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Theme Of Ambition In Act 1 Scene 7 Macbeth

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Of all the scenes in Macbeth, Act 1, scene 7 is a memorable scene, playing a big part in what will happen throughout the remainder of the play. It would be pretty difficult for this scene to be eliminated from the novel because then, Macbeth would only be characterized as an evil man with materialistic desires. He also wouldn’t have the role of the tragic hero because there wouldn’t be any sign of Macbeth being a good man. The theme of ambition and how Macbeth is affected by it are what decide whether or not he will murder Duncan. In Act 1, scene 7 of Macbeth, Macbeth contemplates the murder of king Duncan for the first time. He questions himself for thinking it was necessary to kill Duncan and starts going through all the cons of murdering him. First, his job is to protect his king, not to eliminate him. Second, he talks about how Duncan is actually a dependable, loyal, righteous …show more content…

According to the Aristotle on Tragedy handout we read in class, the tragic hero is characterized as an exceptional man with a weakness that changes their luck, usually resulting in their “falling through” or ruin. This goes right along the lines of Macbeth’s words in this scene when he talks about how much admiration he has for Duncan. He first prompts himself about how his job is to be his “kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed” which means his job is to keep Duncan safe, not prevent his safety (1.7.13-14). He also talks very highly of him and his future by stating he “hath been so clear in his great office” and that his virtuous legacy will “plead like angels, trumpet tongued” (1.7.19-20). If that whole bit wasn’t mentioned, the reader would have just assumed Macbeth’s downfall was because he deserved it and he wouldn’t at all have qualified to be the tragic hero. Instead, he showed the reader that he has a decent side and that he is capable of honoring

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