Ambition In Macbeth Essay

Macbeth was a play written by Shakespeare in 1606. In the play a group of witches foretell a prophecy to Macbeth that he will become the king of Scotland. After being told this Macbeth kills the current king, King Duncan so he can take his throne. After becoming king Macbeth, fueled by ambition, takes many actions to keep his throne. The development and interaction of characters in Macbeth builds the central idea of ambition and reveals the themes of fate, guilt, and loyalty. These themes are most strongly shown through Macbeth's interactions with Lady Macbeth, the three witches, and Duncan.
Macbeth’s interactions with the witches strongly expresses the central idea of ambition and the theme of fate. In the play, when returning from battle

After Macbeth hears the prophecy about him becoming king and Thane of Cawdor he, along with Banquo, visit the king. When greeting the king Macbeth says “The service and the loyalty I owe In doing it pays itself” (1, 4, 25-26). Later Ross informs Macbeth that King Duncan has given him the title of Thane of Cawdor. After this Macbeth is told that the king will be coming to his home and Macbeth, with the help of his wife, devises a plan to kill Duncan and take the throne. The only problem is Macbeth feels loyalty to Duncan, who is not only his king but also his cousin. Macbeth says “First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, / Strong both against the deed” … “Besides, this Duncan /Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been /So clear in his great office, that his virtues /Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against /The deep damnation of his taking-off” (1, 7, 13-20). In the end Macbeth's “Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself /And falls on th’ other” (1, 7, 27-28). overrides and corrupts his loyalty. Macbeth knows that Duncan does not deserve to die yet he does it anyway because of his ambition for the

After Macbeth is foretold the prophecy he tells his wife Lady Macbeth who instantly sparks the idea to kill Duncan and steal his throne. After Macbeth kills Duncan he feels immense guilt to which Lady Macbeth says “These deeds must not be thought /After these ways; so, it will make us mad” (2, 2, 45-46). Later in the play Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking when she says “Here’s the smell of the blood still. /All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little /hand” (5, 1, 53-55). After clearly showing signs of severe regret and guilt Lady Macbeth presumably kills herself. When Macbeth learns of this Macbeth loses his ambition as he feels that life is now meaningless. He says “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player /That struts and frets his hour upon the stage /And then is heard no more. It is a tale /Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, /Signifying nothing” (5, 5, 27-31). This shows the central idea of ambition because it is ambition that ultimately makes Lady Macbeth and Macbeth continue to commit further atrocities like killing Duncan and Banquo. This shows the theme of guilt because guilt is eventually what overcomes Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth's ambition when nothing else would. Lady Macbeth’s ambition perishes with her when she kills herself. Macbeth’s ambition fades away when he hears of Lady Macbeth's