How Does Macbeth Exert Over Their Ambition

Ray Sun
Mr. De Leon
SAE Period 2 27 February 2023
How much Power does exert over their Ambition?
Ambition is a great force in one’s life but one must acknowledge its liability to change through phases in one’s life. Ambition is not constant in life due to one’s ever-changing environment. In Macbeth, a loyal soldier is told a prophecy that he will become king and he eventually achieves this by murdering the current king. His ambition is an all-consuming force but is often seen as being heavily influenced by his wife and the prophecy. Shakespeare suggests ambition, one’s determination to succeed, is mainly fueled by self-drive, and although one might attempt to resist external influences, one must embrace the inevitability of shifting ambition

Likewise, one usually adapts to their environment’s mood, emotion, or tone. When one’s family is constantly by their side, one constantly receives influence from them. One such factor that can be easily influenced by family or significant others is ambition. In Macbeth, Macbeth’s wife takes a dominant role in their relationship and urges him to become king, as the prophecy foretold. Macbeth’s wife declares, “When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And to be more than what you were, you would / Be so much more the man” (1.7.56-58). Initially, Macbeth thinks little of the prophecy, convinced it is his duty to remain loyal to King Duncan. However, Macbeth’s wife's constant nagging and persuasive manipulation causes Macbeth to want to prove his “manhood.” Her usage of powerful, assertive words like “When you durst do it, then you were a man” makes Macbeth reconsider his stance. Macbeth internalizes his wife’s ambition to “Be so much more the man” by asserting his masculinity through murdering Duncan. His wife continues, “[I would] Have plucked my nipple from his [the baby’s] boneless gums / And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you / Have done to this” (1.7.65-67). Macbeth’s wife provides vivid imagery to describe how willingly she would commit a cruel deed if Macbeth were to do the same. Her resolute tone and aggressive demeanor subdue any rational or values Macbeth once had

In Macbeth, when he is told a prophecy by the weird sisters, “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (1.3.53), it is arguable this is the most critical point that led Macbeth down the rabbit hole of murder and ruthless ambition. The witches make a claim stating, “[Macbeth] that shalt be king hereafter” but do not supply how he will achieve it. Macbeth’s actions are caused by his ambition and twisted interpretation of the prophecy. This once-in-a-lifetime event is a golden opportunity that Macbeth seizes which causes his ambition; the prophecy fulfills itself. Similar to the real world, a cancer diagnosis would cause one to spend more time with loved ones and a job promotion would cause one to shift towards achieving greater professional success because major events can cause a shift in priorities and thus one’s ambition. Following Macbeth’s train of thought, he contemplates murdering his best friend, Banquo, as the prophecy stated Banquo would be the father to a line of kings. Macbeth ponders, “Mark Antony’s was by Caesar. He chid the sisters / When first they put the name of king upon me / And bade them to speak to him” (3.1.62-64). Macbeth utilizes an allusion to Caesar where he is betrayed by his best friend to parallel the unique circumstance he and Banquo are in. Despite Banquo having no