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Ambition In Jon Krakauer's Macbeth And Into Thin Air

Decent Essays

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
Jon Krakauer and Macbeth are two characters whose ambitions lead them down a path of guilt and fear. Macbeth’s ambition is what drives him to become king, and Jon’s ambition drives him top the top of Everest. At first does not like the idea of killing king Duncan, he describes this as “a thought so horrifying that it makes my hair stand on end and my heart pound inside my chest.” …show more content…

After hearing hearing the witches prophecies Macbeth considered his possibilities. He wanted to become king but his instincts lead him to the conclusion that murder would be wrong and could have serious consequences. Macbeth speaks with his wife who convinces him that murdering king Duncan is the opportunity they have been looking for. “Insert quote: lady macbeth convinces Macbeth” Her desire to become queen helps Lady Macbeth stand up to her husband and demanded he kill duncan. It is because of her evil desires that Macbeth finds himself at the tip of a sword. This is much like the situation of Rob Hall, the leader of the 1996 expedition, was put in. Rob Hall’s 1996 expedition did not consist of expert climbers but ordinary people trying to achieve something great. For Doug Hanson, a postal worker from Seattle, Hall’s expedition was chance to achieve something he once could not. His heart and mind was set on reaching the peak of Everest and because of this he finds himself putting the life another at risk. During the final push for the summit Rob Hall notices that time is running out. Turning around seemed like the only option at the time. For Doug Hansen it was not a matter of how but when. Being so close to the peak Doug was determined to continue

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