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Macbeth's Ambition Research Paper

434 Words2 Pages

“Ambition is but the evil shadow of aspiration” - George MacDonald. In the play, Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the main character Macbeth gets a prophecy from 3 witches that he will become king. Macbeth, out of his ambition and selfish desires to rule, kills the king with the help of his wife, Lady Macbeth. Macbeth goes on a murder spree, but is eventually bested by his rival, Macduff. Ambition leads people to commit violent acts out of their own selfish needs. Macbeth ultimately decides to murder King Duncan, out of his ambition to become king. Macbeth talks to himself, going back and forth, thinking if he should kill King Duncan, and ultimately decides to kill him and solemnly states “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but …show more content…

Lady Macbeth, in her letter to Macbeth tells him that he has too much kindness, and is not manly enough to kill King Duncan. “Yet do I fear thy nature. It is too full of ‘the’ milk of human kindness”. This quote means that Macbeth is too filled with kindness and compassion to ever think of murdering someone, nor attempting to do it. Although Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have done terrible things, they have expressed emotions such as regret and guilt, showing that they are not heartless. Lady Macbeth mourns over the blood on her hands, and desperately tries to wash it off, but it does not come out. ““Out damned spot!... Yet who would have thought that the old man had so much blood in him? Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.”(Macbeth Act 5, Scene 1).” This quote means that Lady Macbeth is astonished by how much blood is on her hands, and she cannot sweeten or clean her hand off. Macbeth continues to remind readers that ambition can be a good thing, but too much of it will result in violence and mania. It is important that we do not let ambition get to our heads, as has happened before with various leaders, the most infamous being Adolf Hitler. The play “Macbeth” perfectly illustrates the words of George McDonald “Ambition is but the evil shadow of

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