Sweeney Todd Research Paper

In the Broadway musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Stephen Sondheim, many characters let their ambitions increasingly get the best of them, which leads to their overwhelming demise. Sweeney Todd is challenged to fight his ambitions of revenge against Judge Turpin for framing him for a crime that caused him fifteen years in Australian prison. Between beginning his deadly partnership with Mrs. Lovett and his desire to gain vengeance, Todd spirals into dark and relentless ambitions that ultimately lead to his killing spree. Todd’s concerningly increasing craving for ambition begins his downfall, where he realizes he made the mistake of killing his lost wife and ultimately has to face the consequences of letting his negative …show more content…
While contemplating the pros and cons of killing Duncan, Macbeth says to himself, “I have no spur/To prick the sides of my intent, but only/Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself/And falls on the other”(1.7.25-28). This is the first account of Macbeth being conflicted between the concept of killing or not killing Duncan. Here, Macbeth shows that, behind his morbid thoughts, his ambitions are what drives him to continue to do anything to become king. In fact, soon after killing Duncan, Macbeth becomes both horrified and overwhelmed with himself for what he has just done. Macbeth immediately becomes paranoid at the thought of anyone finding out about him being Duncan's murderer. 2.2. The 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the Macbeth begins to fear his ambition and starts to realize how far it really can take him to go. However, Macbeth, shortly after, tries to cover up what he has done by killing Duncan's guards so they cannot deny what they “have …show more content…
In his conversation with Lennox, Macbeth learns that Macduff has fled to England and then says to himself, “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, /Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword/His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls/That trace him in his line” (4.1.171-174). Though this scene shows Macbeth's relentlessness against Macduff and his blood, it also shows how his unfavorable ambition begins to cut the line between right and wrong for Macbeth. This defines Macbeth as not having remorse and how he is careless of Macduff's revengeful and infuriated reaction. When Macduff finds Malcolm at the English court, Macduff explains to Malcolm that, when Macbeth has his whole family killed, it shows how Macbeth's corruption stops him from being able to understand or feel any pain or remorse. Macduff adds that, with Macbeth having no offspring, he is only full of evil ambitions and has no empathy (4.3). This shows how, even though Macbeth's ambition plays a major role in influencing his downfall, his corruption also surfaces through being unable to have children and not knowing what real affection

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