Macbeth Ambition Essay Examples
Macbeth’s ambition is a driving force throughout William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. Ambition is what drives the protagonist to murder King Duncan, his friend Banquo, and many of the other characters in order to gain power. The story follows how this unbridled ambition leads him down a dark path that eventually brings about his own destruction.At first, Macbeth appears to be content with his life as Thane of Glamis (I, iii). Yet when three witches tell him he shall become king, he begins to crave power like never before. He realizes that becoming king will grant him authority and respect amongst all men (III, i). His ambition starts off mild but soon grows into an obsession (V, v). As Lady Macbeth says: What thou wouldst highly/ That wouldst thou holily wouldst not play false/ And yet would wrongly win” (I, vii). This quote shows how Macbeth thinks if he wants something bad enough and works hard for it then it should be rightfully given to him – no matter what measures must be taken. The prophecy from the witches fuels his fire even more and encourages him to take action quickly. He believes that by killing King Duncan and taking control of Scotland himself much faster than fate had predicted-he could make it come true sooner than expected(II ii-iii).This proves fatal for both himself and those around him as it causes suspicion between other characters who have their eyes on the crown too(IV iii) . His single mindedness also blinds him from recognizing mistakes made along the way such as murdering innocent people or trusting certain characters which will lead them astray.(IIIi) In conclusion, Macbeth’s ambition is ultimately responsible for his downfall as it leads him through a series of dangerous decisions that results in death for both enemies and allies alike.(Vv) Though at first glance one may think ambition can propel someone towards great heights this case study shows us just how far unchecked ambitions can go when they are used without direction or reason.
The play “Macbeth “by Shakespeare has its context set in the Jacobean era. Magic and witchcraft were part of life and had a significant influence on people behaviors during the Jacobean era (Clark 441). People did not only fear the spirits during the era but were also highly religious. Macbeth was written during the Jacobean […]
Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare in 1606, is a tragedy set in Scotland which bases its story on ambition, power, fate, violence and the supernatural. The plot bases itself on the thane of Cawdor, Macbeth, and his wife, Lady Macbeth, which have just been informed by three witches that he will become king. Throughout the […]
Macbeth is one of the most powerful and emotional play acted in Scotland. It was about Macbeth, a Scottish general who is very brave and ambitious to power. Macbeth and his colleague Banquo were approached by three witch sisters who were mostly known as weird after a battle where they had won. The witches had […]
Macbeth by William Shakespeare serves as a tragic play where guilt comes to haunt someone. In the play, the playwright portrays how guilt haunts a person after engaging in an action that they possess adequate understanding as wrong. Supported by his wife, Lady Macbeth, Lord Macbeth engages in a murder of his royal figure King […]
Act 3 scene I depicts Macbeth’s plot to assassinate Banquo out of fear that Banquo’s offspring would inherit the throne. The scene introduces Banquo, who contemplates the murder of Duncan and the prophecies of the witches. Through his soliloquy, Banquo speculates that Macbeth committed regicide in order to seize the throne, thereby validating the witches’ […]
The play “Macbeth”, by William Shakespeare, is a Scottish tale of a brave and noble warrior who is driven by ambition from the prophecy of three supernatural forces and his wife to seek the throne. Good and evil are the main themes in the play and they are revealed by the characters of the play. […]
Macbeth is a tragedy play by William Shakespeare centered in Scotland during the ancient times before the advent of colonialism and civilization. It is one of Shakespeare greatest plays that is not only dark but also full of supernatural influence and evil characters. For instance, Macbeth illuminates the harmful mental and bodily influences of political […]
The play “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare has uniquely put ambition as its core theme. The passion in this piece is of ominous quality since it causes more pain and leads to more loss and death than it does well. It also shows the corruptive capability of unchecked ambition and the consequences of over ambition. What […]
Introduction Macbeth is a Shakespeare’s is one of the outrageous characters. He was a real king in the 11th century of Scotland, whose history was read through by Shakespeare through several sources of history, one of it being the Chronicles of Holinshed, to which for many it is referred to as the historical drama. Macbeth […]
Soliloquy is a literary device that involves the character talking to him or herself revealing their thoughts to the audience. Soliloquies are mainly used to show characters’ personal thoughts, emotions, and motives without resorting to third-person narration. In the Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, the soliloquy is used to great effect to help the audience understand the […]
