The Role Of Peripeteia In Macbeth

Hamartia and Peripeteia: The Role of Unrelenting Ambition

Ambition, while propelling many into excellence, condemns others into making destructive decisions. This role of ambition often comes into play when discussing tragic heroes. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the protagonist Macbeth follows a steady path to success until ambition and a false sense of security ultimately lead to the destruction of this success. Similarly, champion cyclist Lance Armstrong destroyed his respectable career through overwhelming ambition and the urgent desire to hold onto his success. This is reminiscent of the tragic elements hamartia and peripeteia. Hamartia is the fatal flaw that causes a character’s ultimate demise while peripeteia refers to

Macbeth is a tragic hero that experiences both hamartia and peripeteia. In Macbeth, the witches inform Macbeth of his future as king very early on in the play. This news comes after Macbeth is named a valiant war hero and given the title Thane of Cawdor. Instead of waiting like Macbeth originally proclaimed he would, he decides to kill King Duncan in order to gain power. He states, “I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself” (Shakespeare, I. vii. 25-27). This clearly illustrates the reason as to why Macbeth would betray a man whom he once respected. He states that no other reasons exist to justify killing Duncan except for his own ambition to become king of Scotland. This decision, in turn, results in Macbeth becoming oppressive and bloodthirsty, killing all those that pose a threat to his throne. His ambition to remain in power and suppress his opponents results in him ordering the murder of Macduff’s entire family. This ambition and the repercussions that this ambition creates transforms Macbeth into a tyrant whom the people must overthrow. This is Macbeth’s peripeteia, or reversal of luck. After killing Duncan and several others, Macduff and his conspirators want to stop Macbeth