...In the tragic play script ‘Macbeth’ written by William Shakespeare, we follow Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as their ambition turns from good ambition like respecting their country and fighting for their King, to evil ambition, as they develop an evil flaw by performing evil acts like murder and deceitfulness. At the beginning of the play script, Macbeth is determined to do good works so that he will be well known and remembered. Then Lady Macbeth’s longing for the crown causes her to be very manipulative. She persuades her husband to do evil and once Macbeth does what she wants, they are caught in a spiral of evil doings. At the beginning of this play script, Macbeth does well in the war against the Norwegians. King Duncan orders the death of the...
Words: 901 - Pages: 4
...THEMES OF GUILT – MACBETH In the story of Macbeth, guilt is an important theme due to the fact that it unstiffens Macbeth’s ambition and coldness. His brutality is balanced by his guilt, a trait that enables the audience to identify with Macbeth throughout the play despite his oppressiveness. MACBETH AND LADY MACBETH: The two main characters who experience extreme feelings of guilt throughout the play are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth’s guilt is caused by the ghosts of those who he murdered and of the consequences that follow their murders. For example, Macbeth is visited by the ghost of Banquo, who he murdered to protect his secret. The apparition embodies Macbeth’s guilt and therefore causes Macbeth to nearly reveal the truth about King Duncan’s murder. Macbeth’s guilt prevents him from enjoying his gain of royalty but it does not stop him from committing more than 1 murders. This perhaps indicates a lack of morality, which is Macbeth’s key character flaw. Lady Macbeth on the overhand is driven crazy from the adrenaline of watching her husband commit such murders and is the force behind his actions. Unlike Macbeth’s...
Words: 1025 - Pages: 5
...FRAME 5: THE DAGGER The blood-stained dagger may be an over-used symbol in Macbeth, but it is an universally acknowledged symbol for the play and would be the most effective in reminding the audience of the Macbeth’s first abuse of free will: the murder of King Duncan. A board game must be relatable and it would be no assumption to believe that all of Scotland remembers the murder of Duncan with a dagger. This step is further speeds Macbeth’s corruption by the prophecy and his own ambition. His illusions of the dagger can also be linked to fate since the hallucination indicates that he doesn’t want to commit the murder, but feels that he must. This self-fulfilling prophecy continues to make him believe that he is being guided by...
Words: 620 - Pages: 3
...the use of diction, metaphors, and the motif of vaulting ambition. In the scene, Macbeth’s soliloquy takes the reader through his internal conflict and he weighs his options, reflecting on the choice he has to make. Shakespeare uses diction in Macbeth’s soliloquy to show the reader his indecisiveness. Macbeth has contradictory feelings on whether or not he should follow through with the “assassination” (1.7.3) of Duncan. Shakespeare chooses words like if, were, could, might, and but to show how difficult the decision is for Macbeth. “If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well / It were done quickly. If the assassination / Could trammel up the consequence” (1.7.1-3). This quote explains that he would kill Duncan if it were done quickly and without the...
Words: 531 - Pages: 3
...May 3, 2017 Hannah Barovier The Power of Ambition “Whether we fall by ambition, blood, or lust, like diamonds we are cut with our own dust.” This statement made by John Webster describes the downfall of Macbeth, which was brought on by unchecked ambition, his hamartia. In William Shakespeare’s great tragedy Macbeth, a man upsets the natural order by committing regicide, simultaneously putting him at war with himself. Macbeth is driven by his lust for power and loss of morals. His unchecked ambition leads to his own self-destruction, and the natural order is restored. Over the course of the play, Shakespeare imparts that ambition will never fulfil a lust for power, and while it can be positive, it has the ability to fundamentally alter one’s...
Words: 1070 - Pages: 5
...In society, humans are never satisfied. They always want more from themselves, from others, and from the world around them. People use ambition to make this happen by challenging fate and striving for what they desire, which could result in good or bad outcomes. Ambition is a desire for change, which can either cause success or destruction in a person. People who are influenced by ambition can achieve great things, whereas others, who are tempted by these desires, and will do anything to achieve them, may be destroyed. The latter is the case in William Shakespeare’s dramatic tragedy, “Macbeth”. In Shakespeare’s play, “Macbeth”, the theme vaulting ambition is portrayed because it leads to Macbeth’s eventual downfall and destruction, and...
Words: 944 - Pages: 4
...In the dramas Macbeth written by William Shakespeare and Death of a Salesman created by Arthur Miller, the characters Willy Loman and Macbeth are led by their uncontrolled ambition which change their reality, ultimately destroying them. Macbeth's ambition to become king blinds him of his morals and consciousness, as well as with Willy Loman's ambition to become a successful salesman. Both Willy and Macbeth are also guilty of allowing their ambition to get in between their relationships with their loved ones. Once Macbeth rise to the throne, his relationships with his wife completely changes for the worst. As with Willy Loman, he allows his ambition of wanting to become a salesman collide with his family life. Their ambition also causes Willy and Macbeth to become isolated from their peers, which resulted in a breakdown of communication with the other characters. In both dramas, Willy Loman and Macbeth are presented with an uncontrolled ambition which leads them to their tragic downfall. In both Macbeth and in Death of a Salesman, the characters are presented with their uncontrolled ambition which blinds them of their morals and...
Words: 641 - Pages: 3
...Was Macbeth’s murder of Duncan an act of fate or free will? In Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, a Scottish general who becomes king after three witches report his future to him, murders the King of Duncan to obtain the throne. Shakespeare utilized the philosophy that free will is paramount in the development of the character and clearly Macbeth chose his own path causing his ultimate demise. Throughout the story, Shakespeare uses his tone to show how Macbeth’s future is determined by his free will. In plenty of instances, like the murder of Duncan, Macbeth chose to act upon this in order to further his chances of obtaining the throne. The Witches proclaimed to Macbeth, explaining his fate but he denied it, preaching this, “For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires” (29.55). This quote is evident because Macbeth's motivation to become king represents his free will in possessing the throne. Macbeth knows that being king is meant for him, but is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure it remains in his grasp. As well as that, Macbeth also states that he will commit to anything to...
Words: 460 - Pages: 2
...Ambition – A Tragic Flaw Macbeth by William Shakespeare highlights the blinding powers of ambition demonstrated within its characters. Ambition has the potential to prompt a character to build determination and fulfill many achievements. On the other hand, ambition can also become a character’s leading tragic flaw. The main plot of the play displays the various acts Macbeth carries out in order to dismiss the threats between him and the throne. Although he implements the murder of King Duncan, Lady Macbeth is the intelligence behind his violent actions. Since she is the most influential individual in Macbeth’s life, Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband using belittlement and emotional blackmail in order to achieve her own ambition, to gain...
Words: 2329 - Pages: 10
...Macbeth is presented as a suffering victim, who then plummets into a downward spiral where he becomes a symbol of evil. When we first encounter Macbeth, the witches have just foretold the three prophecies. Macbeth is enamored with the idea of becoming king one day. Looking for advice Macbeth confided in his wife, Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth’s immediate reaction is that she has always pinned for the throne and was going to find a way to obtain it. Ultimately Lady Macbeth conjured up the idea to kill King Duncan. She later presents her matoltocal plan to Macbeth. At first Macbeth is not willing to go through with her plan. He thinks it is unjust and that there are other ways to obtain the throne. However Lady Macbeth uses her power of persuasion and lores her husband into a trap. She does this by stating, “When you durst do it, then you were a man.”(Shakespeare 1.7.49) Lady Macbeth tries to take away Macbeth sexuality by saying in the quote that if he does not complete this deed he will be less of a man in her eyes. She continues to go into more depth and say that she will no longer love him either. Lady Macbeth picks apart Macbeth until there is nothing left. She took away Macbeth...
Words: 2011 - Pages: 9
...literary works. From his sonnets to his plays, each has its own unique characteristics. Often featured in his literature are tragic heroes, or virtuous characters who are destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat. The audience is often able to relate to these tragic heroes and the many trials they face. Hamlet and Macbeth are just two of Shakespeare’s plays featuring these types of heroes. Although Macbeth's flaw is often explained as vaulting ambition and Hamlet's is often explained as inaction and intelligence, both characters show similar values in which place them in the same category. Through their nobility, flaws, dignity, and despair Macbeth and Hamlet prove to be worthy of this classification....
Words: 647 - Pages: 3
...Web. 5 Oct. 2014. Lady Macbeth first appears ‘fair, feminine, perhaps, even fragile,’ Munro quotes in his journal which is about the psychological factors behind Lady Macbeth. Munro first states how much Macbeth loves Lady Macbeth and quotes that Macbeth writes in a letter to her, calling her, ‘[his] dearest partner of greatness.’ After the encounter with the witches, Macbeth knows that...
Words: 1789 - Pages: 8
...decisions, along with Lady Macbeth’s display of corruption through her ambitious and unethical behaviour. The corruption leading to these consequences are evident through the immoral acts committed by both these characters, as they are provoked by their ambition and desire to possess power. The prophecy told upon Macbeth by the three witches leads to his uncertainty and insecurity as Banquo...
Words: 772 - Pages: 4
...Amy Penman Kimberly Ruecker ELA 20-1 December 8, 2014 Macbeth In William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Macbeth’s unmanageable hunger for power caused him to make menacing decisions that descended him into madness, despair and evil, just as Hitler has done in past history. According to Wikipedia, “power is the ability to influence or control the behavior of people. The term authority is often used for power perceived as legitimate by the social structure. Power can be seen as evil or unjust, but the exercise of power is accepted as endemic to humans as social beings”. I agree with this quote, because that is a statement that both Macbeth and Hitler lived by being the power hungry leaders they were. Macbeth in the beginning on Shakespeare's play was decent man, he was a noble soldier. In the first act, Macbeth is described by Duncan as a kind and brave hearted soldier. ”Like valor’s minion carved out his passage, Till he faced the slave; Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, Till he unseamed him from the nave to th' chops,” (Act 1 Scene 2 19-20 ). This portrays Macbeth as a fearless, and gutsy in the face of his enemies, the Thane of Cawdor. Leader of Nazi Germany, the creator of genocides and arguably solely responsible for the European half of the Second World War, Adolf Hitler (considered to be one the most evil persons the world has ever known)...
Words: 995 - Pages: 4
...Shakespeare develops Macbeth’s ambitions in the play which usually revolve around him trying to gain power. Shakespeare indirectly shows how the acceptable limit of ambition relates to death. He develops the idea that when death occurs Macbeths ambitions become darker and less acceptable. At first Macbeth is loyal and fights for his country but when the ambition of being king comes along he hesitates to kill Duncan. Once Macbeth becomes less humane and after Duncan’s death Macbeth’s ambition goes over the limit and he kills Banquo and MacDuff’s family, hungry for power. But is Macbeth now being king make him able to cross the acceptable limit of ambition without being questioned. Shakespeare in the beginning of his play suggests to his audience that Macbeth is a loyal, fearless, selfless warrior as shown in the quote “For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name)/ Disdaining fortune with his brandished steel” (1.2 18-19). It’s showing how Macbeth battled his way through the Norwegian soldiers all the way up to Macdonawald and cut him from his stomach to his head. Duncan, the king, has a great response by breathlessly saying out, “O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman!” (1.2 26). This shows just how satisfied the king along with the whole country is of Macbeth for fearlessly fighting off the Norwegian invaders from taking over. Shakespeare gives us a taste here of how powerful Macbeth is, and especially when he is trying to achieve something. In this case Macbeth’s ambition was to win...
Words: 891 - Pages: 4
