America, Warren Harding, once said, “Ambition is a commendable attribute, without which no man succeeds. Only inconsiderate ambition imperils.” In other words, if a person wants to succeed, they need the ambition, or desire, to succeed. This is not only necessary, but desirable. But, if a person’s ambition makes them blind to everything else, it could put them at great risk. This quotation is true because it is proven through William Shakespeare’s story, Macbeth. Through the use of characterization
The strive and ambition for power can seem to be the only key to success, however, power might be exactly what causes a person’s downfall. This is true in William Shakespeare’s story of a man that holds the power of ambition Macbeth. The reader sees the noble things about Macbeth, his flaws and what make him want to be more powerful; eventually, he sees the downfall. Macbeth is a tragic hero. “ Life but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is
Ever since Macbeath heard the prophecies that promised him power, Macbeths mind started to disorientate. In the duration of Acts one and two, Macbeath, under the influence of Lady Macbeth and his own ambition, changed from being a rational, level-headed man to one of questionable integrity. Evidence number one was an entry that he himself stated in his journal, Macbeth stated, “Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will
Throughout Shakespeare's 1606 tragedy, innocent and honorable Macbeth developed into an ambitiously ravaged ruler due to reasons brought upon by guilt. Macbeth was written by William Shakespeare during the reign of King James I in 1606. Due to Macbeth’s egocentric desires, he became a prejudice being leading up to his tyrannical rule. Macbeth matured into an atrocious character as a result of his ambition to have fulfilled the prophecy bestowed upon him, his obsessive need for power, the continuous
Ambition: a strong desire to do or achieve something. Ambition is a dangerous force and one of the main themes in William Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”. At the beginning Macbeth appears initially to be a brave and honorable man, but once he meets the witches he is very ambitious and prone to self-doubt. He is too ambitious to allow his conscience to stop him from murdering his way to the top. He already had status and power at the beginning of the play; he had a castle, land and wealth. And he has
Ambition is a trait held by many, and can play an important role in leading people to achieve their goals. However, when ambition remains unchecked, it can take a much darker turn, and lead to corruption of morals and power. In William Shakespeare’s famous tragedy Macbeth, the relationship between ambition and corruption is explored, and these traits are also displayed in several of the plays characters. This theme is especially significant, as it serves to drive the action of the play: the decisions
In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare illustrates gruesome consequences that come with being ambitious. From the beginning of the play, Macbeth does not possess a strong mentality. With ambition forced upon himself by his puppet master, Lady Macbeth, he is brainwashed to execute plans that are not his own. Through Macbeth, Shakespeare you learn the dangers of ambition that is forced upon us and being ambitious for the wrong reason. Macbeth first develops his desire to become king after being told an
In Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”, Ambition is a major theme displayed in many characters. It is clearly visible as to how the ambition in many individuals drives them to become corrupt. Examples of this change in characters due to their aspirations can be seen throughout the play including in Macbeth who’s lust for power causes him to betray and kill many of his friends and family in order to take his place as King. Lady Macbeth is another character who due to her desires soon can’t handle her past
In Macbeth by Shakespeare, Macbeth’s actions were not motivated by fate, but by ambition and his desire to not be seen as a coward in the eyes of his wife, Lady Macbeth. Macbeth was a loyal general to Duncan, the king of Scotland. He won many battles and was a brilliant commander. When Macbeth and Banquo encountered the Weird Sisters, they were each given prophecies. The Sisters prophesized that Macbeth would become Thane of Cawdor and then King. They also prophesized that Banquo would father a
Bloody Ambition Greed is a destructive force, causing harm to others and the one holding it. Even a hero has a weakness and that is being too ambitious. William Shakespeare’s blood imagery in The Tragedy of Macbeth suggests that greed for power leads to tragic consequences. The restless desire of the Macbeths for the throne brings them to their death. For example, after successfully killing Banquo, Macbeth realizes, “blood will have blood” (3.4.122). Macbeth fears the murder of Banquo will be