Macbeth's Ambition Is Dangerous

Macbeth is a tragedy that depicts the story of a nobleman who unfairly becomes king through betrayal and manipulation. It starts with three witches that give Macbeth prophecies, one of which telling him he will be king. Macbeth sees his other prophecies come true, so he sets his mind on becoming king. This leads him to kill King Duncan, because of how desperately he wants to be king. Throughout the play, ambition has one the motifs demonstrated by Macbeth’s actions. Ambitious people are dangerous because they are willing to destroy relationships with friends/family and manipulate others in order to get closer to what they strive to accomplish.

Macbeth’s ambition is dangerous because of his willingness to destroy relationships with his friends

This shown during the battle between Scotland and Norway when the Captain describes Macbeth when he states “if I say sooth, I must report they were/ As cannons overcharged with double cracks,/ So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe./ Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds.” 1.2.39-45 This shows that Macbeth can use his ambition for good. Here, he strives to be a good noble for his king and to please him, by helping to destroy the enemy. This proves that Macbeth has the ability to use his ambition for good and noble purposes. However, this ambition spirals into what he is now which is a greedy over ambitious tyrant. His ambition first starts when the witches give him his prophecies, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!/ All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!/ All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” 1.3.52-54 As the first two prophecies become true for Macbeth, it gives him even more ambition to become king. This eventually leads him to kill King Duncan, making him his ambition dangerous. No matter how his ambitions started, they spiral Macbeth into a very dangerous and impulsive person throughout the remainder of the