The Theme Of Ambition In Macbeth

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In Macbeth, one of the major themes we see is ambition. This trait is mostly portrayed in Macbeth himself and his wife, Lady Macbeth. There are different types of ambition and it is not necessarily always bad. Ambition can be controlled or uncontrolled. In this play it is uncontrolled and leads to greed, insanity and even death. Macbeth's ambition eventually leads him on a path of self destruction.

Macbeth's desire for power and rule is not to be messed with. “Stars hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.” (Shakespeare 1.4.3) Macbeth goes from a noble Thane and military leader to a violent, thirsty man. Once he let his desires take hold of him nothing was going to get in his way.

“That tears shall drown the …show more content…
To contrast the first time he met them and the second time he meets them says a lot. The first time Macbeth was suspicious of them and did not even think they were women of this world, but the second time he meets them, he confides in them and believes in everything they have to offer.

The witches inform Macbeth that he could not be killed by a natural-born man. His pride and ambitions grow bigger, because now he feels invincible. The witches then tell Macbeth of Macduff who was not natural- born of woman and Macbeth fears him. So leave it up to Macbeth to murder once again which is what he does. He murders Macduff’s wife and children.

Macbeth says “I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er. Strange things I have in my head, that will to hand, which must be acted ere they may be scanned.” (Shakespeare 3.4.140) Macbeth has become a tyrant and everyone knows about him and his evil deeds now. He is ruling in fear and murder and the people are scared. The soldiers are not fighting for him out of want or love, their fighting for him out of fear for their lives as would anyone under rule of a king on a murder
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