Shakespeare presents the theme of ambition in Macbeth to highlight the consequences of
having an unchecked ambition as having too much ambition is dangerous.
In this soliloquy, Lady Macbeth has just read a letter by Macbeth regarding the witches’
prophecies. Shakespeare presents her character as transgressive as she is willing to do
anything in order to satisfy her unchecked ambition. This can be seen through the metaphor,
“I fear thy nature, It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness.” This suggests that Lady Macbeth
feels Macbeth is extremely kind and compassionate which she views as a weakness as he
would not commit any immoral actions such as regicide. The verb “fear” shows that Lady
Macbeth has an unchecked ambition as she is worried that Macbeth is not ruthless enough
to usurp the throne. Furthermore, the noun “milk” has connotations of a child which shows
that Macbeth is gentle and kind which are qualities associated with feminity and thus
weakness. This is ironic as in the previous scenes Macbeth’s barabrity is evident as he
“unseam’d him from the nave to th’ chaps.” Therefore, Lady Macbeth wanting him to be
more merciless than this emphaises her own remorseless nature as she believes that
humanity is an obstacle to achieving great power. However, “milk” can expire which shows
that although lady Macbeth is worried about Macbeth at the moment, she believes that she
can corrupt him. Shakespeare does this to criticise the patriarchal society in which women
had no power and the only way they could obtain power was through men. Therefore, Lady
Macbeth is worried that she may not receive this power because of Macbeth’s gentle nature.
This shows that she is more superior in the relationship which was unusual since women
were supposed to be passive and submissive to their husbands. This can also be seen later
on in this scene when she states, “Come, you spirits…..unsex me here.” This suggests that
she is commanding the supernatural forces to get rid of her feminine qualities such as
kindness and compassion so that she is able to commit the ruthless deed of regicide which
shows that she is willing to do anything to achieve her unchecked ambition. The verb
“unsex” suggests that although she wants to get rid of her feminine qualities she is not asked
to be made into a man which implies that she seems to associate goodness with humanity.
Therefore, she wants to be androgynous like the witches as it would make her less humane
so she would be free from the burdens and weakness of morality which will make her more
powerful as this would help her commit regicide and satisfy her unbridled ambition. Thus,
Lady Macbeth’s transgressive nature can be seen as a warning against the patriarchal
society as because Lady Macbeth did not have enough power in society she turned to the
supernatural for power.
Shakespeare also highlights the dangers of having an unchecked ambition as it can lead to
committing unspeakable deeds. This can be seen through, “Thou wouldst be great, Art not
without ambition, but without The illness should attend it.” This suggests that Lady Macbeth
knows Macbeth is ambitious but he is unwilling to display the ruthless behavior necessary to
achieve those dreams. The noun “illness” implies that she believes ambition should be
complemented by ruthlessness so that it can be achieved which shows that even at this
stage she knows what she is doing is wrong as committing treason is the worst sin you could
have committed in the Jacobean era as people believed in the Divine right of kings which is
the idea that a king was chosen as God’s representative on Earth. Therefore, any action
against the king meant going against God so there would have been severe consequences.
Lady Macbeth is aware of this, however, it does not affect her decision to be the queen and
achieve power which shows that having unchecked ambition is very dangerous. Therefore,
having an unchecked ambition as having too much ambition is dangerous.
In this soliloquy, Lady Macbeth has just read a letter by Macbeth regarding the witches’
prophecies. Shakespeare presents her character as transgressive as she is willing to do
anything in order to satisfy her unchecked ambition. This can be seen through the metaphor,
“I fear thy nature, It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness.” This suggests that Lady Macbeth
feels Macbeth is extremely kind and compassionate which she views as a weakness as he
would not commit any immoral actions such as regicide. The verb “fear” shows that Lady
Macbeth has an unchecked ambition as she is worried that Macbeth is not ruthless enough
to usurp the throne. Furthermore, the noun “milk” has connotations of a child which shows
that Macbeth is gentle and kind which are qualities associated with feminity and thus
weakness. This is ironic as in the previous scenes Macbeth’s barabrity is evident as he
“unseam’d him from the nave to th’ chaps.” Therefore, Lady Macbeth wanting him to be
more merciless than this emphaises her own remorseless nature as she believes that
humanity is an obstacle to achieving great power. However, “milk” can expire which shows
that although lady Macbeth is worried about Macbeth at the moment, she believes that she
can corrupt him. Shakespeare does this to criticise the patriarchal society in which women
had no power and the only way they could obtain power was through men. Therefore, Lady
Macbeth is worried that she may not receive this power because of Macbeth’s gentle nature.
This shows that she is more superior in the relationship which was unusual since women
were supposed to be passive and submissive to their husbands. This can also be seen later
on in this scene when she states, “Come, you spirits…..unsex me here.” This suggests that
she is commanding the supernatural forces to get rid of her feminine qualities such as
kindness and compassion so that she is able to commit the ruthless deed of regicide which
shows that she is willing to do anything to achieve her unchecked ambition. The verb
“unsex” suggests that although she wants to get rid of her feminine qualities she is not asked
to be made into a man which implies that she seems to associate goodness with humanity.
Therefore, she wants to be androgynous like the witches as it would make her less humane
so she would be free from the burdens and weakness of morality which will make her more
powerful as this would help her commit regicide and satisfy her unbridled ambition. Thus,
Lady Macbeth’s transgressive nature can be seen as a warning against the patriarchal
society as because Lady Macbeth did not have enough power in society she turned to the
supernatural for power.
Shakespeare also highlights the dangers of having an unchecked ambition as it can lead to
committing unspeakable deeds. This can be seen through, “Thou wouldst be great, Art not
without ambition, but without The illness should attend it.” This suggests that Lady Macbeth
knows Macbeth is ambitious but he is unwilling to display the ruthless behavior necessary to
achieve those dreams. The noun “illness” implies that she believes ambition should be
complemented by ruthlessness so that it can be achieved which shows that even at this
stage she knows what she is doing is wrong as committing treason is the worst sin you could
have committed in the Jacobean era as people believed in the Divine right of kings which is
the idea that a king was chosen as God’s representative on Earth. Therefore, any action
against the king meant going against God so there would have been severe consequences.
Lady Macbeth is aware of this, however, it does not affect her decision to be the queen and
achieve power which shows that having unchecked ambition is very dangerous. Therefore,
