ipl-logo

How Does Shakespeare Present Ambition In Macbeth

764 Words4 Pages

Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's great tragedies in which he portrays how ambition, when left unmonitored and uncontrolled, leads to greed.Throughout the play Shakespeare highlights the unraveling of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s mental states as they pursue power and control. At the beginning of the play Macbeth is content as the Thane of Glamis and a noble knight. He appears as though he is living a happy life. The first indication that Macbeths life could be changing is in I, iii, 48 - 51 where the witches told him of his predicted future. The prophecy was the first spark that set his desire ablaze. Following the three weird sisters prophecy Macbeth becomes the Thane of Cawdor. The realization that the witches spoke truthfully appears to …show more content…

Macbeth feels conflicted as his conscience is aggravated. He had a moment before the murder where he debated what would happen if he went through with the killing. In the end Macbeth’s ambition and greed was stronger than his morals. This was a turning point in his mental state. Macbeth was more tormented by the battle between his morals and the fire of ambition that was beginning to become uncontrollable. As the story progresses Macbeth loses himself to his uncontrolled desire. He becomes a slave to his ambition because he felt threatened by those who could unravel his success. Macbeth does what he feels is necessary to protect himself. In doing so, his mentality becomes twisted and abnormal. He kills once more to secure his power and place on the throne. Macbeth’s emotions begin to fade as shown by him killing a friend. To prove to himself that he is not crazy, he goes too find the witches so he can hear an affirmation of his power and justification of greed. Macbeth believes that the second set of prophecies given to him are there too solidify his ambitions. He hears these words as good news but fails to see the warnings. Upon hearing their words, he becomes overwhelmed by his ambitious desires, which then leads to his demise. After

Open Document