Who Is Malcolm's Ambition In Macbeth

Who could have guessed the brave and cunning Thane of Cawdor would turn into a hated murderer? Shakespeare, the well-known author, wrote the Scotland based Drama, Macbeth. Macbeth longed to be king of Scotland so he killed the beloved King Duncan. Little did the ambitious warrior know, his questionable actions would soon catch up to him. The theme of the popular drama was ambition and it's portrayed through Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and Malcolm very clearly. At the beginning, Lady Macbeth discussed her doubt in Macbeth’s ability to hide his ambition when she said, “Thou wouldst be great art not without ambition but without the illness that should attend.” (Act I, Scn V, Ln 18-20). She believed that Macbeth was unable to hide his malicious ambition.
When Malcolm was testing his friend, Macduff’s loyalty, he said, “My first false speaking was this upon myself. What I am truly, is thine and my poor country’s to command: Whither indeed, before thy here- approach, Old Siward, with ten thousand warlike men,” (Act IV, Scn iii, Ln 130-135). Malcolm was telling his friend how he wanted to save his country from Macbeth’s destruction. His friend, of course, agreed with him and also said how he would be a fit king. Malcolm’s ambition would be a positive ambition because he wanted to save his country and honor his father by taking back what was rightfully his. He shares how he believed Macbeth was not fit by stating “Devilish Macbeth by many of these trains hath sought to win me into his power;” (Act IV, Scn iii, Ln 117-121) . When Malcolm said “trains” he was speaking of his qualities that he should have as a king. A few of the qualities he believed a king should have that Macbeth did not included temperance, patience and courage. Malcolm’s ambition didn’t just shine through to help his country but also to take down Macbeth because he had wrongfully won his title and Malcolm was worthy of inheriting his father’s