The Tragic Impact of The Ambitions on The Characters in Macbeth
Macbeth is a play about uncontrolled ambition. Ambition is a strong desire to
successfully achieve more in terms of status, possessions or power. It may be
motivated by need, greed or vanity. It requires much inner discipline and inner strength,
and the drive to be single minded enough to persist to achieve. It also requires an ability
to learn from mistakes and overcome setbacks. The passion for ambition varies
according to the amount of selfishness and drive. Ruthless ambition will sacrifice
anything and everything to achieve its end.
Ambition that is good has a positive effect on individuals or society, and damages no
one. Bad ambition is one which has a bad goal such as murder, or one which has a
good aim but is achieved using wicked or harmful methods.
The Macbeth’s display the most ambition and since this play is a tragedy this is not
surprising that they both die on account of it. Macbeth thought of ambition as a horse
that must be ridden, but he failed to realize he needed more than just the horse, he
needed the wisdom to control it. Macbeth’s horse was wild and untamed, and it bolted
once he had leapt on. Macbeth clung on because at all costs he wanted to be seen as a
rider, (the Ruler of Scotland). However, his horse of ambition had the last word and as
he was tossed shamefully and unceremoniously off it as he lost his head. The rightful
king then reclaimed his mount (the Crown of Scotland)
Shakespeare introduces the theme of ambition with the characters and develops it as
the plot progresses. He also uses dialogue and language techniques. At the beginning
of the play Macbeth is a good solider and a good man but as the play continues, he
allows ambition to overwhelm him and commits murder within a day of receiving
predictions from three Weird Sisters of Fate. By the end of the play, which is only a
short time later, he becomes a committed murdering, paranoid maniac.
It is odd that Macbeth would take such notice of 3 peculiar women who had no social
status. However, he finds it so easy to ignore any suggestions from his conscience, that
this temptation was wrong. Macbeth apparently had a sane enough mind, with sound
views and principles, to fight with courage for the King. Yet after the success of the
battle, he so easily and madly allowed the witches wild idea to take possession and
warp his thinking and reasoning; especially after the first part came true and he became
Thane of Cawdor. Lady Macbeth heard news of the witch’s prophecy when Macbeth
was almost home. She too was gripped by his thoughts of ambition. It seemed that the
honor of the King’s visit was not enough of get excited about, but the dishonorable idea
of his death was. It seems incredible to imagine that at one moment Macbeth could be
all for the King, and within the space of a walk home from the battle he could have
turned and allowed his deep and dark desires full reign. There must have been a reason
for this… because one of the first things he did after the prophesy was to dash a letter
off to Lady Macbeth. So, it is more likely that the reason for his ambition was connected
to her. Their marriage appears strong, and the Macbeth’s in the beginning treat each
with respect and kindness.
Macbeth is a play about uncontrolled ambition. Ambition is a strong desire to
successfully achieve more in terms of status, possessions or power. It may be
motivated by need, greed or vanity. It requires much inner discipline and inner strength,
and the drive to be single minded enough to persist to achieve. It also requires an ability
to learn from mistakes and overcome setbacks. The passion for ambition varies
according to the amount of selfishness and drive. Ruthless ambition will sacrifice
anything and everything to achieve its end.
Ambition that is good has a positive effect on individuals or society, and damages no
one. Bad ambition is one which has a bad goal such as murder, or one which has a
good aim but is achieved using wicked or harmful methods.
The Macbeth’s display the most ambition and since this play is a tragedy this is not
surprising that they both die on account of it. Macbeth thought of ambition as a horse
that must be ridden, but he failed to realize he needed more than just the horse, he
needed the wisdom to control it. Macbeth’s horse was wild and untamed, and it bolted
once he had leapt on. Macbeth clung on because at all costs he wanted to be seen as a
rider, (the Ruler of Scotland). However, his horse of ambition had the last word and as
he was tossed shamefully and unceremoniously off it as he lost his head. The rightful
king then reclaimed his mount (the Crown of Scotland)
Shakespeare introduces the theme of ambition with the characters and develops it as
the plot progresses. He also uses dialogue and language techniques. At the beginning
of the play Macbeth is a good solider and a good man but as the play continues, he
allows ambition to overwhelm him and commits murder within a day of receiving
predictions from three Weird Sisters of Fate. By the end of the play, which is only a
short time later, he becomes a committed murdering, paranoid maniac.
It is odd that Macbeth would take such notice of 3 peculiar women who had no social
status. However, he finds it so easy to ignore any suggestions from his conscience, that
this temptation was wrong. Macbeth apparently had a sane enough mind, with sound
views and principles, to fight with courage for the King. Yet after the success of the
battle, he so easily and madly allowed the witches wild idea to take possession and
warp his thinking and reasoning; especially after the first part came true and he became
Thane of Cawdor. Lady Macbeth heard news of the witch’s prophecy when Macbeth
was almost home. She too was gripped by his thoughts of ambition. It seemed that the
honor of the King’s visit was not enough of get excited about, but the dishonorable idea
of his death was. It seems incredible to imagine that at one moment Macbeth could be
all for the King, and within the space of a walk home from the battle he could have
turned and allowed his deep and dark desires full reign. There must have been a reason
for this… because one of the first things he did after the prophesy was to dash a letter
off to Lady Macbeth. So, it is more likely that the reason for his ambition was connected
to her. Their marriage appears strong, and the Macbeth’s in the beginning treat each
with respect and kindness.
