Macbeth's Ambition Analysis

A knight’s moral code, that is taken by heart, is to always protect and serve. The Tragedy of Macbeth by Shakespeare is a tragedy about how a knight is stuck in between loyalty and ambition. Three witches tell Macbeth he would become Thane of Cawdor and later king. Once Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth pressured by his wife, begins to see his future as king, but realizes he has obstacles in the way. Pressured by Lady Macbeth, the three witches, and his ambition for the throne, Macbeth commits murder under trust and treason. To begin with, murder under trust is the killing someone when they trust one; when they put their life on one’s hands for protection. “He’s here in double trust: First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against
the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself” (Shakespeare 20). A knight knows that when he has a guest at his home, he needs to protect them at all cost. Macbeth knew that code by heart. That is why he had second thoughts about Lady Macbeth’s plan. Many times, Macbeth told his wife that he could not betray King Duncan’s trust, because Macbeth was not only his kinsman and subject, but also his host. By killing him at his own home, Macbeth committed murder under trust, yet, because the guest was the king, it was also treason.
Next, Macbeth’s ambition for the throne, influenced by the three witches, pressured him to kill the king so that he could have a clear path to the throne.
“Or heaven’s cherubin horsed Upon the sightless couriers of the air, shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself And falls on th’ other” (Shakespeare 20). To have committed treason, one must have put their country at risk by planning on killing the sovereign for their own benefit. Macbeth knew that killing King Duncan would be for his own ambition. Although Lady Macbeth was the one who planned the killing, Macbeth committed the action. Knowing what he was doing was going to have a great effect on the people of Scotland, he still went ahead and killed the king, blaming it on the knights. Macbeth’s wife, the witches, and his ambition for the throne influenced him to commit treason, all to be a step closer to the
throne.
Nevertheless, Macbeth knew that killing the king would include the risk of many consequences.
“It is the statute and ordaned, that the murther or slauchter of quahatsum euer Out Sovereign Lordis lieges, quhair the partie slaine is vnder the traist, credite, assurance and power of the slayer: Al sik murther and slauchter tried, and the person delated found guiltie, be an Assise thereof, salbe treason, and the persones found culpable, sall forefault life, landes, and gudes” (Murder under trust handout). This law, stating what consequences a person found guilty of treason and murder under trust would face, was made by King James and his successors kings of Scotland. Macbeth knew that being caught killing the king, he would have to face those consequences. That is why many times, he told himself that those type of crimes were still being punished with all the power of the people. This law indirectly influenced Macbeth’s motivation and action because he had second thoughts before he finalized the
murder.
In conclusion, as a kinsman, subject, and host, Macbeth failed his moral code. He did not only commit murder under trust by killing his guest, but he also committed treason because his victim was the king. His intentions, pressured by his wife, the witches, and his greed for the throne, were solemnly for himself. Knowing the consequences that the law could bring, Macbeth did not touch his heart and chose his ambition over his loyalty.