Ambition

Ambition

1. Macbeth

   • As a result of his ambition, Macbeth loses his humanity
     • "I have almost forgot the taste of fears...I have supped full of horrors"
   • The witches and Lady M act as catalysts which push Macbeth to act on his ambition
   • Throughout the play, Macbeth seems to realise that his actions based on selfish ambition are wrong, yet he carries on regardless
     • Immediately regrets killing Duncan: "wake Duncan with thy knocking. I wouldst thou couldst"
     • Banquo's ghost acts as a supernatural and external representation of his guilt. On seeing the ghost, Macbeth seems to become consumed with guilty and fearful ramblings: "murders have been performed too terrible for the ear"
     • Realises that ambition alone is not a justification for murdering his king: "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent but only vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself"

2. Lady Macbeth

   • Has been criticised as being the main force that pushes Macbeth to murder Duncan
   • Ambition affects her more strongly than it does Macbeth, and she acts with greater determination before and after the killing of Duncan. However, likewise, guilt plagues her more strongly afterwards
     • For the remainder of the play, she watches passively as Macbeth allows his ambition to consume him and he becomes a tyrant. She is driven into madness and despair, forever haunted by their murder of Duncan
       • "Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?"
     • Criticises Macbeth, saying that he is ambitious but "without the illness should attend it"
   • Willingly seeks evil to aid her in her ambitions and rejects her femininity in favour of masculine determination
     • Asks evil to fill her "from the crown to the top-full of direst cruelty"
     • "unsex me here"
     • A03: Women are unable to fulfill their ambitions because of their femininity or because of social constraints?

3. Banquo

   • A03: Shows that a lack of ambition will get you nowhere?
     • By 'playing nice', Banquo ends up being murdered by his friend
       • However is this instead because of his hidden ambition?
   • A03: Shows Macbeth that there are moral choices?
     • "The instruments of darkness tell us truths...to betray us in deepest consequence"
     • He clearly indicates to Macbeth that he intends to keep his "bosom franchised and allegiance clear"
   • A03: More ambitious than he appears?
     • Chooses not to tell other nobles about the Witches and keeps his suspicions about Macbeth to himself: "I fear thou playedst most foully for't..But hush! No more"
     • Ambitious for his children?