Importance Of Ambition In Macbeth

Someone with high ambition is someone who has high aspirations and determination. Ambition can be viewed as a positive or negative characteristic to have. Depending on the circumstances and the person, ambition can either be helpful in reaching a common goal, due to determination and a strive for excellence, or ambition can be devastating to the process of reaching the goal, causing one to become blindsided by the task at hand. Overall, depending on the person and or character determines how ambition affects their goal, negatively or positively. Ambition is found in everyday tasks, society, as well as in the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. First, ambition is something that I have in my own life. Many people use ambition to reach a common

Finally, how ambition affects a character depends on the characters strength. Macbeth is described as a nobel, courageous, and loyal Scottish general. Macbeth is also ambitious to have power, to better himself, and advance to better things. As discussed, ambition can be a dangerous character trait when used in a negative way. Macbeth 's ambition took control, making him the opposite of a loyal, courageous, and noble man. Instead Macbeth 's negative ambition turned him into a power hungry, cold blooded killer. What steered Macbeth into the negative ambitious direction, were the three witches Macbeth and Banquo meet at the beginning of the play. When Macbeth and Banquo stumble upon the three witches, the two men get a glimpse into their possible future. The witches share with the two that Macbeth possibly could become king. At this point, Macbeth becomes power hungry. An example being, “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man that function Is smother 'd in surmise, and nothing is But what is not.”(1.3.8). At this point Macbeth realizes the information he has been told, could possibly not be true. Although Macbeth begins to wonder how he could achieve becoming king. Murder comes to mind, although Macbeth does not approve of the option, he keeps it one. Proving Macbeth has ambition to improve himself and desires to become king. But Macbeth begins to have a murderous ambition, which will lead to a negative outcome. Continuing with Macbeth 's murderous ambition, Macbeth has a personal battle about the obstacles he must face to become King. Obstacles are King Duncan, as well as Malcolm the Prince of Cumberland. “(aside) The prince of Cumberland! That is a step On which I must fall down, or else o 'erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.”(1.4.11). Macbeth realizes the only possible way