Ambition Within the Tragedy of Macbeth

Ambition within the tragedy of Macbeth
Ambition is often the driving force in one’s life. In the play William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”, one of the most important themes is the significance of Ambition. According to the Webster dictionary, ambition is a strong desire to do or to achieve typically requiring determination and hard work. The power of ambition gives undying strength to do your utmost over and over again. Malcomn, Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth serves primary example as a victim of ambition. Ambition is the reason that makes them kill for their own desire and greed. The cause of the tragedy of Macbeth is ambition because in the play, Ambition is represented as vengeance, competence and violence.
Some people strongly believe that guilt is the main cause of the tragedy of Macbeth. Guilt causes Madness. Madness is the reason that people in the play become vulnerable and haunts them because they have taken human lives. Even though, the opinions and views seem valid, the arguments within guilt are yet not convincing. Guilt different from Ambition, and even if it gives positive or negative motives, it still shows that ambition is the cause of the weakness and the downfall of the character.
Ambition represents vengeance. After the death of his father, Malcomn becomes ambitious then turned powerful which leads him forget all moral values and disregards the feeling of others. Firstly, when Macduff hears the news that his family was murdered, he begins to despair and his own rage consumed him while Malcomn not wanting anything to get in the way of his ambition tells to Macduff to “Dispute it like a man” (IV.iii.226). Secondly, Malcomn doesn’t want Macduff’s emotions interfere to his objective of destroying Macbeth. Malcomn then tells to Macduff to, “Be this the whetstone of your sword. Let grief / Convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it” (IV.iii.235-236). Thirdly, Malcomn feels sorry for Macduff however Malcomn wants put more focus above anything else unless his vengeance. Therefore, given all the evidence, it is clearly stated how much ambition cause Malcomn to build his vengeance towards Macbeth.
Ambition represents competence. Macbeth is not fully to blame for his ambition since Lady Macbeth controlled Macbeth for her own desire. Firstly, being too obsessed with power, Lady Macbeth actually puts Macbeth into a dark path that would lead to his destruction. For example, Lady Macbeth greatly wants to gain power, so she begs the spirits and immortal to change her gender. She asks, “Come you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty” (I.v.30 –33). Secondly, Lady Macbeth is confident that they will not fail; her ambition has steamed up her better judgment and completely ignored the future possibilities. Thirdly, Lady Macbeth’s ambition and action finally ended when she came to realize the loss of her judgment and thinking the path where she gave to Macbeth, which eventually caused her to take and kill her own life. Therefore, this ambition, the ambition of competence, is the most risky of all ambitions. This being said, a promise of being successful doesn’t come from too much ambition.
Ambition represents violence. Macbeth is a kind of person who would never kill anyone for power, however, everything changes when he becomes influenced and everything just went upside down. Firstly, without regret, Macbeth slowly starts to adapt on killing and does it more easily. For example, when Macbeth takes the throne, he begins to worry about the prophecy for Banquo. When Macbeth knows that he will not have anyone that will undertake his throne, Macbeth fears the idea that “To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings! / Rather than so, come fate into the list, / and champion me to the utterance” (III.i.72 – 73). Secondly, after Macbeth was approached by Lady Macbeth and convinces him to kill Duncan, the life of Macbeth will never be the same ever again and that his future has been controlled by the desire of Lady Macbeth. Thirdly, when Macbeth goes to visit the witches and saw the apparitions, one of apparitions tells straight to Macbeth to beware of Macduff. Unexpectedly, Macbeth learned that Macduff left his family behind while he left to England. Macbeth responds that he will “give to the edge o’ the sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls trace him in his line” (IV.i.157-158). Therefore, this shows how Macbeth has been turned into a corrupt and evil person; he doesn’t even care about he’s killing just to achieve his ambition.
Through all these ambitions, it is clearly shown that Macbeth is headed on a dark path that forcefully driven by his ambition. His impatience drives him to insanity which is all caused by his ambition. Ambition frequently puts Macbeth to struggle within what is right and wrong. Ambition eventually lead to his downfall, whether through his actions or through his own evilness. Therefore, Macbeth’s ambition is represented within vengeance, competence and violence.