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Macbeth Ambition Essay

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The Influence of Ambition

Consequences such as the dreading constant thought of guilt can significantly impact a person’s life mentally, emotionally and physically. Guilt most often occurs due to a morally wrong act which one commits. The play Macbeth by William Shakespeare effectively demonstrates this statement since the protagonist, Macbeth, provides a good example as his tragic flaw damages him overall. The text establishes the theme that a selfish desire can destroy one’s conscience and morals due to over ambition. He advertises this life lesson towards the audience through usage of imagery and symbols to show universality. Shakespeare explores the theme by constructing obstacles, which develop distinct characteristics of the main characters, …show more content…

In this play in particular, light represented the good while dark represented the evil. Shakespeare refer to the imagery multiple times through character’s speeches. One way it is shown is when Macbeth calls on the darkness to hide his vicious thoughts and says “Let not light see my black and deep desires” (I.iiii.58) when Duncan claims him as the Thane of Cawdor.This is a turning point of the play because the first prophecy becomes true where is he now the Thane of Cawdor and makes Macbeth aim for the throne since there is now hope that the other prophecies become true. This also ignites Macbeth’s downfall towards the dark side as the quote shows. He furthermore says “The eye wink at the hand! Yet let it be” (I.iiii.59). In short, he is saying that he will not let his mind and conscience see what his actions and hands are doing. This further establishes that his conscience is warning him to not commit such wrong acts however his ambitions to capture the throne overpowers. Additionally, Lady Macbeth also begins to join the evil side like her husband once she found out that the prophecy came true. She delivers a speech in Act 1, Scene 5 which displays the willingness she has to do whatever is necessary to seize the crown. Her powerful ambition is the driving force of her husband’s doings since he is doubtful. In the speech she requests the dark to “ “Come, thick night /And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell /That my keen knife see not the wound it makes / Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark /To cry, ‘Hold, hold!’” (I.v.53-57) which means she wants the evil or ‘night’ to hide the atrocious actions which will occur. This concludes that Lady Macbeth also does not want anything or anyone such a conscience to see what dishonourable behaviour she will be convey, which is similar to what her husband wants. As in result, Shakespeare illustrates the strong concept of moral

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