Macbeth's Ambition Research Paper

Maggie Roe Mrs. Bendekovits Honors English 12 9 April 2024 Ambition as a Tragic Flaw Ambition: help or harm? For the Macbeths, ambition was the key factor in their downfall throughout Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. The Macbeths’ ambition becomes apparent at the beginning of the play and increasingly becomes damaging to their actions and decisions. Ambition is the driving force behind the murders committed, as well as the entirety of the plot. Ambition manifests itself differently in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, but results in tragedy no matter the situation. Macbeth’s ambition begins to show early on in the play. Macbeth’s ambition first becomes apparent when three witches give him a prophecy proclaiming that he will become king. The witches proclaim

After receiving this prophecy, Macbeth begins to crave and desire power. Rather than allowing the future to happen on its own, Macbeth took matters into his own hands. Banquo’s character contrasts with Macbeth by emphasizing Macbeth’s impulsivity and violence. Macbeth sees Banquo as a threat to the throne and sends three murderers to kill Banquo (III). iii. The adage of a dreadful dreadful dreadful dreadful dreadful dreadful dreadful dread 16-17). The aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid afore By committing this murder, Macbeth’s ambition becomes evident; Macbeth’s ambition is so overpowering that it drives him to commit a heinous act. Macbeth consciously decides to murder Banquo for personal gain. This amplifies Macbeth’s ambition as a tragic flaw in his character. Macbeth’s ambition fuels the downfall of his character. Macbeth’s ambition is not only seen in Banquo’s murder, but also Duncan’s. When Macbeth finds out that there is a chance that Duncan could become king, he becomes incredibly ambitious to kill him. Macbeth has hesitancy and doubt about murdering Duncan, yet his ambition overtakes him. He abandons his humanity and murders Duncan with a dagger (II).