Ambition In Macbeth Essay

In William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, ambition leads to corruption and carnage. But is Macbeth truly responsible for the Hell that broke loose, or is he simply a victim of external forces driving him to commit such odious act?. In defence of Macbeth, he is a victim of villainous maneuvers and influence. He is partially responsible for the bloody business he carries out, however it would not be possible without Lady Macbeth and the weird sister’s manipulation. Macbeth without a doubt is also guilty of the collateral damage, but in no way is a villain, but instead a victim of situation and external forces. The witches, Lady Macbeth and the apparitions ignite Macbeth’s ambitious flame, ultimately leading him to take action.

To start off, Macbeth’s

The three apparitions, shown by the weird sisters, convince Macbeth he was as powerful as God. The apparitions provide him with pious hope. The first apparition, an armed head states “Macbeth!/ Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware Thane of Fife, dismiss me, enough! (Shakespeare 4,1,78-79). The apparition warns Macbeth about the Thine of Fife. This reassures Macbeth as he was previously suspicious of Macduff. The apparition influences his action to carry out the decision to slaughter Macduff’s family. It is unknown if the same decision would have been made if he did not view the apparition. The next apparition says, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute,/ laugh to scorn the power of man, for none born of woman shall harm Macbeth.” (Shakespeare, 4,1,86-88). This means no man born of a woman naturally, can harm Macbeth. Upon hearing this, Macbeth immediately feels safe, out of harms way, and invulnerable like armour, as all men are born from a woman. However he is unaware that Macduff was born by c-section, implying back to the first vision which warns Macbeth of Macduff. The final apparition says, “Be lion-mettled, proud and take no care who chafes, who frets or where conspirers are./ Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam wood to High Dunsinane hill shall come/ against him.” (4,1, 99-103) This apparition signifies that Macbeth will not die until the forest fights against him. Macbeth thinks of the apparition as puzzling and preposterous. (However we see Malcolm’s men camafloucging with the trees, giving an appearance the trees are moving). This apparition raised Macbeth’s morale as he felt the apparitions declare things that Macbeth think are virtually impossible or not much of a threat. However the confidence he gains from the apparitions caused him to act and ultimately, commenced the beginning of the