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Sawyer 1

DeJa Sawyer
Ms. Tierce
English IV G
7 April 2015
Macbeth theme of Ambition
Ambition is an eager and sometimes excessive desire for honor, superiority, power, or the
attainment of something. It is something that everyone, no matter their age or cultural background, has
instinctively. It can be a driving force for success, or in some cases a road to failure. In Macbeth we can
see how ambition can lead to devastating effects if our goal is reached by cheating. Not to say that
Macbeths ambition to become king was false. However he should have won this honor truthfully
instead of earning it by killing the king. Not only was this rout not rewarded, but it caused distrust. Once
one gets into this ever repeating chain the chances of getting out is very slim (123 Help Me).
Ambition is the driving force of the play Macbeth; it is presented as a dangerous quality that
causes the downfall of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and triggers a series of deaths. Once Macbeth
has had a taste of power, hes willing to kill anyone who he thinks might damage his chance for a seat on
Scotland's throne. He puts his own desires before the good of his country, and in the end, its his
ambition that destroys him.
Macbeths ambition is caused by numerous factors, one being prophesies. The witches
prophesize that Macbeth will become King; however, it is unclear whether these prophesies are fate or
self-fulfilling. Lady Macbeth encourages him to overcome his sense of guilt and take actions on the
prophesies. He uses this as an excuse for wanting to kill King Duncan. His ambition is so strong he
compares it to a racing horse, saying I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting

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ambition (I.vii.25). He knows that he will commit a terrible sin by killing a king but, he will not rest until
he has it all.
Macbeth is not the only one to let ambition destroy him; Lady Macbeth allowed the ambition of
power, the mostly deadly of all ambitions, overcome her. She sent her husband to kill King Duncan so
that she may become Queen. She wants to have power so badly that she begs the immortals to Unsex
me here and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty (I.v.31-33). Here she is asking
the spirits to make her cruel and unforgiving so she can commit the deed of killing King Duncan herself.
She even tells Macbeth Look like th' innocent flower, but be the serpent under t. He thats coming
must be provided for; and you shall put this nights great business into my dispatch (I.v.56-60). What
shes saying here is look as innocent as a flower, but be the snake that hides underneath the flower, the
king is coming and he needs to be taken care of (Spark Notes).
Macbeth shows the true nature of humans, teaching us about power and responsibility. Wh en
you want power so badly you forgot about all possible consequences that might come with it. For
example, in Lady Macbeths case, her consequences were sanity and constant reminders of what she
made her husband do; thus causing her many sleepless nights and her taking her own life. Throughout
the story Shakespeare makes violence, revenge, and power go hand and hand to show just how far a
determined person will go to achieve their goals (Fiction Press).

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Shmoop Editorial Team. "Macbeth Theme of Ambition." Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 7
Apr. 2015. http://www.shmoop.com/macbeth/ambition-theme.html.
"The Ambition of Macbeth an Essay Fiction | Fiction Press." The Ambition of Macbeth 24 Dec.
2008. Web. 7 Apr. 2015. https://www.fictionpress.com/s/2612710/1/The-Ambition-of-Macbeth.
"No Fear Shakespeare." Spark Notes Web. 7 Apr. 2015.
http://nfs.sparknotes.com/macbeth/page_40.html
"The Power of Ambition." 123HelpMe.com. 07 Apr 2015
<http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=37611>.

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