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Ambition In Macbeth Research Paper

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In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, ambition is largely responsible for Macbeth’s downfall because of his intense greed for power along with the ruthless driving force of Lady Macbeth. Without ambition, both Macbeth and his wife would not have been so eager to believe the witches’ prophecies which lead him to his defeat.
Macbeth initiates his own ‘black and deep desires’ to become king after choosing to believe the ambiguous prophecies. The witches take advantage of his gullibility saying he will ‘be king hereafter’ increasing his thirst for the throne and encourages him to murder King Duncan. Macbeth, confident under the influence of the witches, misunderstands ‘for none of a woman born shall harm Macbeth’ resulting in equivocation. By believing …show more content…

Macbeth decides that they ‘have scorched the snake, not killed it’ due to Banquo’s growing suspicion surrounding Duncan’s murder. Macbeth, feeling threatened of having a ‘fruitless crown’, acknowledges that his ‘fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be fear'd’. Out of panic, Macbeth sends for Banquo to be killed to avoid any interference that he may cause. This reinstates the fact that Macbeth’s gluttony and desperation to be king results in destroying his once moral character and his bloody actions ‘return to plague th’inventor’: his defeat.
The ambition which Macbeth possesses is liable for his own downfall: had he not wanted the throne so desperately, would he not have so easily accepted the witches’ predictions or been so heavily affected by Lady Macbeth’s influential manipulation. Macbeth’s ambition soon spirals out of control and forces him to murder again and again to cover up his previous wrongdoings. Shakespeare doesn’t give him a chance to enjoy his achievement -perhaps suggesting that his drive was either too excessive or the wrong kind of

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