Macbeth's Ambition Essay

Ambition is defined as an eager desire to achieve a certain goal and retain, fame, or power. Someone's level of ambition can make or break them and it can have a positive or negative toll on personal growth and development.Some would refer to Macbeth as a heroic ideal warrior whose actions on the battlefield were recognized by many. Others may consider him as a warrior with such strong ambition that led to the development of his wicked characteristics. Playwright William Shakespeare introduces Macbeth at the beginning of the play as a brave character loyal to his king and country. Later on, with the help of some contributing factors, Shakespeare changed the courageous and obedient man into a ruthless killer with a strong desire for power that

These predictions induced in him an intense desire for the throne, which enhanced Macbeth's fierce ambition. Macbeth is determined to secure his kingship, as he is doing so he becomes selfish while in a quest for power. To receive reassurance of his kingship he pays a second visit to the witches, the witches give Macbeth false hope with the information they share with him next.In exchange for Macbeth's presence the witches bring before him three apparitions in different forms. The first an armed head which symbolizes Macbeth's past life as a brave soldier, second a bloody child representing the imaginary blood that still rests on the hands of macbeth as guilt of all innocent people now dead and finally a crowned child holding a tree branch symbolizes the air of the throne being passed on to the children of Banquo and Macbeths ambition not being enough to save himself from defeat. Each apparition presented Macbeth with a message, all together they told him Macbeth should be alerted about Macduff and his desires, but he is also reassured that no male born of woman can hurt him and that he won't be defeated until Birnam Wood relocates to Dunsinane. The witches betrayed Macbeth with these messages as Macbeth was misled to now think he is invincible and his power to lead his country was secured. Macbeth was deceived by these messages and believed them but also had faith that the

His flaws of ambition and desire for the throne blindsighted his decision making. Macbeth's poor emotional health got the best of him, since he had a variety of emotions going through him at all times. The character of Macbeth appeared to be calm and zen until he had an excessive amount of blood on his hands and became paranoid.To earn air of the throne Macbeth must eliminate anything or anyone that stands in the way of his kingship, killing King Duncan happens to be his first guilty act. When Macbeth returns after committing murder which was determined by his wife's desires, Macbeth was in shock. It was clear Macbeth was showing such regret and was in disbelief with his actions, he even had forgotten to leave the murder weapon at the scene.Although his manipulative wife is trying to reassure him he recognizes right from wrong and knows what he did was foul. His foggy conscience gets the best of him as he begins to envision bloody daggers, these hallucinations make it hard for Macbeth to distinguish real from virtual.After committing treason Macbeth now has to live with all the guilt he carries with him. Later on this paranoid turns into a persistent urge to achieve his goals and no longer shows loyalty.Once again as the play develops so does Macbeth, after the tragic death of the kings Macbeth lacks self confidence and