the play, and the modern era. The value foregrounded throughout this text is the representations of ambition within the play Macbeth, and we will be focusing on the protagonist of the story, ironically named Macbeth.
Ambition is often the driving force in one’s life. It can have an extremely dominant impact on not only yourself, but also many people in your surroundings. You have the ability to control if the outcomes either have a lasting negative or positive effect. When a goal requires determination and hard work to complete, personal morals often take a back seat to the aspiration of accomplishing the goal. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, it is clear that like many other great leaders, Macbeth exemplifies the necessary leadership virtue of ambition. Macbeth’s ambition does not just drive him to do great things. It in fact controls him. The playwright explores the idea of how an individual’s ambition can cause them to deceive others, make irrational
There are many different themes displayed in Shakespeare's famous play Macbeth. Many of these themes play with nature, the supernatural, and fate. From ghosts to horses eating each other the play uses symbolism, language, and characters to portray these themes. During the play the audience learns of several themes such as ambition, guilt, fate versus free will, nature versus the unnatural, and how things are not always as they seem.
The word hamartia refers to a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero,
Beowulf strongly portrays ambition clearly. Beowulf is an epic soldier who is greater than any ordinary man. King Hrothgar has a monster that goes by the name Grendel that is torturing his kingdom and killing his people. Beowulf hears about the murders and terror Grendel is causing and instantly knows this is something he has to deal with because he knows no ordinary man can kill this fearful monster. Beowulf sets out on the journey to find Grendel and kill him. When Grendel arrives at the kingdom to dine on the sleeping guards Beowulf awakes and gets into an epic battle with him. After he kills Grendel, he hears of another monster roaming the swamp which makes his ambition kick back into play causing him to jump into the dark and rough waters after the beast which is Grendel’s mother who is later defeated in the battle. After the death of the two
Ambition has been a driving force of humanity since the beginning of time. Emotions have always had a strong influence on humanity, specifically emotions that tend towards the ruin of others and the gain another. Throughout the history of humanity there have been many examples of people abusing their position of power, to gain something they more than likely did not deserve. Whether it be Hitler and his repulsive ascension to becoming chancellor of Germany, or Kim Jong Un’s obsession with obtaining nuclear weapons at the cost of the people, humanities struggle with greed is unceasing. No one better illustrates this unrelenting thirst for power more than Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is a good, brave, and beloved man at the beginning of the play with the end of his latest battle heralding a new title for him. Fate though, seems to have different plans for the good, albeit, ambitious Macbeth. He is told by the 3 weird sisters that he will one day become king. Thus igniting the flame of greed within Macbeth, signaling his descent into madness and the guilt he feels towards the deeds he has done. Lady Macbeth is much the same in the sense that once she knew of Macbeths own ambition, it hatched her own deep seeded desire for the crown as well. However, there various similarities end with the death of Duncan and the way they both deal with the guilt over what they did. In the play Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have similarly great ambition, but this intense avarice in the end leads to their ruin in differing ways.
Both Shakespeare's Macbeth and Ridley Scott's gladiator, cleverly establish the unfavorable effect and repercussions of the blinding ambition through antagonists Commodus and Macbeth. Macbeth transforms from a noble soldier to a tyrant ruler due to his unbridled ambition to become king. Likewise, gladiators ruler Commodus, is depicted as ambiguous as he is controlled by his irrepressible ambition, instigating his undoing. Through both texts, antiheroes 'Maximus' and 'Macduff' render the great chain of being. Through techniques, the composers acknowledge how ambition can often result in having adverse consequences.
When the desire to achieve is greater than the foregone conclusion people begin to risk what they usually would not. Ambition is defined as a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. In both Shakespeare's Macbeth and Jon krakauer's Into Thin Air ambition is what drives characters to achieve and to ignore consequences
Scotland, PA. Macbeth and Scotland, PA. are both the same story that just happens to take place in different settings and situations. The majority of the two story lines are consistent between each other, both convey themes of high ambition leading to a path of destruction, being hungry for power, pretending to be someone you are not and guilt. Ambition itself is not a bad thing.
Ambition is usually a fantastic tool to have and has done amazing things for mankind in the past, but if ambition fogs your conscious it can cause anyone to do terrible things. One way Shakespeare shows ambition is in Macbeth's aside after Fleance is announced heir to the throne "Stars, hide your fires, let not light
Everyone has a since of ambition built inside of them. Your inner self determines whether you keep it under the surface or let it all come out. In the play Macbeth ambition gets the best of the main character. This is also evident in the novel Frankenstein with its main character. Both of these characters were fallen victims of their own inner ambitious ways. Ambition in both of these books is key to the understanding of each character’s actions.
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth focuses on the subject of ambition and its psychological burdens. He makes it clear that Macbeth did commit to his hateful deeds responding to the psychological burden of his sins. A respected Thane, who has shown great loyalty to King Duncan, goes from a vigorous and worthy soldier to a shameless murderer presents himself as Macbeth
‘Macbeth’ is a tragic play written by William Shakespeare in the sixteen hundred, it dramatizes the physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those who seek power through the character of Macbeth. ‘The Pursuit Of Happyness’ likewise is a film directed by Gabriel Muccino who portrays a man named Chris Gardener who through his hard work and dedicated ambition goes from living on the streets to a rich stockbroker. In Macbeth and pursuit of happiness, both authors explore how ambition can…. (thesis). Macbeth's ambition is portrayed in a negative light as it is aimed to gain power and status, however, Chris ambition is pushed by his desire to gain happiness and a better future for him and his son. Similarly, both characters endure toxic spousal relationships that help them to tap into their ambition but it leads to different portrayal of ambition. Macbeth and Chris eventually both face the outcome of their ambition for Macbeth it being his doom where else for Chris it being his success. Shakespeare and Gabriel Muccino explore the theme of ambition through the protagonists of both plays.
Many Shakespearian dramas, like Macbeth, are inspired by the ancient Greek notion of tragedy and the fall of man; much of which is powered by one’s lust for greater gains. Correspondingly, the play reveals how ambition creates the capability of deteriorating a man’s morality and world. This is presented through the titular character and his “dearest partner of greatness” (P. 23) and the consequences of their actions.