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What Is Ambition In Macbeth

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What Is Ambition In Macbeth
Is there a limit as to how far someone should go to get what they want? Is there justification in killing, lying, or stealing to achieve something one may desire? Each person has their own moral incentives and upbringings yet excessive ambition may affect or lapse one's moral standards and beliefs. Ambition is the drive and determination everyone has in order to achieve their goals. Whether someone chooses to do this consciously, and refrains from harming others, or vice versa, can only be determined once the action is completed. In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the main character Macbeth fights to accomplish his goals, immersing himself with his motivation to take over Scotland and become King. Macbeth’s performance on the battlefield allowed …show more content…
His eager and impatient schemes for power and influence led to an overwhelming guilt that ended in self-reproach and shame. His drive to become king instigated actions he would never have done if achieving his goal wasn’t so concrete and tangible. Ambition alone can occasionally be a good thing, helping one to reach their end goal, but when that motivation is taken over the edge and makes one feel guilty and weak willed it is often considered a fatal flaw. Shakespeare does not give Macbeth the opportunity to enjoy what he achieved, proving that it is more satisfying to attain your goals fairly than to obtain them through malicious and corrupt actions. When Macbeth realizes the only to achieve the throne was to kill Duncan, his first defiling act was committed, leading to shame and remorse: "How is’t with me, when every noise appals me? What hands are here!...No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red” (Act II, scene II, line). The color green symbolizes Macbeth’s remorse and disdain towards his actions, showing that his ambition led to destruction of his personality and self awareness. The murder of Duncan was the beginning of Macbeth’s path to self destruction and moral corruption.
Macbeth had a fatal flaw: His lack of inner conscience and vulgar desire for power led to his destruction, from the inside out. Greed corrupted his stability and actions, while guilt subdued him into remorse and disdain. Although Macbeth did reach his goal of becoming King, he did it not only as a cost to himself, but to those around him who suffered as

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