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Macbeth's Ambition

Throughout the play, Macbeth struggles with his ambition to be king and his virtuous nature as a loyal Scottish lord. The witches' prophecy that he will be king plants a seed in his mind, but he is reluctant to murder Duncan due to his virtues. However, Lady Macbeth is able to influence Macbeth with her controlling personality and insistence that he kill Duncan if he wishes to be king. Though unwilling at first, Macbeth allows his greed for power and Lady Macbeth's persistent manipulation to overcome his conscience and virtues, leading him to commit regicide.

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895 views1 page

Macbeth's Ambition

Throughout the play, Macbeth struggles with his ambition to be king and his virtuous nature as a loyal Scottish lord. The witches' prophecy that he will be king plants a seed in his mind, but he is reluctant to murder Duncan due to his virtues. However, Lady Macbeth is able to influence Macbeth with her controlling personality and insistence that he kill Duncan if he wishes to be king. Though unwilling at first, Macbeth allows his greed for power and Lady Macbeth's persistent manipulation to overcome his conscience and virtues, leading him to commit regicide.

Uploaded by

RuebenMon
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Throughout the play, Macbeth demonstrates his high order of ambition to the

audience which is mixed with his emotions to become the King of Scotland.
However it is evident that his valiant and loyal nature interferes with his goals
which results in an internal conflict between his virtues and ambitions.
Macbeth's ambition to kill King Duncan is first ignited by the three witches
when they chant "All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Glamis" in Ac1 Scene
3 Line 47. Then Macbeth proceeds with the quote "This supernatural soliciting
cannot be ill, cannot be good". This paradox accentuates the inner conflict
which exists in Macbeth and he realises that since he became thane of Cawdor,
the next prophecy of him being thane of Glamis must be true and will only
happen if he kills King Duncan. As a result, he is unable to make up his mind
due to his virtues contradicting the situation as he does not want to murder
someone who did him no harm. Macbeth recognises that this deed is not ill,
but is quick to add that it is not good either which exhibits a sense of
responsibility. Macbeth's main ambitions require a sense of willingness and evil
inside of him. However Macbeth is portrayed as a virtuous character with
qualities such as loyalty and bravery. His loyalty is vital in hindering his motive
to kill Duncan. His conscience plays a large role in trying to divert his actions
from wrong doings. Although unwilling, his wife and the witches are the main
forces which influence his motive to kill. Lady Macbeth plays the controlling
role which is evident with the quote Look like the innocent flower, but be the
serpent undert. This metaphor employs the type of approach that exists in
Lady Macbeths nature and represents her destructive personality and how she
can influence Macbeth easily. Also, it is apparent that Lady Macbeths
influence has played a large part in Macbeths murder as her impact is seen in
Act 2 Scene 1, where a bell rings. This is actually a signal for Macbeth to kill
Duncan quickly. Is it possible that even when Lady Macbeth is not there, her
constant chastising has caused a conscience which lives in Macbeths head?
Combined with Macbeths greed for power, the prophecy reassures Macbeth
and helps him have an intention to kill King Duncan. But however, as Lady
Macbeth quotes, It is too full o the milk of human kindness suggests that
even with the Supernatural witches and Lady Macbeth influencing Macbeth,
he lacks the ruthlessness and the evil to kill King Duncan.

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