Ambition

Page 1

Ambition is the main theme in Macbeth

Ambition motivates Macbeth to commit terrible deeds

It changes him from a "valiant" soldier to a "dead butcher"

The play shows that ambition is dangerous because it can quickly spiral out of control

Macbeth considers the morality of killing Duncan for a long time but doesn't hesitate about killing Banquo

Once Macbeth starts killing, he has to kill more people to get what he wants and to try and make his position secure

Shows that ambition can make people ruthless and selfish

Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are eventually destroyed by their ambition, so the play can be read as a warning against ambition that isn't balanced by reason or morals

Page 2

Ambition is Macbeth's biggest weakness

Ambition is Macbeth's 'fatal flaw'

He's a brave hero at the start - Duncan calls him "noble" and Lady Macbeth says he "wouldst not play false" to get what he wants

Macbeth's reluctance to kill Duncan shows that he's moral, but his actions emphasise how strong his ambition is

His ambition makes him act against his morals

It also makes him act against his better judgement

He knows that ambition often "o'erleaps itself/And falls" - can lead a person to aim too high so that they fail and lose everything

By the end of the play, Macbeth lost everything and he dies an "abhorred tyrant"

Context - Tragedy

In Shakespeare's tragedies, the hero is usually a noble person with one main character flaw which leads to their downfall

This is their 'fatal flaw' - harmatia

Character - Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth sees that there's a difference between being ambitious and acting on ambition

She says that Macbeth is "not without ambition, but without/The illness should attend it"

She thinks that Macbeth isn't ruthless enough to take action to get what he wants

Page 3

Ambition can be good or bad

Not all characters are corrupted by their ambition, as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are

Can be a positive thing if it's motivated by a desire to help others rather than yourself

Malcolm and Macduff are ambitious for their country

They want to take Macbeth's power away from him, not for their own selfish desires, but for the good of Scotland

Banquo is ambitious for his sons once he's heard the Witches' prophecy

He wants them to be kings, but he doesn't act on the predictions in the violent way that Macbeth does