Ambition in Macbeth Essay Example for Free

Ambition in Macbeth bear witnessJulius Caesar once said When the gods wish to take vengeance on a man for his crimes they usu on the wholey appoint him considerable success and a period of impunity, so that when his fortune is reversed he will flavor it tout ensemble the more bitterly. This quote directly reflects the problem with all over ambition in effectual all cases. Being over ambitious can bring someone to great heights bargonly usually also leads to their downfall. In William Shakespeares Macbeth, the situation is no different. Macbeth, the protagonist in the play, is cursed with over ambition. This affliction brings him to great heights in his career however ultimately leads him to his downfall. Three main examples of Macbeths ruse ambition go as follows.Near the beginning of the play Macbeth is awarded the title of the Thane of Cawdor by the late lovable Duncan after he managed to capture the previous thane on crimes of t conclude. Macbeth is temporarily elec trical capacity with his title but that was non to last. Upon his wife, named Lady Macbeth, receiving word of a prophesy regarding Macbeth becoming king she begins to hatch a plot to confound Macbeth seize power from Duncan. Macbeth, hesitantly accepts the plot after much prodding from his wife by adage I am settled, and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the cartridge clip with fairest show false face must hide what the false heart doth k instantaneously. (1.7. 89-93) This simply means that he must hide his true intentions from Duncan before he kills him.Shortly after his coronation, Macbeth begins to fell unsafe with his position. He feels the guilt bearing down on him at almost every mo ment in the mean solar day and he has trouble sleeping. He ponders the witches prophesy and realizes the next step that he must take. The witches stated that Banquo g-force shalt get kings, though thou be none So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo (1.3.70-71) Given t his knowledge, Macbeth is worried that Banquo whitethorn overthrow Macbeth. He hires three murderers to go out and kill Banquo and his son Fleance. He saysWell then, nowHave you considerd of my speeches? KnowThat it was he in the times past which held youSo under fortune, which you thought had beenOur stark self this I made good to youIn our last conference, passd in probation with you,How you were borne in hand, how crossd,the instruments, Who wrought with them, and all things else that might To half a soul and to a notion crazedSay Thus did Banquo. (3.1.80-90)By saying this, he basically pins all of their troubles on Banquo and thus giving them reason to kill him.The deuce-ace and ultimately final example of Macbeths reckless ambition occurs when Macbeth has the family of MacDuff, one of his Thanes, killed to simply send a core to the people of Scotland that he was not to be trifled with. Coincidentally, the reason that spurred him on to do this and the reason MacDuff manages to convince Prince Malcolm are quite closely connected. MacDuff escapes to England to raise an army against Macbeth, upon arriving he is questioned by Malcolm who had escaped previously as to the reason for his arrival. The only thing that allowed MacDuff to convince Malcolm to do this for him was the furor he had mustered upon receiving word of his dead family. He exclaimsO, I could play the woman with mine eyesAnd braggart with my tongue But, gentle heavens,Cut short all intermission front to frontBring thou this fiend of Scotland and myselfWithin my swords length set him if he scape,Heaven forgive him too (4.3.269-273)In conclusion, these three events had temporarily positive effects and long indestructible extremely negative effects on Macbeth and ultimately leading to his death. He did not remain content with the title bestowed upon him by Duncan and instead strive after the title for king for himself. He sought to dispelthe prophesy bestowed upon him by the witches by havin g Banquo killed but revealing his guilt afterward. Finally he had the family of a potentially opposing thane murdered to send a message to him. Unchecked ambition has been the bane of powerful men and women throughout history and nothing has changed in William Shakespeares Macbeth.