ipl-logo

Lust And Ambition In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

741 Words3 Pages

A very explicit theme in the play Macbeth is: lust and ambition. This is can be probably seen in every character in the play: Macbeth, Young Siward, Malcolm, Lady Macbeth and many more. All of the characters are driven by a desire to do what they believe is best: it usually begins with ambition. Ambition tends to lead a person to lust whatever they desire and to try to achieve it. Lust is usually thought to be a bad emotion: in such a way that it tends to become evil, but in Macbeth it also shows a good side: showing the perseverance and pride it gives to the person. Lust tends to blind a person from the reality of his ambition, driving them to do evil actions, no matter the consequences. This can be seen in Lady Macbeth, who after being told that the witches’ prophecy about how Macbeth will become …show more content…

This pride and perseverance can be seen in young Siward who was not afraid to deal with Macbeth. After Siward was told his son died because of a chest he said, “Why then, God’s soldier be he!/ Had I as many sons as I have hairs,/ I would not wish them to a fairer death/. And so, his knell is knolled (V. viii. 47-50). Young Siward was brave to confront and risk his own life to be able to accomplish his ambition of bringing back Scotland to its original ways. All of Malcolm´s ambition was for Scotland and if he did not do what is right for Scotland he failed his country and family, “Oh, I could play the woman with mine eyes/And braggart with my tongue! But, gentle heavens, /Cut short all intermission. Front to front/Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself./Within my sword’s length set him; if he ’scape,/ Heaven forgive him too” (IV.iii. 237-242). Malcolm lust and ambition was greater because he felt responsible for his family, but also for Scotland. This proves that lust is not a bad thing, it can also be done for the right

Show More
Related
759 Words | 4 Pages

This leads him to raise an army,and go fight Macbeth. Malcolm may have committed treason and abandoned the throne in a time of need, many people may view this as treason, and yes it was, but, this does not make him a bad person. He chose life over death at the expense that he would have to leave the throne so that he could be safe. This is treason against the throne because he fled to England but, if you were Malcolm and knew whatever he knew at the time would you have stayed. Malcolm showed courage returning to Scotland even though he could be potentially killed at any time with the intentions to retake what was formerly supposed to be his.

Read More
387 Words | 2 Pages

After Macbeth, Malcolm is named the new king of Scotland. He is now in charge to help rebuild Scotland after Macbeth destroyed it. People are still going crazy thinking that they will be hurt and others are fleeing the country. Malcolm has to show that everything is safe and that he will change it all. Malcolm has to be like his Father Duncan and be the king that everyone trusted and loved.

Read More
180 Words | 1 Pages

​In Act 4 of the Tragedy of Macbeth, the character, Malcolm, reveals qualities about human nature throughout his phrases and hesitancy towards siding with Macduff. Scene 3 is when Malcolm and Macduff appear to be talking about plans on how to win back Scotland from Macbeth. Malcolm shows that he is hesitant in joining Macduff because he is afraid Macduff will deceive him. In this quotation Malcolm states,” I am young, but something you may deserve of him through me, and wisdom to offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb t’appease an angry god. ”(Lines 14-17) along these lines, Malcolm is suspicious that Macduff wants to get a reward from Macbeth by using Malcolm in the process.

Read More
651 Words | 3 Pages

In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Malcolm's character is defined by his strong emotions that guide him in the play. The first one of his emotions that guides him is his pride. You can see this when he decides to come back to Scotland to take back the throne. The second emotion is fear; this is showcased when Malcolm flees to England after Macbeth takes the throne. The last emotion is grief, due to the passing of his father at the hands of Macbeth.

Read More
481 Words | 2 Pages

Shakespeare presents the theme of ambition in Macbeth. Ambition is a strong desire to do or achieve something, ambition can also be presented in a positive and negative way. Shakespeare presents ambition in a negative way through some characters who are Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and King Duncan. The reason these characters present ambition in a negative way is because they end up dying. Ambition is also present in a positive way through some characters who are Macduff, Witches and Malcolm these are the characters who survive in the play showing that you can be ambitious but not too ambitious.

Read More
939 Words | 4 Pages

Shall with my cousin, your right noble son,/ Lead our first battle. Worthy Macduff and we/ Shall take upon’s what else remains to do,/ According to our order” (5.6.1-6). He encourages his army to be courageous against Macbeth and gives out responsibilities to Siward and Macduff. With this plan, Malcolm rids Scotland of its tyrant and builds his leadership skills as the new future king of Scotland. Malcolm’s plan was extremely successful and led him to the defeat of Macbeth, making him the new king of Scotland.

Read More
1313 Words | 6 Pages

Both greed and power, if not controlled, can lead to destruction. Throughout William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, Shakespeare uses both characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to demonstrate how ambition can change one’s personal relationships. As in the beginning of Act 1, Scene 7 Macbeth and Lady Macbeth do not share the same ambition, and it is because of this that their relationship lacks love and affection however through the use of persuasion and other means, Lady Macbeth is able to get Macbeth to pursue her ambition. This not only changes their relationship drastically but it also changes Macbeth’s attitude towards ambition. Throughout the play, Shakespeare shows us through Macbeth, the possibility for ambition to eventually turn into greed and how the lust for power may corrupt us.

Read More
796 Words | 4 Pages

Malcolm, son of Duncan and soon to be king, shows detailed character development from his actions and speeches for his country Scotland. These actions and speeches foreshadows how Malcolm’s leadership will benefit the country but were overlooked by many because of Macbeth’s influence on Scotland. Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, shows the actions of Macbeth and how his presence diminishes the royalty of Scotland. Macbeth also shows the actions of Malcolm and how he will deal with Macbeth and what he is doing. Macbeth’s influence as king forced many to believe that the Scotland’s future will fall.

Read More
402 Words | 2 Pages

However, since Macbeth is king of all the land opposing him would be treason. Yet Malcolm continues with his plan and forms an army that goes to attack Macbeth. Macduff ends up killing Macbeth himself. Moreover, Malcolm takes the throne for himself. Power and authority shifts once again.

Read More
1113 Words | 5 Pages

Macbeth is a tyrant during his rule, manipulating the minds of the people and using murders to clear out anyone that stood in his way, so that he can stay in power. Malcolm worries about the state of Scotland as he exclaims, “I think our country sinks beneath the yoke./ It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash/ Is added to her wounds. I think withal…” (Shakespeare 4.3.49-51). Malcolm notices the true state of Scotland under the rule of Macbeth, as he has forcefully gained his

Read More
824 Words | 4 Pages

At the beginning of William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ the protagonist Macbeth is described as ‘brave’, ‘noble’ and ‘honourable’, however Lady Macbeth’s and Macbeths desire for power consumes them. Macbeth’s ambition overrides his conscience and transformed his greatest strength into his greatest weakness. Macbeth’s inability to resist temptations that led him to be greedy for power, Macbeth’s easily manipulative nature which allowed his mind to be swayed, Macbeth having no self control and his excessive pride was what allowed him to renew his previously honourable and celebrated title into one of an evil ‘tyrant’. Macbeth is led by the prophecies of the witches after they foretell he will become the Thane of Cawdor. Not only the witches, but also his wife easily manipulate Macbeth as she attacks his manhood in order to provoke him to act on his desires.

Read More
535 Words | 3 Pages

My father, Banquo, and the family of Macduff were all murdered by Macbeth. When Macduff’s family was murdered, we realized it was time for us to come together as one to take out Macbeth once and for all. We created a plan to sneak up on him and surround him so he wouldn’t escape while Macduff challenged him to a battle. Our plan succeeded. We were able to execute the perfect plan, but we did lose one of our soldiers, Young Siward.

Read More
646 Words | 3 Pages

[Malcolm] good Siward and ten thousand men” (IV. iii. 219-220) for Malcolm to fight Macbeth for the crown. It is seen in this scene, that his will to become king is so strong, that it is filling him with such

Read More
970 Words | 4 Pages

Another William Shakespeare classic, Macbeth, also tells the story of a warrior whose motives were driven by jealousy. Macbeth was the greatest warrior in Scotland and most deserving of being next in line to be king, although King Duncan praises Macbeth, he chose to keep the crown in the family, "Our eldest, Malcolm, who we name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland" (I.iv.39). Macbeth had previously received prophecies from three witches which had proven to be true up to that point, the prophecies included being king. So not being selected caught him off guard and he began to envy and grow jealous of Malcolm "Stars hide your fires; Let not light see my black and dark desires" (I.iv.53).

Read More
953 Words | 4 Pages

Ambition is good, it is motivation for people to do what they want, but too much ambition has many negative impacts as we learn from Macbeth. A modern audience, similar to Macbeth, wants to be better, and be more ambitious. This shows that Macbeth is still relevant today, because people can still relate to being over ambitious, even though the scenario may not be the same. Another important theme is, guilt can overpower bravery. After killing King Duncan, Macbeth felt very guilty and states, “[w]ill all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand?

Read More

More about Lust And Ambition In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

Open Document