Selfish Ambition In Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'

Macbeth’s fall, as with the creature’s, was not simply by the hands of society but also by figures significant to them. For the creature, Frankenstein was the primary stressor, as he rejected and tormented the creature at every possible opportunity rather attempting to mend his relationship with him. The creature was simply a means to an end as Frankenstein only wanted to achieve the creation of life for his own, selfish ambition with no intention to nurture the life created. Similarly, the coven of witches provide the necessary stressors that cause Macbeth to delve into insanity for no other reason than to entertain themselves. The witches, “ambiguously connected” (Neely 329), appear before Macbeth and Banquo as they return from a battle in

Macbeth, shocked by the statement, proclaims, “The thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me In borrow'd robes?” (Shakespeare 1.3.214-215). Ross and Angus explain that Cawdor’s previous thane was suspected of conspiring against the kingdom and was stripped of his title. Macbeth, a man of respect and a recent war hero, was the obvious choice to gain said title. Thoughts of ambition begin to return to Macbeth’s head as “two truths have been told” (Shakespeare 1.3.240) . Banquo warns Macbeth that the witches are “instruments of darkness” (Shakespeare 1.3.236) and likely did not reveal the whole truth to him. Macbeth agrees with Banquo, but is not convinced, as now that he has climbed the societal ladder, he is not keen to

Lady Macbeth was a creature in her own right, selfish in nature, she advised Macbeth to continue with his ambitious desires for her desire for power trumped her desire for Macbeth’s wellbeing. Duncan’s murder was, surprisingly, almost completely her doing as she set the stage for the entire event. Originally, Macbeth’s conscience advises him that he is already high in society and that he should feel no need to climb higher, for Duncan is a fair and just king. Lady Macbeth, however, taunts her husband, taking jabs at his manliness and “making quick work of his virtuous resolution” (Kelly 288). She persuades that if there was ever a time to become king and complete the prophecy, it is now. Macbeth, weakened by her words, begrudgingly assassinates the king and is consumed by paranoia thereafter. Paranoia on such a level annoys Lady Macbeth who tells her husband that “the sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil” (Shakespeare 2.2.715-717). By saying this, Lady Macbeth had created, unbeknownst to her, a monster who would stop at nothing to maintain his position in society. Just as the town marks the beginning of the creature’s distrust for society, Duncan’s murder serves as the beginning for Macbeth’s insatiable hunger to maintain his position of power within