Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ Is a Warning Against the Dangers of Ambition.
Ambition plays a major role in Shakespeare’s tragedy of Macbeth, and is presented as a dangerous quality that principally influences the characters to do wrong. This play gives off a warning of how ambition can affect people and their actions by its influence on Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth. This disastrous story begins with the witches predicting that Macbeth would become Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland. Hence, Macbeth’s ambition emerges, furthermore persuaded by his wife and also the prophecies that he depended on so well. He murders King Duncan and others and accordingly becomes the new ruler of Scotland. These actions are ones based on the dangers of ambition, thus making it the fatal flaw that causes their downfall.
“All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor/ All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” (Act 1, Sc. 3, Lines 47-48). The witches’ role in Macbeth’s desire to become king is inevitable; as it is they who began his train of evil thought. This prediction made by the witches greatly impacted Macbeth’s actions, and also his state of mind on the road to his yearning of becoming king. Macbeth is clearly someone who strongly depends on the witches’ predictions, and wouldn’t doubt them at all. The starting point of Macbeth’s ambition is when this extract from the play was told to Macbeth by the witches, and this is what caused his nature to turn to evil. Prior to the period where Macbeth hears this prophecy, he is portrayed as a daring soldier who fought mercilessly for his King. Alternatively, after this prophecy was heard his surge of ambition commenced, thus causing him to become greedier and power hungry. Although, even after his encounter with the witches, he seems to doubt whether he should kill the king, and suggests that the only explanation of doing so would be that of ambition. Thus it is shown through Macbeth’s changing character that the threats of ambition are great, and need to be watched out for.
“All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor/ All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” (Act 1, Sc. 3, Lines 47-48). The witches’ role in Macbeth’s desire to become king is inevitable; as it is they who began his train of evil thought. This prediction made by the witches greatly impacted Macbeth’s actions, and also his state of mind on the road to his yearning of becoming king. Macbeth is clearly someone who strongly depends on the witches’ predictions, and wouldn’t doubt them at all. The starting point of Macbeth’s ambition is when this extract from the play was told to Macbeth by the witches, and this is what caused his nature to turn to evil. Prior to the period where Macbeth hears this prophecy, he is portrayed as a daring soldier who fought mercilessly for his King. Alternatively, after this prophecy was heard his surge of ambition commenced, thus causing him to become greedier and power hungry. Although, even after his encounter with the witches, he seems to doubt whether he should kill the king, and suggests that the only explanation of doing so would be that of ambition. Thus it is shown through Macbeth’s changing character that the threats of ambition are great, and need to be watched out for.