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Theme Of Ambition In Macbeth

Decent Essays

Shakespeare’s 17th century play Macbeth, is a timeless tale of fate, power, and the consequences of ambition. Despite vastly different interpretations across the centuries due to different cultural and historical contexts, the story remains powerful and relevant today because of its universal themes. Since the play was essentially written for King James I, Shakespeare heavily reinforces the king’s own beliefs and values. Although we do not follow these doctrines in the present day, the literary techniques used throughout Macbeth transcend cultural and historical barriers and touch on the fundamentals of human nature, and ambition’s role in society.

In Macbeth, there are two types of ambition presented, one leading to order, and the other …show more content…

This idea reflects the original purpose of the play, to reinforce the king’s rule and his ideology of ‘The Chain of Being’. When Macbeth begins to disrupt the ‘natural order’ and take power for himself, “The earth was feverous and did shake, (2.3.53)” it retaliated to Macbeth’s act and is described “as troubled by man’s act. (2.4.5)” A falcon is described to be “tow’ring in her pride of place, (2.4.12)” in her status as top of the natural hierarchy only to be “hawked at and killed. (2.4.14)” Light and dark are depicted as having emotions, of opposing each other as “night’s predominance, or the day’s shame,” engulfed the world “when living light should kiss it, (2.4.7-9)”. Due to Duncan’s murder, the light is ashamed of mankind, and night dominates the skies. In the modern day, we have a different idea of ambition. There is a drive to move up in the world, to prove ourselves, and it is considered desirable and progressive to subvert stereotypes. This is quite opposite to the ideas presented in Macbeth, that staying in your place will guarantee order and prosperity, while subverting the norm will lead to chaos and destruction.

Religious symbolism is an integral technique in Macbeth, which draws a clear contrast between good and evil in the minds of the audience. Witches were considered by most in Jacobean England to be real beings, servants of the devil. By

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