Examples Of Ambition In Macbeth

Shakespeare uses ambition as a main theme in his play. Shakespeare suggests that uncontrolled ambition is a dangerous quality and can lead to your downfall. Ambition is the desire and determination to achieve success. Ambition is usually a good quality to have because it can motivate you and help you reach your goals, but ambition can also corrupt you and change you completely. The murders, actions, and thoughts of Macbeth are a great example of how ambition can corrupt you and alter the way you think of things.

In Act I, 4, 50-53, Macbeth himself acknowledges that his thoughts are wicked ambition, because he thought of the king’s son as an obstacle. This shows ambition because Macbeth starts to change and starts to think of everything that

This shows ambition because Macbeth chooses to kill Banquo so that his descendants will not become king. He kills Banquo, and attempts to kill Banquo's son Fleance so Macbeth can secure his future kingsmanship. This shows how unchecked ambition is dangerous because Macbeth was willing to sacrifice his best friend who was like a brother to him because of his ambition. He doesn’t care how he stays king or who he has to kill to stay king and that’s dangerous. Another example would be in Act 3, 4, 138-140. Macbeth has involved himself in so many murders that it is as easy for him to carry on than to turn back. He is stuck and can't get out of the situation that he has gotten himself into. Ambition and violence are all he has left now and he clearly knows it. This is why unchecked ambition is dangerous because it can change you and your morals. A further example would be in Act 3, 3, 18-19, where Banquo becomes a victim of Macbeth’s ambition. This shows ambition because his desire to stay in power has led him to commit horrific acts such as killing anyone who is in his way. This shows why unchecked ambition is so dangerous because it can blind you and affect your mentality, just as it did to

This shows ambition because Macbeth himself goes seeking for the witches, instead of the other way around. This time, he confidently barges into their cavern and demands that they give him further information. This shows how unchecked ambition is dangerous because it changes people for the worst, like it did for Macbeth. In addition, ambition is seen in Act 4, 1, 151-152. This shows ambition because Macbeth’s ambition leads to him sending someone to kill Macduff’s wife and children because Macduff is a threat to the throne. This shows how unchecked ambition is dangerous because it can change your morals and cause you to do horrible acts, just like Macbeth. Another example would be in Act 4, 2, 81, where Macduff’s son and wife have fallen victim to Macbeth’s ambition. This shows how unchecked ambition is dangerous because Macbeth has murdered a wife and a child just to ensure his spot on the throne, his ambition has gone too far and this is why it’s