Ambition In Macbeth

In Shakespearean tragedies there are nine elements to a tragedy; the tragic hero, a struggle between good and evil, hamartia (or fatal flaw), tragic waste, external and internal conflict, catharsis, supernatural elements, lack of poetic justice, and the comic relief. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth it tells of a Scottish noble taunted by fate and persuaded by ambition into killing his king. This is known as the tragic waste, or the unnecessary killing of a good character, in this case it is regicide. Macbeth is an overly ambitious man who will do anything in order to get what he desires. His hollow ambition, free from any moral convictions, ultimately takes him over in the end. Ambition, as Macbeth suggests, can never be satisfied,

In the beginning of the first act we see a captain telling King Duncan of Macbeth and Banquo’s bravery during war. “For brave Macbeth” as a person is a brave, honest and moral man, qualities that disappear as the play goes along. As Macbeth and Banquo make their way back they are confronted by three witches representing the supernatural aspect weaving a prophecy for them. To Macbeth they greet him as Thane of Glamis (that of which he is), Thane of Cawdor and future king of Scotland (those of which he is to become). To Banquo, “lesser than Macbeth and greater”, he shall not be king but in fact father a line of kings. At first hearing of this prophecy both dismiss it as a fools trick but moments after Ross and Angus address him as Thane of Cawdor. This first meeting with the witches triggers Macbeth’s ambition after realizing that part of the prophecy has become true and he “shalt be king

When Lady Macbeth plots to kill King Duncan in his sleep in order to make way for Macbeth his moral code is still evident. He struggles with understanding the evil of the crime he is about to commit against a family member, “my thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical”. But Macbeth is a man of action and this overpowers his moral conscience, enabling his ambitious desires. This leads to him stabbing his own cousin to death while he sleeps and Lady Macbeth subsequently framing the daggers on the kings chamberlains. As Macbeth’s character develops his action darkens his morals. With each murder he commits his conscience is suppressed to the point that he does not even hesitate to have Macduff’s family murdered. Someone else’s ambition can often be cruel in nature towards others as often times one will do anything for what they desire. But a price is to be paid for one’s strong ambition, that is fear. This is true of the case of Macbeth as his fear is heightened by the witches prophecies. After King Duncan’s murder and his subsequent crowning he feels paranoid knowing that the only one besides his wife who knew about the prophecy was Banquo. He also fears the witches prophecy that Banquo himself will not be king but his seed will be. With that in mind Macbeth orders for both Banquo and his son Fleance to be