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Macbeth - importance of ambition essay
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Macbeth - importance of ambition essay Level 9 in English
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Ambition essay MacbethIn Macbeth, the theme of ambition is the fundamental theme and the driving force of
Macbeth’s life. It also the theme that informs the Shakespearean idea of tragedy. For
Macbeth, ambition is his greatest weakness.
In the beginning of the play, the witches trigger Macbeth’s ambition. Without the witches
prophesy of Macbeth “shall be king hereafter”, Macbeth wouldn’t have contemplated
seizing power, especially through regicide. Macbeth acknowledges his “vaulting ambition”
caused by the witches when he says “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent but only
vaulting ambition which overleaps itself and falls on the other” which insinuates that
ambition is the only driving force for him to commit regicide and seize power. Thus, the
theme of ambition is vital, since it is the only reason why Macbeth murders Duncan and
takes over as king, which leads to his downfall.
Furthermore, ambition is important to the play because it makes Macbeth act against his
morals, changing him from a “valiant soldier” to a “dead butcher” and an “abhorred tyrant”.
Ambition takes over his mind, and he does not think morally. The first time the audience
sees this is when Malcolm is made ‘Prince of Cumberland’. Macbeth sees this as a barrier to
his ambition of becoming king, saying “that is a step on which I must fall down or else
overleap, for in my it lies”. This is the turning point in the play as Macbeth realises he has to
act if he wants to become king and stay king, and thus ambition causes him to kill Duncan,
Banquo and Macduff’s family.
Moreover, ambition is essential in the play because it is the only force stopping Macbeth
and Lady Macbeth feeling the guilt. When Macbeth has become king by committing
regicide, he has nothing else to aspire to, so the guilt he feels because of the murder takes
over as there is no ambition to combat it. This is important because the guilt leads Macbeth
and Lady Macbeth to break down as characters. Before Macbeth has become king following
the murder of Duncan, Lady Macbeth says “a little water clears us of this deed”. Although,
when Macbeth becomes king, Lady Macbeth has nothing else to be ambitious for and thus
she starts feeling guilty, which is evident when she says “out, damned spot”, not being able
to clean the metaphorical blood from her hands. Therefore, the theme of ambition is
important in ‘Macbeth’ as when there is no ambition for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, guilt
takes over and engenders their downfall.
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