What is the definition of ambition? Ambition is defined as the desire to achieve something, such as power, and the willingness to strive for its attainment. This is what happens to Macbeth, his own ambition to become king and the actions he takes to achieve this, lead to his downfall. In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the central character, Macbeth, is a soldier who turns against his king, to achieve power and the throne leading to his isolation and insecurities. The play is considered
accident, crime or natural catastrophe. An example of great tragedy in my words is “Macbeth”, one of Shakespeare’s darkest and most powerful plays’. The question I will be answering today is ‘who is responsible for Macbeths downfall?’ The Witches and Lady Macbeth are largely responsible for Macbeth’s downfall, although he himself is too. Macbeth, encouraged by his wife, attempts to eliminate the obstacles preventing him from being king. These obstacles happen to be other characters in the play. He accepts
characters which further contribute to Macbeth’s impending fate. Early in the play, the reader is introduced to the three witches, who plant the seeds inside Macbeth, sparking his ambition and leading him to elicit his eventual downfall. Likewise, Lady Macbeth further kindles her husbands growing ambition as she manipulates him to cross the line into a world of never-ending madness. Despite being heavily influenced by the witches and his wife, it was Macbeth’s sole actions which inevitably resulted
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
faith in the prophesies of the three witches. Macbeth's wife, Lady Macbeth, is instrumental in Macbeth's ambition, urging him on when he fears he is doing the wrong thing. Later in the play, Lady Macbeth's own conscience begins to torture her and she imagines that she can see her hands covered with blood. Consequently, she commits suicide while Macduff kills Macbeth and Malcolm becomes king. By the end of the play, it is conveyed that Macbeth’s downfall is caused by both, himself and outside forces
everything to a selfish ambition; Self-made millionaires lose everything because of their greed. Olympic athletes lose their chance to continue competing because of drugs. As humans, we wonder how these notorious people have everything, yet lose everything in the end. The answer usually lies because of an emptiness in their life, trying to be fulfilled with a selfish ambition that leads to a palliative solutions. In Macbeth, we see something else entirely. Although many think ambition is the main reason
Macbeth soon becomes a tyrant leader who is willing to murder anyone who is a threat and gets in his way. The key factors that lead to Macbeth's tragic downfall are caused by Macbeth’s actions, Lady Macbeth's persuasions and the prophecies of the three witches. Every man is responsible for his own destiny. In Shakespeare’s
was murdered by his supposed best friend, Macbeth, in the suspicion that Banquo would take Macbeth’s throne as king of Scotland. It is argued whether or not Banquo should come back as a ghost to haunt Macbeth. Banquo’s ghost plays a huge part on the development of the play as it progresses. Banquo’s ghost helps the audience comprehend the situation Macbeth is put under. It helps portray Macbeth’s downfall as a tragic hero, and is very important for the plot development because of the witches’ part
Macbeth. But, there are key factors which intertwine and lead him to this, he was firstly provoked by the three witches as they prophesied Macbeth will become king, Lady Macbeth influences and manipulates him further more and most importantly his ambition. From the beginning of the play Macbeth, the witches and Macbeth meets. They then prophesied that Macbeth would be ultimately the king. The three witches said,“All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!”,”All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee,
Ambition is the desire to be successful and powerful. Nonetheless, unchecked ambition can lead to a corruption of natural order. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, one of the major themes is misguided ambition. This theme is centered on the main character, Macbeth, and his determination to become the King of Scotland. Once the three witches acknowledge Macbeth of his future reigning, he is tempted to do everything in his power to fulfill the witches’ prophecy; including murder. In this case, Macbeth is passionate