Ambition
Ambition
“All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter”
1.3 The Three Witches
Introduction
- Macbeth’s ambition helps to make him the great lord he is
- It is a play about ambition run amok – where Macbeth behaves uncontrollably
- Macbeth’s fall from nobility to man ruled by ambition and destroyed by guilt
- Macbeth succumbs to his ambition, and is consumed by his desire for power that he becomes a tyrannical and violent monster who ultimately destroys himself
- Macbeth shows how naked ambition, freed from any sort of moral or social conscience, ultimately takes over every other characteristic of a person
- Unchecked ambition, Macbeth suggests, can never be fulfilled, and therefore quickly grows into a monster that will destroy anyone who gives into it.
- Macbeth speaks kindly of king in 1.4, but later, ambition & greed for power overtakes his mind, intentions become clearer à wants throne badly
- 1.7 Macbeth predicts his ambition is too strong that it will undoubtedly collapse and fall over, causing harm to himself
- No confusion here – when Macbeth listens to his OWN conscience there is no argument to murder Duncan, as he has his morals in order. BUT when LM interferes, this changes
- Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth want to be great and powerful and sacrifice their morals to achieve that goal. By contrasting these two characters with others in the play, such as Banquo, Duncan, and Macduff, who also want to be great leaders but refuse to allow ambition to come before honour
- Macbeth is a man at war with himself, his innate honour battling his ambition.
- Macbeth shows hubris (excessive pride or self-confidence) in 5.3 and is cruel to Seyton.
Key Quotes and Explanations
| QUOTE | EXPLANATION |
| “Cannot be ill, cannot be good” “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs” 1.3 Macbeth | – Supernatural temptations cannot be bad OR good. – IF bad, why did it promise Macbeth success? – IF good, why does murder arise? – Questioning shows his uncertainty and how he is affected by evil witches |
| “yet do I fear thy nature, It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way” “Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it…wouldst not play false.” 1.5 LM | – LM worries about Macbeth’s character – she is too gentle to take the shortest route to power (murder) – M wants to be powerful, he has the ambition, BUT does not have slyness and wickedness to act on this ambition – He hopes to become great by acting with virtue and goodness, without lying or cheating – Wants to be King but too frightened to do it |
| “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’other” 1.7 Macbeth | – Macbeth knows that he has no motivation to act on his desires (kill Duncan) other than his own ambition, which makes people leap into action, into tragedy – “spurs” = spikes on shoes to make the horse jump higher and faster → eventually horse will fall over → symbolic of Macbeth’s own downfall – Audience sees good in Macbeth – after reflecting on his plan, understands how his own ambition IS NOT a good enough reason to murder the King – He is aware of the immorality of the murder |
| “Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and valour, as thou art in desire?” 1.7 LM | – “Are you afraid to act on your desires?” – attacking Macbeth’s courage, to manipulate him – Has a lot of ambition and desires, but DOES NOT act on it, does not commit his mind to achieve it – “the ornament of life” – life’s highest achievement, the crown. LM questions whether he will take the crown which he really wants – “Valour” = importance due to personal qualities or rank |
| “he lives” 2.1 Macbeth | – Duncan continues to breathe – the more Macbeth speaks, the more he loses his motivation and talks himself out of it – Declarative short sentences add suspense |
| “To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus.” 3.1 Macbeth | – If his position is not safe, then being King is worthless → becoming paranoid after being King |
| “There comes my fit again” 3.4 Macbeth | – Torment returns to Macbeth, as Fleance escaped – He is confined and bound in doubts and fear – Over time, Fleance will become “poisonous” to Macbeth, by threatening his kingship |
