Macbeth and Gladiator Essay

Although composed centuries apart, both Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Ridley Scott’s Gladiator explore the similar idea of ambition, through their villainous characters Macbeth and Commodus. Macbeth composed in 1606 for King James delineates a noble soldier’s character transformation from an ambitious individual to corrupted tyrant as supernatural Witches and Lady Macbeth ignite his desire for power. Similarly, Gladiator’s vicious antagonist is a malevolent personage, whose desire to be loved transforms into corrupted ambition. These similar ideas of ambition are presented in very different ways, one through the medium of drama while the other through film. Despite the differences, the texts establish, through literary and film techniques that ambition, without a moral framework will lead to destruction and downfall.
Shakespeare portrays the destructive consequences of ambition, through the character transformation of his eponymous protagonist Macbeth. Macbeth is initially characterised as a "brave" and "noble" soldier, who is highly respected by many. However, through the interactions with the abhorrent witches, it is revealed that the physical courage he holds is joined by a consuming ambition for power. The witches’ prophecies that Macbeth will be "Thane of Cawdor" and "Shalt be king hereafter” tempt his latent ambition for power, metaphorically poisoning his psychological state, “full of scorpions is my mind”; prompting him to perform treacherous acts. Macbeth believes committing regicide, ironically, “Might be the be-all and end-all”, although his ambitious usurpation of the throne results in destructive consequences such as remorse, paranoia and his demise. In contrast to the start of the play, Macbeth’s characterisation changes from good to evil, illustrated by Malcolm's metaphorical comment "This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues". Shakespeare establishes through Malcolm’s inimical words, that Macbeth is no longer seen as a “noble” soldier, but as