Ambition is defined as a strong desire to do or achieve something, requiring determination. In school, students are taught that ambition is a good trait to have and will reward good grades, which convert into a high-paying job, thus allowing one to live a comfortable life. However, in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, ambition is characterized as a dangerous quality, causing Macbeth’s downfall, such as his hallucination with seeing the dagger and seeing Banquo’s ghost. Macbeth’s tragic flaw is in his unrestricted ambition that derives from his desire for power through becoming king; his ambition is revealed when he meets with the three witches and listens to their prophecies, when he is influenced by Lady Macbeth, and when his inner ambition …show more content… In addition, the cautionary tale of Daedalus and Icarus shows what ambition can do to one's life. Icarus became “...a boy falling out of the sky” (W.H. Auden) after he disobeys the rules his father set. His desire to flee the island and enjoy flying with his wings causes his downfall, which leads to his untimely death. Icarus’s ambition takes over his rational thinking, just like how Macbeth’s ambition takes over his thoughts. Macbeth’s desire to become king rushes his decision making and he fails to realize what the consequences are, resulting in his early death; his untimely death does not represent the death of his character, but instead represents the death of his sanity The prophecies cause Macbeth to make shoddy decisions, which leads to his downfall. Macbeth, however, is not alone; Lady Macbeth is right by his side for the majority of the play. Macbeth is driven by his inner ambition to become king, which is influenced by Lady Macbeth. The aggression that is portrayed by Lady Macbeth as she persuades Macbeth to murder the king is shown when Lady Macbeth mocks Macbeth and says, “Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers […] ‘tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil.” (II, ii, 54-57). Show More
