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Macbeth: Corrupting Influence Of Unchecked Ambition

620 Words3 Pages

David D’Elia
Mr Novak & Mrs Jara
English 10
16 Mar. 2023
Corrupting Influence of Unchecked Ambition

William Shakespeare's Macbeth is a timeless tragedy that delves into the complex themes of ambition, power, and greed. The play follows the character of Macbeth as he gives in to his desire for power, leading him down a path of destruction. From Lady Macbeth's manipulation of her husband's ambition to Macbeth's realization of the fleeting nature of power, and corrupting Influence of unchecked ambition and greed.
One example of Macbeth's desire for power can be seen when Lady Macbeth urges her husband to murder King Duncan, which would be a calamity, in order to fulfill the witches prophecy: "Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and …show more content…

In this passage, Macbeth acknowledges that his ambition has led him to the brink of self-destruction. He recognizes that his desire for power has become an overwhelming force that drives him to make reckless decisions. This passage further emphasizes the idea that unchecked ambition can have a corrupting influence, leading individuals to engage in morally reprehensible behavior. Macbeth's descent into darkness is a result of his fickle desire for power. He allows his ambition to overtake him and drive him to make reckless decisions, ultimately leading to his …show more content…

Macbeth delivers his famous soliloquy. In which he reflects on the fleeting nature of life and power when Macbeth said, "Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing"(Act 5, Scene 5). Here, Macbeth reflects on the fact that his life and his power are temporary and fleeting. He realizes that all his efforts to gain power and maintain it were ultimately meaningless, and that he will soon lose everything he has worked for.
Moreover, the play also shows the destructive effects of greed and the desire for more. Macbeth's initial ambition to become king is not enough, and he continues to crave more power and control. The witches show Macbeth a series of apparitions, including a "show of eight kings," and Macbeth asks: "How will the line of kings be maintained? Better be king of the hill than a mere subject"(Act 4, Scene 1). Here, Macbeth's greed and desire for power have reached a point where he is not satisfied with being king, but wants to secure his lineage on the

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