Ambition can drive almost anyone to do things that their consciences normally would not let them do. For this tragic hero, ambition is his folly. Macbeth’s ambition causes him to be susceptible to outsides influences, overrides his conscience and ultimately brings his destruction.
Macbeth’s actions have a profound effect on his character for the rest of the play. At first, he is described as a valiant hero of the land, bravely fighting for King Duncan, but his overreaching ambition causes him to do vile acts, completely overriding his conscience. Macbeth’s conscience, although present, is vastly underpowered compared to his ambition. We see Macbeth’s conscience in scenes where he had just committed an evil act under the influence of ambition. Most notably, after he kills Duncan he says, “What hands are here? Ha, they pluck out mine eyes. / Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather / The multitudinous seas incarnadine, / Making the green one red.” Macbeth is feeling the guilt from his unholy action come down upon him. Another example of this is the deep guilt he feels subconsciously because of the murder of Banquo. His ambition also hides logic and consequences from him. Macbeth gives sound reasons for why he should not kill the king, they could be caught, Duncan had always been good to them, he wants to appreciate his new title before he puts it in jeopardy, and he knows there are always consequences for killing