What is ambition? Ambition is described as eager for success, power or fame. For Macbeth. Ambition was what drove him to become great, it forced him to change his nature towards evil. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth was portrayed as a courageous soldier who fought for his King without mercy. But once the witches planted the seeds of greater things and Lady Macbeth fuelled his ambition, which lead him to become greedy and power hungry.
Macbeth was led down to an unescapable road of doom by an outside force, namely fate in the form of the three witches. There was no supernatural force working against Macbeth, which therefore makes him responsible for his own actions and inevitable downfall. Macbeth is indeed responsible for his own
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When Macduff learns that his family is murdered, he begins to despair. Malcolm, not wanting to let anything get in the way of his ambition, tells Macduff to "dispute it like a man." (4.3.221). Since Malcolm is a young man; he does not have a wife or kids and disregards Macduff 's pain as a sign of weakness. Note that even if Malcolm had a family and understood Macduff 's pain fully, he would still have been reckless and put revenge above anything else. Malcolm 's father was a good man who lost his life at the hands of the man he trusted the most; Malcolm is not going to let Macduff 's personal tragedy get in the way of his goal of destroying Macbeth. When Macduff responds by saying that first he must feel pain like a man, Malcolm responds by telling Macbeth to make his grief "be this the whetstone of your sword. Let grief convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it." (4.3.230- 231). While Malcolm is more understanding of the pain Macduff feels, he still convinces him to move on. When he says "let grief convert to anger", he means for Macduff to use his sorrow as his anger so he can move on with his life and destroy the man responsible for his sorrow: Macbeth. Malcolm truly does feel bad about Macduff losing his family, but unlike Macduff, he has
Macduff is expressing his thoughts on what he knows is the right thing to do, and is even urging Malcolm to make the right choice. He is voicing his concerns for his homeland, knowing that leaving Macbeth on the throne would only bring chaos. So, as a loyal follower of King Duncan, he did what was right and achieved
Avaunt! And quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee! / Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; / Thou hast no speculation in those eyes / Which thou dost glare with! (III.iv.109-103). Macbeth’s deranged actions at the banquet show that any actions he takes past that point, including ordering the death of Macduff’s family, should not be held personally against Macbeth as his mental health has deteriorated to the point that he is no longer sane. Moreover, it is arguable that Macbeth is under the impression that Macduff and his family are dangerous to him. The witches, in the First Apparition shown to Macbeth, tells him to “Beware Macduff! / Beware the Thane of Fife” (IV.i.78-79). This is a direct mention of the danger posed by Macduff against Macbeth, and as Macduff has escaped, Macbeth can only attempt to punish Macduff’s family in order to dissuade him from acting against Macbeth’s regime. Finally, Macduff betrayed and committed high treason against King Macbeth for fleeing to a foreign power to assist an enemy of the state, Malcolm. Macduff’s goal to dethrone Macbeth is clearly shown when he requests that he and Malcolm must “Macduff.
When the reader is introduced to Macbeth in the play, King Duncan of Scotland is hearing how General Macbeth and General Banquo subdued Norwegian forces and arrested the Thane of Cawdor for treason. He seems to have a high moral standing and is a strong character, but Macbeth and Banquo meet three witches in the woods, they refer to him as Baron of Glamis, Baron of Cawdor, and then king. They also say that although Macbeth will be king, Banquo's sons will become kings as well, even if Banquo will not. Macbeth was already Baron of Glamis, and did not yet know that the king of Scotland had named him Baron of Cawdor in place of the one arrested for treason. He thought that the witches were insane but once he heard news that he was indeed
Human nature, the dictation of an individual’s actions, is controlled by two majors force of loyalty and ambition. The play Macbeth, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, revolves around the story of Macbeth and his rise from the thane of Cawdor to the King of Scotland through multiple bloody murders. His malevolent acts lead him to be hated by many, prompting a revolt that ends his reign. Initially, Macbeth was shown to be loyal follower, never thinking to do anything that would contrast his allegiance to the king. Upon hearing a prophecy of his future to become king, a spark of ambition ignited within Macbeth that drove him to commit foul acts in order to gain kingship. Macbeth’s loyal characteristics and ambitions could not coexist, and as one fought for control against the other, Macbeth delved further into darkness culminating in his fall and death. Throughout the play of Macbeth, Shakespeare depicts that it is human nature to struggle with the balance of one’s own obligations as well as the desires and ambitions that drives them; he presents this struggle as impossible to overcome, with it eventually leading one’s self to the brink of insanity.
Ambition is a strong desire to achieve great things. In Macbeth, three witches tell Macbeth his fate. In Act I, Scene 3 the witches say, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth!
It is obvious that Macbeth has ambition, as most people who are in power do. In fact, ambition is often a necessary quality of people in such high standing as Macbeth is. However, Macbeth’s ambition does not just drive him to do great things. It in fact controls him
‘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.
The key is to pursue a healthy ambition. Many people including myself want to be successful in life but the characteristics that pushes someone towards success can sometimes turn into a game where winning is not about achieving, its about the other person. Seek your ambition correctly. Macbeth's ambition on the other hand, caused him to be influenced by the witches to be deceitful and to be a ruthless murderer.
“Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principals which direct them.” - Napoleon Bonaparte. Ambition can be defined as the desire and willingness to strive towards achievement or distinction, the motivation in one’s life, it is one of the key sources to success but ambition can blind one from determining what’s right and what’s wrong. On the contrary, driving ambition is the outright desire to achieve a certain goal, regardless of any possible consequences. When ambition goes unhindered by a sense of morality and, humanity it can be a corrupting influence destroying people and, nations. In “Macbeth” by William
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.
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.
Ambition is a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. In Williams Shakespeare 's Macbeth the characters Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have a strong desire to ascend the throne and they are determined to do whatever it takes in order to achieve this goal, including deceiving and killing those they are closest to. The zeal of ambition predominately persuades both characters actions in Macbeth. Lady Macbeth portrays how the forces of ambition strike her to instil a powerful drive in her husband, also how she demonstrates an overweening pride and lack of morals in order to reach a goal and lastly how ambition leads Macbeth to betray those cares about most.
It’s good to have ambition, as it’s the foundation of a successful life. Ambition means to have strong desire towards achieving something. Because of this, it’s true that one without ambition will struggle, however sometimes, our own ambitions and desires can change us for the negative. Ambition in its nature can tempt obsessive behaviour, which has a destructive nature of its own. When an ambition purely of passion turns into obsession, it ultimately forces one to only focus on that and do anything to achieve that goal. Shakespeare’s Macbeth is the perfect example of where the theme of obsessive ambition is prevalent. Shakespeare through the protagonist Macbeth conveys how our own desires, if
“I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’ other‘.” William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ explores the central themes of guilt, ambition and power. Yet Shakespeare’s intentions were to suit the expectations and knowledge of the audience in the Elizabeathan society.
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.