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Examples Of Ambition In Macbeth

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Ambition is a largely re-occurring theme in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Many characters in the play share this characteristic, however the characters whose actions are mostly driven from their ambition are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have ambitious qualities, however, between Macbeth wanting to be king and Lady Macbeth pushing him to take what is "rightfully" his, Lady Macbeth seems far more ambitious than her husband. Mostly, these characters are driven by their desires and greed, they don't care who they have to step on or crawl over to get to where they want to be. This ambition motivates them to do terrible things to get what they want. When MacBeth begins to hesitate regarding his plans to murder Duncan, Lady Macbeth …show more content…

This plants a seed in her mind, and she becomes obsessed with the witches second prediction – Macbeth would become King of Scotland. After reading his letter, she states,"Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and thou shalt be what thou art promised"(act I sc. V line 15). Lady Macbeth realizes that since the first part of the witches prophecy has come true, the second part must as well, however not without Macbeth's participation. Lady Macbeth displays great ambition by telling herself and the audience/reader that Macbeth will be king, and that he will get what he was promised by the prophecy. Soon after Macbeth returns home, Lady Macbeth is excited to tell him that she has devised a plan, and that she knows what the future holds. She tells him,"Thy letters have transported me beyond this ignorant present, and I feel now the future in the instant"(act 1 sc. 6 line 64). Lady Macbeth explains to Macbeth that his letters have enlightened her to imagine their future as the rulers of Scotland. Also, how his future actions can help them ascend from their current status into monarchy; she explains that she can sense their destiny coming very …show more content…

Thou wouldst be great, art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it” (act I sc V line 16-20). She realizes that she must be the driving force behind his assent to the throne, otherwise he might be content to remain a Thane. Lady Macbeth displays how warped her feelings have become when she utters the words, “How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this” (act I sc VII line 63-67). This quote illustrates how cold she has become. If she had promised to kill her innocent baby, she would, and she dares Macbeth to follow through with his own promise to obtain the throne at any

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