Theme Of Ambition In Macbeth
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! (5.5. 21-25)
The repetition of “to-morrow” accentuates the monotony of his life. Macbeth’s vaulting ambition brought him to a point where he is isolated and every aspect of his life is futile, and this repetition and the image of a candle being extinguished emphasizes this. His demise signifies that toiling for all the wrong reasons and end goals will only lead to a meaningless life. Upon this realization, Macbeth experiences a spiritual death and ironically finds himself filled with emptiness. When confronted by bringers of justice, …show more content…
Unfortunately, he expresses his contrition far too late, as no amount of remorse can exonerate him from his crimes. However, this brooding does result in him restoring a sense of ethics. Therefore, though temptation sullies the soul, this process can be reversed when confronted by justice. Lastly, while it is natural to be enticed by the prosperity sin promises, it is customary to resist. In 1.3, Macbeth and Banquo meet the three witches, who tell the men of their supposed eminent futures. While Macbeth believes in their prophecy, Banquo is skeptical and asks, “What can the devil speak true?” (1.3. 113). Unlike Macbeth, Banquo does not readily accept the devil’s message, for he knows something darker lays beyond it. He is aware of the evil associated with the witches and the sadistic ploys they create. So, while their promises of greatness may be alluring, there is a great price that must be paid in order to achieve it and oftentimes, the consequences of this price outweigh the actual gains. However, that is not to say that he never considers the possible outcomes. In 2.1, Banquo has difficulty falling asleep, as he has nightmares about the prophecies and fears what will happen if he
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! (5.5. 21-25)
The repetition of “to-morrow” accentuates the monotony of his life. Macbeth’s vaulting ambition brought him to a point where he is isolated and every aspect of his life is futile, and this repetition and the image of a candle being extinguished emphasizes this. His demise signifies that toiling for all the wrong reasons and end goals will only lead to a meaningless life. Upon this realization, Macbeth experiences a spiritual death and ironically finds himself filled with emptiness. When confronted by bringers of justice, …show more content…
Unfortunately, he expresses his contrition far too late, as no amount of remorse can exonerate him from his crimes. However, this brooding does result in him restoring a sense of ethics. Therefore, though temptation sullies the soul, this process can be reversed when confronted by justice. Lastly, while it is natural to be enticed by the prosperity sin promises, it is customary to resist. In 1.3, Macbeth and Banquo meet the three witches, who tell the men of their supposed eminent futures. While Macbeth believes in their prophecy, Banquo is skeptical and asks, “What can the devil speak true?” (1.3. 113). Unlike Macbeth, Banquo does not readily accept the devil’s message, for he knows something darker lays beyond it. He is aware of the evil associated with the witches and the sadistic ploys they create. So, while their promises of greatness may be alluring, there is a great price that must be paid in order to achieve it and oftentimes, the consequences of this price outweigh the actual gains. However, that is not to say that he never considers the possible outcomes. In 2.1, Banquo has difficulty falling asleep, as he has nightmares about the prophecies and fears what will happen if he