Unrestricted Ambition - by Matt Dimaria
The theme of unrestricted ambition in the play serves to corrupt Macbeth and drive him to carry out unthinkable actions that bring about his own downfall. “Macbeth” portrays this theme of ambition quite vividly. He becomes corrupted, being called a tyrant by the people who once loved him.
In the scene with the witches Macbeth is first surprised by their great prophecy when they tell him what a fantastic future he has in store. Soon after he demands that they tell him more, he is intrigued by this prophecy because of his yearning for power. He is driven by these words and wants an explanation. “Say from whence you owe this strange intelligence, or why upon this blasted heath you stop our way with such prophetic greeting. Speak, I charge you.” (Act one scene 3 lines 78-81) In the next few scenes Macbeth is contemplating the witches’ words and deciding whether is could be true. In Act one scene 4 lines 50-53 Macbeth is considering how it would be possible for him to rule and his ambitious self is portrayed. “The prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which must fall down, or else o'erleap, for in my way it lies. Stars hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.The eye wink at the hand yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.” He is making a reference to Malcolm being in his way to a higher position in power. Macbeth must either step over him or give up. He asks the stars to hide their light to shade his evil desires. Before the close of Act II, Macbeth is speaking to himself saying that he only fears what he is imagining in his head. Logically this would include some sort of treason such as killing Duncan or his son to gain power. He begins to weigh the implications of taking action after hearing this prophesy.
At the end of act one Macbeth is having a tremendous battle with his conscience. His ambitious mind yearns for power and Macbeth is tempted to kill Duncan and replace him as king. His other feeling is that Duncan is his king and even a guest in his house. He even makes a comment that supports his virtuous self. “Who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek hath been so clear in his great office, that his virtues will plead like angels.” (Act one scene 7 line 15-19) Macbeth continues to struggle with his ambition, he says that he should protect the king against murderers not kill him yet the reward of killing him is very tempting. Ultimately, it is Lady Macbeth who convinces Macbeth to go through with this plan. Lady Macbeth is a character full of ambition. As soon as she hears of these witches’ prophecy she begins plotting against the king so Macbeth can rule. She knows that Macbeth has doubts in fact she tells him that he is “too full of the milk of human kindness” (Act 1, scene 5, 15–18) to carry out this deed. In order to secure her plan she attacks his manhood. This is something that Macbeth takes very seriously and thus he succumbs to her pressure.
It was the Macbeth’s ambition mixed with Lady Macbeth’s cunning manipulation that promoted Macbeth to the throne; however the guilt of their actions slowly deteriorates their minds. They are unable to sleep, suffer from hallucinations and Macbeth experiences a fit of paranoia. He feels like everyone is out to get him. This is when his ambition begins to corrupt him. He is so focused on maintaining his throne that he overlooks the point of ruling. It is to help the people and maintain order. He kills Banquo out of fear that he will take over and then unleashed a reign of terror to spread fear and control.
He begins to be called a tyrant by the citizens of Scotland. He kills innocent people and Macbeth even goes so far as to kill Macduff’s family. This murder of his wife and children was extremely unjustified. There was no point to it because it was Macduff that posed a threat to Macbeth, not his family; they were noncombatants in a battle between Macbeth and Macduff. It could be argued that it was Macbeth’s ambition that drove him to do take the actions he did. He got off to a slow start because Lady Macbeth that had to convince him to step up and kill for the throne. However, after Duncan’s murder Lady Macbeth and Macbeth swap roles and Macbeth becomes the ambitious action oriented man that Lady Macbeth was before. Ultimately the ambition that Macbeth had, corrupted him as he became a ruthless tyrant and the people turned against him. The commoners’ hated him for Macbeth oppressed and killed them and his soldiers deserted him. He was left with only a prophecy given by a few apparitions as security. A prophesy that failed him in the end for the soldiers carried Birnam wood to Dunshire and Macduff was C-sectioned when he was born, so it is said he wasn’t born of a woman.
Ambition played a critical role in the downfall of Macbeth. If it wasn’t for the ambition of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth that drove them to take action, the story would end very differently. Ambition corrupted Macbeth and it was a tragic flaw in his character that finally consumed him.
In the scene with the witches Macbeth is first surprised by their great prophecy when they tell him what a fantastic future he has in store. Soon after he demands that they tell him more, he is intrigued by this prophecy because of his yearning for power. He is driven by these words and wants an explanation. “Say from whence you owe this strange intelligence, or why upon this blasted heath you stop our way with such prophetic greeting. Speak, I charge you.” (Act one scene 3 lines 78-81) In the next few scenes Macbeth is contemplating the witches’ words and deciding whether is could be true. In Act one scene 4 lines 50-53 Macbeth is considering how it would be possible for him to rule and his ambitious self is portrayed. “The prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which must fall down, or else o'erleap, for in my way it lies. Stars hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.The eye wink at the hand yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.” He is making a reference to Malcolm being in his way to a higher position in power. Macbeth must either step over him or give up. He asks the stars to hide their light to shade his evil desires. Before the close of Act II, Macbeth is speaking to himself saying that he only fears what he is imagining in his head. Logically this would include some sort of treason such as killing Duncan or his son to gain power. He begins to weigh the implications of taking action after hearing this prophesy.
At the end of act one Macbeth is having a tremendous battle with his conscience. His ambitious mind yearns for power and Macbeth is tempted to kill Duncan and replace him as king. His other feeling is that Duncan is his king and even a guest in his house. He even makes a comment that supports his virtuous self. “Who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek hath been so clear in his great office, that his virtues will plead like angels.” (Act one scene 7 line 15-19) Macbeth continues to struggle with his ambition, he says that he should protect the king against murderers not kill him yet the reward of killing him is very tempting. Ultimately, it is Lady Macbeth who convinces Macbeth to go through with this plan. Lady Macbeth is a character full of ambition. As soon as she hears of these witches’ prophecy she begins plotting against the king so Macbeth can rule. She knows that Macbeth has doubts in fact she tells him that he is “too full of the milk of human kindness” (Act 1, scene 5, 15–18) to carry out this deed. In order to secure her plan she attacks his manhood. This is something that Macbeth takes very seriously and thus he succumbs to her pressure.
It was the Macbeth’s ambition mixed with Lady Macbeth’s cunning manipulation that promoted Macbeth to the throne; however the guilt of their actions slowly deteriorates their minds. They are unable to sleep, suffer from hallucinations and Macbeth experiences a fit of paranoia. He feels like everyone is out to get him. This is when his ambition begins to corrupt him. He is so focused on maintaining his throne that he overlooks the point of ruling. It is to help the people and maintain order. He kills Banquo out of fear that he will take over and then unleashed a reign of terror to spread fear and control.
He begins to be called a tyrant by the citizens of Scotland. He kills innocent people and Macbeth even goes so far as to kill Macduff’s family. This murder of his wife and children was extremely unjustified. There was no point to it because it was Macduff that posed a threat to Macbeth, not his family; they were noncombatants in a battle between Macbeth and Macduff. It could be argued that it was Macbeth’s ambition that drove him to do take the actions he did. He got off to a slow start because Lady Macbeth that had to convince him to step up and kill for the throne. However, after Duncan’s murder Lady Macbeth and Macbeth swap roles and Macbeth becomes the ambitious action oriented man that Lady Macbeth was before. Ultimately the ambition that Macbeth had, corrupted him as he became a ruthless tyrant and the people turned against him. The commoners’ hated him for Macbeth oppressed and killed them and his soldiers deserted him. He was left with only a prophecy given by a few apparitions as security. A prophesy that failed him in the end for the soldiers carried Birnam wood to Dunshire and Macduff was C-sectioned when he was born, so it is said he wasn’t born of a woman.
Ambition played a critical role in the downfall of Macbeth. If it wasn’t for the ambition of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth that drove them to take action, the story would end very differently. Ambition corrupted Macbeth and it was a tragic flaw in his character that finally consumed him.
