The Pursuit of Ambition in Macbeth
Due date 15/03/2013
What fuels Malcolm 's interest in defending Scotland? Do his actions up to the final battle indicate that he 's prepared to be King? Is he ambitious? What is the difference between him and Macbeth, if they’re after the same throne?
Ambition: an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment.
Mainly three themes: lady Macbeth, Macbeth, Malcom what is the main difference of pursuit of ambition between these three?
MALCOLM
I admit that he’s murderous, lecherous, greedy, lying, deceitful, violent, malicious, and guilty of every sin that has a name. But there is no end, absolutely none,
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But for crimes like these there are still punishments in this world. By committing violent crimes we only teach other people to commit violence, and the violence of our students will come back to plague us teachers. Justice, being equal to everyone, forces us to drink from the poisoned cup that we serve to others. The king trusts me in two ways. First of all, I am his kinsman and his subject, so I should always try to protect him. Second, I am his host, so I should be closing the door in his murderer’s face, not trying to murder him myself. Besides, Duncan has been such a humble leader, so free of corruption, that his virtuous legacy will speak for him when he dies, as if angels were playing trumpets against the injustice of his murder. Pity, like an innocent newborn baby, will ride the wind with winged angels on invisible horses through the air to spread news of the horrible deed to everyone everywhere. People will shed a flood of tears that will drown the wind like a horrible downpour of rain. I can’t spur myself to action. The only thing motivating me is ambition, which makes people rush ahead of themselves toward disaster.
MALCOM: the man of justice, son of noble king Duncan and who finally rises to the throne after killing Macbeth. His ambition: to revenge the death of his father and save Scotland from tyranny of Macbeth.
British
1. An earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment
Although a great majority of the time, power corrupts decisions, it also can have a positive effect on choices. In the play Macbeth, one character who keeps in mind what is best for the people is Malcolm. As the son of King Duncan, Malcolm has virtuous morals and realizes that Macbeth is only in it for power instead of thinking of what is best for the people of Scotland. Malcolm makes a choice to fight back with the help of England. His choice to fight for power, although used violence against Macbeth, was a positive decision because he was thinking of the people and his father's legacy. His success is shown when he and Macduff defeat Macbeth and Malcolm is named the new king. He exclaims to his people, “[w]e shall not spend a large expense of time/ before we reckon with your several loves/ and make us even with you” (5.8.72-4). Only seconds after being named king, Malcolm is thinking of how he will reward his people. This proves
In Act 1 scene 4 page 11, Macbeth said, “Prince of Cumberland! That a step on which I must fall down, or else o’erleap.” This explains how he must become better than Malcolm because he was jealous of his new position as Prince of Cumberland.
Ambition; an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honour, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment
Macduff talks to the land of Scotland about Macbeth. He talks about how he should build himself up because the good people are afraid to stand up to Macbeth. He also says Macbeth should enjoy everything he has stolen because his title is safe. What he is saying is the people of Scotland are scared of him and don't want to stand up to him. Macduff knows Macbeth doesn't deserve the crown he wears on his head. Macbeth is a cruel ruler to the country of Scotland. Macduff uses his frustration about Macbeth getting the crown as a technique to get Malcolm to help fight.
In tragedies, characters often serve to act as instruments of the suffering of others. This is particularly true in the play Macbeth, in which the main character’s actions lead to the subsequent distress and woe of other characters. In the play, the main character, Macbeth, directly contributes to the anguish of other characters, succumbing to his own bloodthirstiness as he ruthlessly removes threats to his desired power. Macbeth brings great suffering upon others, and the subsequent violence and carnage adds to the distress and tragedy of the play as a whole; the tragic vision of the play is consequently exemplified.
Ambition is an admirable trait that enabled famous writers and scholars to attain an unbelievable greatness. However, highly ambitious people often end up failing because they are unable to fill up an insatiable hole of greed that leads them to constant frustration and dissatisfaction. Just as an excessive ambition can start with malice, it can end in anguish and despair. In the play, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the main protagonist, Macbeth, and his wife, Lady Macbeth, demonstrate an ambition that has an exacerbating impact on them that slowly leads to the self-destruction and obliteration of people around. After Lady Macbeth clouded Macbeth’s mind, Macbeth killed a benevolent king Duncan. But even with crown and power, Macbeth spend his life in fear and anxiety, until the weight of the ambition was relieved by his downfall. Through Macbeth’s character, Shakespeare shows that the extreme ambition that was emerged out of ferocious passion could devour an individual’s moral goodness, which in turn would carve the path directly to the total misery. Possessing such ambition makes the individual live in a self-imposed fretfulness and expose the closest people under consequential threats.
Malcolm in William Shakespeare's Macbeth In Shakespeare's Macbeth, Malcolm is one of the more cautious characters in the play. He has the ability to realise appearances can be deceitful and that the person on the outside may not be as innocent as he or she is putting across. As Duncan's son he is the natural heir to the throne and is eventually made king at the end of the play after the death of Macbeth. Malcolm has a reasonably good relationship with his somewhat naïve
That is a step On which I must fall down or else o’erleap For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires, Let not light see my black and deep desires.” (I.IV.50.55)This angers Macbeth because he knows that Scotland is an elective monarchy, and Duncan named Malcolm the heir to the throne anyways, because of this he will now have to go the extra mile to obtain the Scottish throne.Macbeth started in Act I as a lord who was content with being a good soldier and then he slowly turns into a power hungry tyrant who only wants more. For example in act (I.IV.52.55) “Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.” This shows that Macbeth is already starting to feel temptation to kill Duncan and his family in order have the throne as his, it also shows that Macbeth wants the throne, but does not want to see the deed done. To conclude, the theme of Macbeth is that not everything is as it seems. This play displays this theme in many different ways; through Lady Macbeth’s true intentions and manipulations and through Macbeth and his self struggle with right and
Macduff's ambition in this play was to be loyal to his country by taking out Macbeth. Too much of his time is spent plotting against Macbeth, which throws off Macduff’s values. He abandons his family and left for England to find Malcolm so he could wage war against Macbeth. Later, Macbeth hears that the recent absence of Macduff at the banquet and at Duncan’s funeral was because he had fled to England, to find Malcolm. So Macbeth reacts to this by sending murderers to kill Macduff's family. Once Macduff finds out that his family is dead, he starts to exhibit some emotion. At this time he is about to wage war on Macbeth with Malcolm; Malcolm say's to Macduff "Dispute it like a man"(4.3.259). Macduff then replies,
The motivations and actions of all three men have outcomes which have an effect on Scotland and its society. In the tragedy, Macbeth kills Duncan the king of scotland. Macbeth does this because he is greedy . Because of this, Scotland becomes turned upside down and is in turmoil. Macbeth and Malcolm end up
An ambition for power can seem to be true perfection, but one should be careful what they wish for, because that power might be exactly what causes their downfall. In the play Macbeth written by William Shakespeare ambition plays a great role and is also a main theme. Ambition is often the motivating force in one's life. It is supposed to be the motivating factor that drives one towards success. The main character, Macbeth has ambition even though it leads him to his downfall. In contrast, Lady Macbeth pursues her goals with greater determination, yet she is less capable of withstanding the outcome of her actions. She becomes guilty which leads to her death since she becomes mentally ill and commits suicide, leaving Macbeth without any
Compare and contrast Macbeth, Macduff, and Banquo. How are they alike? How are they different? Is it possible to argue that Macbeth is the play’s villain and Macduff or Banquo its hero? Is the matter more complicated than that?
He may even be compared to that of a tyrant. At one point, he is approached by three apparitions who give him a sample of his future. They encourage him to continue causing such chaos in Scotland by confusing him into thinking he has a lot more power than he does. Although, one of the apparitions, particularly the second one, truly seems to get into Macbeth’s head. The fate which it gives Macbeth is, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn /The power of man, for none of woman born /Shall harm Macbeth.” (4.1.90-92). This is saying how no one born of a woman shall harm Macbeth. In other words, Macbeth interprets it as no one at all can harm him. Having this knowledge, he begins to feel more power since he believes no one can hurt him. It also diminishes his sense of fear, believing that anything he does couldn’t impact his personal self. Macbeth then decides to go off on his own to create more tragedies, impacting everyone in Scotland. They now see how Macbeth is a terrible person, and even seek to get revenge. At one point, Malcolm talks to Macduff about the havoc Macbeth has created. He says to Macduff, “Be comforted. Let’s make us med'cines of our great revenge, To cure this deadly grief.” (4.3.252-254). Malcolm is saying that he would like to get revenge on Macbeth since he turned out to be such a horrible king. His actions created many hardships
One theme in the play was ambition. Ambition is a good thing for most people, and in most situations. However, too much ambition could be fatal as it was for Macbeth and his wife Lady MacBeth. "I go and it is done. The bell invites me. Hear it not Duncan, for it is knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell." Macbeths ambition drives him to kill the king. Later in the play a different type of ambition drives Duncans eldest son, Malcolm to march toward Scotland and free the kingdom from MacBeth's reign. He succeeds with little loss to his troops and is crowned at the end. Ambition comes in many different shades. It can be as dark as death or bright and full of goodness. It depends on the purpose and what drives your ambition. MacBeth's ambition was a dark thing and it proved fatal. Malcolm's ambition was pure and allowed him success. Ambition was a very important and recurring theme in the play.