Ambition In Macbeth

Shakespeare introduces Macbeth’s thoughts concerning his dilemma in Act I Scene VII. First, he tries convincing himself that betraying Duncan is unthinkable due to a “double trust.” As both Duncan's “kinsman and his subject” as well “as his host,” Macbeth would violate his duties as a host, a kinsman, and a subject. During this time period furthermore, many of these duties were taken seriously, especially as a host. For these reasons, Macbeth is hesitant to continue with “this business.”

After hearing the prophecy that he will become king, Macbeth resolves to leave his future up to fate proving his pride and prestige are very important to him. Once he is told of Malcolm being named successor to the throne, Macbeth decides that if he is going to reach his goal he cannot leave it up to luck. Again Macbeth’s resolve to murder Duncan wavers when he leaves the grand banquet to assess his situation and decide whether he wants to proceed. His arguments include wishing to keep his honor and not kill Duncan for Duncan is there ‘in double trust’. Thus, Macbeth is shown to be clinging to his honor. Finally, Macbeth must stand his ground one last time against his wife who uses tact to emasculate Macbeth. In his final attempt to stop the whole ordeal before it can start Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that he does not want to ‘cast aside’ the honor he has just recently received. Unfortunately, Lady Macbeth will have none of what her husband is saying and so convinces Macbeth to follow through with his plan of murdering King Duncan. Hence, the audience is given the first example of how powerful selfish motives are and how quickly they can spread to others along with cause them to perform unthinkable

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

‘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.

Ambition is Dangerous and Can Lead to Terrible Consequences Ambition is a good quality in human beings, but it can also be paradoxically bad as well. The consequences that ambition may sometimes lead to do not only affect the individual but may also have consequences on others around that person. In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, there are many characters whose ambitions lead them to terrible consequences. For example, ambition can cause an individual to become greedy causing grief like how Lady Macbeth’s greed to become Queen of Scotland, leads to her depression. Also, ambition can result in a person to become inconsiderate with terrible consequences such as, Macduff’s decision to leave his family in Scotland resulting in their death.

Ambition is defined as, having strong want or desire for more than you have. In the story “Macbeth”, ambition contributes to the devolvement of the characters. The three witches are the source of such ambition in this story. It’s almost as if they control the negative or even dark, selfish ambition of the characters Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Banquo.

Throughout time, greed can take shape of thoughts and emotions and guide down paths of ill will. The prophecy made by the three witches in Shakespeare’s, Macbeth, drives Macbeth upon a path of destruction to fulfill his destiny. The predictions made by the three witches show how one must not take every word sincerely and become overconfident, because assumptions can lead to misinterpretation, which in turn can lead to downfall. Macbeth and Banquo, the Thane of Lochaber, both receive prophecies from the three witches, which they each interpret differently (with a focus on Macbeth).

Macbeth, a tradgedy writen by William Shaekespear and first preformed in 1606 expresses themes through imagery, motif, symbolism, etc. The main theme in this play, as well as the theme that stood out to me the most was, the destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints. Oxford Dictionary defines the word ambition: A strong desire to do or achieve something. Characters including, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, show that they are ambitious through ambition and actions.

Scene VII of act I of macbeth begins with Macbeth speaking a soliloquy that shows his own opinion of becoming king by killing Duncan. Throughout the rest of the act, his resolve shifts as a result of his wife’s persuasion. He starts his soliloquy by wishing that killing King Duncan were the only step in becoming king. If there were no further consequence resulting from Duncan’s death, then the murder would “be the be-all and the end-all here” and he would do it. But that is not the case. There are consequences to such heinous actions. Macbeth has a strong sense of what is going to happen if he and his wife follow through with killing King Duncan. He and his wife would be setting an example for others, giving them “bloody instructions” that would later come back to haunt them. Macbeth believes that is how justice works, that their own “poison’d chalice” would be delivered to their “own lips”. Following his speculation on “justice”, Macbeth states how the king “double trust[s]” him. That elevated trust makes the “even-handed justice” well deserved if Macbeth does murder Duncan. Having swore his loyalty to the king as “his kinsmen and his subject”, Macbeth has the role of protecting the Duncan. In addition, Macbeth is Duncan’s host, so he should “shut the door” against Duncan’s murderer. It is especially wrong for a host to “bear the knife [them]self”. Trying hard to convince himself that killing Duncan is a terrible idea, Macbeth jumps to another reason. Macbeth tells of

Lady Macbeth uses Macbeth’s greatest quality against him, cowardness. As seen in early scenes in act 1 this general is far from a coward. In fact rather complete opposite due to his peers thinking of him as double killing the dead. This hits him rather hard and his wife knows this, which in turns makes his actions fall less about what he wants and more toward acceptance. He lets acceptance of others fill his mind and leading him to a demonic state of mind.

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

It is no surprise that everyone lacks the best of themselves. Most of the things we desire are too good to be true, so we must go around whatever is preventing our temptations and turn our dreams into reality. But whatever is blocking the way can be for a good cause like getting you out of trouble or preventing issues that may result in the future. In the tragedy of Macbeth, William Shakespeare shows how the ambition or possession of power causes an individual to change from devotion to apathetic. Macbeth, the character in the play, serves as a perfect example on how the inheritance of power fills an individual's mind full of selfishness.

The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare recounts Macbeth's meteoric rise as a soldier and promising future leader whose megalomaniacal ambition led to his tragic downfall. In addition to Macbeth's ambitions, which initially enable him to be strong leader and soldier, he is influenced heavily by his wife, Lady Macbeth, and the three witches that prophesize his ascent to the throne, as well as warn him of his eventual demise. It can be argued that it is Macbeth's ambition that allows him to succeed in his endeavors, however the goals to which he is working toward influence the results of his hard work. Macbeth's ambitions help him to become a war hero, and as his goals change, his ambitions drive him to become a tyrannical villain.

Having at least considered that, Macbeth shows an admirable feature; he knows that it isn't right and is something which he shouldn't be even thinking about. Macbeth also considers that King Duncan is at his house in double trust. Firstly because "I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed;" (Lines 13-14) and secondly because "then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself" (Lines 14-16). Macbeth's aspiration of being king is great, yet he does consider the reasons why he should leave things as it is, and this causes us to admire Macbeth and his reasoning because we know how much Macbeth had wanted to be king, yet he decided to not go ahead.

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.