A large part of William Shakespeare’s genius is attributed to his talent in examining human nature through his works. By weaving certain themes throughout his plays and poems, Shakespeare indirectly projected messages about the inherent fallacies of mankind. Such is the case with Macbeth. As classic literature goes, there are numerous themes found throughout the script. One of the most prevalent (if not the most prevalent) themes is that of blind ambition. It’s justifiable to say that blind ambition is the driving force of the plot. Nearly every major event in Macbeth was instigated, or, at the very least, influenced by various characters’ ambitious tendencies. The characters’ decisions, their influence over other characters, and moral degradation all exemplified the effect that blind ambition had. As stated, Macbeth displays blind ambition soon after hearing the Weird Sisters’ prophesy that he will be the king of Scotland. In Act 1, Scene 4, Macbeth states: “Let not light see my black and deep desires” (Macbeth from Folger Digital Library I. iv. 58). In that line, Macbeth explicitly acknowledges his ambition and the fact that it is malicious. Macbeth’s negative intent is considered “blind” ambition since the motives are not to help his nation but rather to bolster his own power--thus, there is no vision he is trying to fulfill. Action without vision leads to destruction. In the words of the Hebrew king Solomon: “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV Bible). Throughout Macbeth, characters were seen influencing others with their own ambition. One such instance was displayed via Macbeth’s interactions with his wife. Shakespeare revealed that Lady Macbeth was even more ambitious (and cruel) than her husband in Act 1, Scene 5 when Lady Macbeth states:
Glamis thou [referring to Macbeth] art, and Cawdor, and shalt be/What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness /To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great,/Art not without ambition, but without the illness (ruthlessness) should attend it. (Macbeth from Folger Digital Library I. v. 15-20)
These lines show Lady Macbeth thinking that while Macbeth ambitious, he lacks the “illness” (a
Throughout the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the reasoning of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is completely subverted and undermined by their insatiable ambition. Macbeth was at first reasonable enough to keep his ambition in check, however it eventually became to strong for even Macbeth and therefor over powered him. To the contrary, Lady Macbeth was overcome by her ambition from the very beginning. Reasoning was abandoned after the decision to kill Duncan was made. At that point we see no serious questioning of the motives of the three witches when they told their cunning and misleading predictions. Macbeth even went as far as to ask for their advise a second time - this second time would of course lead to his downfall. The decision to
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
Ambition is what motivates people to achieve a certain thing in their life. However, many fail if their ambition is too big and unreasonable. This is definitely the case for Macbeth in the William Shakespeare's play Macbeth. Macbeth's ambitious causes him to disregard his loyalty to Duncan. Moreover, Macbeths desires lead him to be immoral, going to extremes in order to achieve success. Ultimately, Macbeths deep aspirations for power demonstrates being over ambitious will end in disaster. Therefore, in the play Macbeth, Macbeths ambition leads him to corrupt his morality, resulting in his downfall
Macbeth, although manipulated by the witches and persuaded by his wife, is ultimately responsible for his own actions. At the beginning of the play, he is portrayed as the noble and courageous hero; by the end, however, the audience sees his brutal and power-hungry character drives him to fulfil his ambition. The three witches manipulate Macbeth through prophecies foretelling his fate. Lady Macbeth is also partly to blame for her taunting and eventual encouragement of her husband, leading him to his immoral choices. In the end, it is Macbeth’s many character flaws that drive him to his poor decisions and fateful end.
In the play Macbeth, ambition, strength, and insanity play major roles in how the characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth behave and react. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth present all 3 of these behaviors at one time or another during the play. However, there behaviors progress in very different ways. While Macbeth gets stronger and more ambitious, Lady Macbeth does the opposite. She starts out strong and ambitious, but becomes weaker and more reserved.
She is saying that Macbeth is ambitious but lacks the brutality of character (the illness) to carryout any evil deeds through. After this Lady Macbeth continues on, trying to convince Macbeth to murder Duncan and eventually succeeds. From the end of the first Act through the 2nd, Lady Macbeth has shown her “innocent-self” perfectly capable of committing heinous deeds. Yet eventually the “illness” gets the better of her, as it did Macbeth, and she kills herself unable to stand living with her burdens.
The writer, Shakespeare, illustrates to the audience that the consequences do not just affect the person who have the ambitions, but it also affects the people around them. He does this by expressing the ambition through the characters of Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are shown to be ambitious and their ambition feeds off of each other. Macbeth is initially shown to the audience as a brave and selfless soldier who is loyal to his king till the day he dies. But, once Macbeth hears the prophecy of the three witches’, (that he will become the King of Scotland), Macbeth changes. He develops a deep, dark and horrible ambition of ruthlessly murdering the king and taking his place. Macbeth then writes to Lady Macbeth telling her of his ambitions. This leads to Lady Macbeth provoking Macbeth’s ambitions instead of telling him to forget about it. As she provokes Macbeth the audience can clearly see that this woman is bad news. “Was the hope drunk?Wherein you dress'd yourself? hath it slept since?... and wakes it now, to look so green and pale which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting 'I
As we finished reading and analyzing the story of Macbeth, we have found out his ambition which is the pursuit of power. Macbeth's ambition led him to his own downfall and have done things that is out of his characteristics. Macbeth's ambition represents a universal human pursuit of power because they will do anything to an extent to obtain power, they can be encouraged by someone to take action to get what they desire, and it can lead them to their own "downfall".
In the case of Macbeth, William Shakespeare presents how his blind ambition gets the worst of him, and eventually results to his failure and death. Throughout the novel, it is shown how Macbeth has three major qualities that drove his blind ambition, which all led to consequences whether it be the loss of friends and family, or the loss of his own moral standards. In attempt to achieve all that is possible, Macbeth tragically lost all he had. Shakespeare effectively portrays the negatives of blind ambition, and how it may lead to one’s downfall. Blind ambition is a consuming quality that can drastically affect one’s life, but it is upon the person to either control it and use ambition for good, or to take advantage of the desire and use it towards one’s own selfish
She can manipulate Macbeth easily, this is shown in the line "That I may pour my spirits in thine ear". (I,V, 26) She is selfless, and wants what is best for her husband. Before the speech that Lady Macbeth gives, in act one scene five, Macbeth decides not to go through with the killing of the king. However, Lady Macbeth manipulates at Macbeth's self-esteem by playing on his manliness and his bravery. This then convinces Macbeth to kill the king..Macbeth is like a child who is easily gudied. Lady Macbeth knows this and acts on it accordingly. Although Macbeth has the final say in weather or not to go through with the initial killing, he loves Lady Macbeth and wants to make her happy. Lady Macbeth is the dominating one in the relationship which is shown in her soliloquy.
Lady Macbeth is more power hungry and ambitious then Macbeth is. She, through ambition she gives the finial push to Macbeth to kill Duncan the king of Scotland. Her power however, is not driven by the sisters, hers is greed. She wants to be Queen, she wants the power of being Queen. Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeths ambition is tragic flaw. Her ambition drives her to her to go crazy which ultimately drives her to her death. There is an instance where she is sleep walking, eyes open. She goes to her vanity and sits down, she looks at her hands a sees blood. Then she sticks her hand in the water bowl and attempts to wash them. When she pulls them back out the blood did not wash away. Only she can see the blood her maid and doctor see this happening and they just think that she is going crazy. This is only the beginning of her insaneness. Just before her death she vilely reads a letter that Macbeth sent to her, telling her that he was to be King some how. It is her guilt that kills her.
Macbeth: Macbeth is a prime example of ambition leading someone down the path of corruption and making a complete fool of himself. “From this moment the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand. And even now, to crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done: The castle of Macduff I will surprise, Seize upon Fife, give to th' edge o' th' sword, his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line.” Act 4.2 Macbeth starts off by saying that he will immediately act on his thoughts which is a terrible idea. He then makes macduff is enemy by killing macduff's family. Every Time macbeth acts on his thoughts he seals his fate and makes his situation worse. This is a common occurrence in the play, this idea of fate is challenged because the audience must determine if his fate is set or created by uncontrollable ambition.
In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, two important themes that take place in the play are ambition and prophecy. Ambition is often the motivating force in one's life. It is supposed to be the motivating factor that drives one towards success. In the play, Macbeth has ambition and desire for power that leads him at the end to his downfall. Furthermore, prophecy is done through the role of the three witches in the play. Prophecy has its effect on Macbeth and the decisions he makes throughout the play.
In the Tragedy Of Macbeth, Shakespeare uses ambition to gradually and effectively deepen our relationship with the character Macbeth. At the beginning of the play Macbeth is recognized as faithful and honorable until his mind is slowly manipulated. For example, The witches proclaim a prophecy to Macbeth, in which he will be King, “The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step On which I must fall down or else o'er leap, for in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.” (1.4.48-51) This language Shakespeare utilizes can influence us to believe that evil acts are done in the dark, so this suggests Macbeth does not want the “Stars” light to shine upon his dark sides and uncover his “deep desires”. The Prophecy motivates the release of Macbeth's deepest locked ambition. He has to decide for himself if he wants to take advantage of Duncan's arrival and fulfill his ambition or not: “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, Seize upon Fofe, give to th' edge o' th' sword His wife, his babies, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; This deed ill do before this purpose cool.” (4.1.150-154) Macbeth promises that he will not “boast”, he will not act as a fool when he carries out his deadly deed. He doesn't want to think about it, Macbeth is committed to his purpose as ever before. Did the witches trigger Macbeth's ambition to murder?
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.