Ambition In Macbeth

Man derives his malice not from others but from within his own tainted soul. In Macbeth, a reality of an embodiment of evil is explored through the Shakespearean supernatural elements of which have limited influence in Macbeth’s actions and decisions; consequentially, the implications of Macbeth’s decisions are of his own volition, and these elements merely reflect the immorality hidden within Macbeth. Macbeth undergoes a series of supernatural encounters that serve three purposes: fate, foreshadow, and fear until he succumbs to his ambition, allowing it to envelop him entirely. Upon his initial interaction with the Weïrd Sisters, Macbeth receives three prophecies of which seduce Macbeth to the guilty ambitions already instilled within his

Macbeth, overcome by malevolence in his path of ambition, realizes that in fulfilling his empty desires, he must suffer in his self-caused fear, for it cost all worth living for, including himself. These titles of servitude imply that it is not the supernatural elements that force Macbeth to submit to his ambition; it is his own grown ambition that morphs him from a man of decency to hardly a man at all. Despite their descriptions as manipulators of man, the Weïrd Sisters deploy no tangible influence upon Macbeth through their prophesying; instead, they present the fated ends that Macbeth will eventually fulfil—that of Thane of Cawdor and that of king. The witches introduce the shift of titles from Thane of Glamis to Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth; however, in the previous scene, readers note that the title had be untouched by the witches—Duncan himself had declared “with [the rebel’s] title greet Macbeth” (1.2.76). This, arguably, emphasizes that there was no presence of supernatural alteration; rather, it was fate that predestined it to be. The witches have no power beyond that of suggestion; it is fate that concretes the results and Macbeth that

As Clifford Davidson, author of Evil and Fascination in Macbeth, notes, “[Macbeth] will conjure the weird sisters in apocalyptic terms: ‘of nature’s germens tumble all together, / even till destruction sicken; answer me / to what I ask you’ (1.4.59-61)” (Evil and Fascination in Macbeth 3), symbolizing a final attempt to receive reconciliation in rising from his void. This apocalyptic call reflects the fear within Macbeth as he struggles to redefine the desires in his life until the witches present to him three apparitions in which provide enough comfort for Macbeth to continue to his fated end. The thing that has not been lost yet is his own life, so Macbeth latches on protecting himself, requesting Seyton to “give [him his] armor” (5.3.39) despite its not being needed. Macbeth has already shed too much blood to obtain his throne, yet he knows that he has yet to pay his own price. He turns to more tangible things to preserve his life, yet he will eventually learn that everything he had worked for was not enough to live for. In fact, within moments after hearing word of his wife’s passing, Macbeth concedes that “life’s but a walking shadow / …signifying nothing” (5.5.27, 31). As a man so intent upon creating meaning in life, Macbeth has taken away all that had meaning; his wife has died, he had