Ambition Flashcards
‘why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image does unfix my hair’
Language
MB’s first thought is one of murder. The adjective ‘horrid’ suggests that MB knows murdering Duncan to achieve his ambition is morally wrong. The verb ‘unfix’ suggests that the strength of his ambition terrifies him.
‘too full o’th milk of human kindness’
Language - metaphor
LMB feminizes MB; she knows he is ambitious but too kind to act upon achieving his ambitions off the battlefield. She realizes that she will need to manipulate him into murdering King Duncan.
‘I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition’
Language - metaphor.
MB’s ambition battles with his conscience. He knows he has no motive for killing a morally good king.
Context - DRK.
MB knows killing a king is an act against God. The play was performed after the Gunpowder Plot -Shakespeare sends a warning to those who might seek to murder a morally good king, like James 1.
‘stars hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires’
Language
adjectives ‘black’ and ‘deep’ suggest MB knows his murderous ambition is morally wrong but also very strong. The stars symbolize the light of heaven – he does not want God to see what he is planning to do, but he is going to commit the murder anyway
‘it was said…that myself should be the root and father of many kings’
Language - metaphor.
Banquo hopes that his descendants will become kings of Scotland. The metaphor creates an image of a family tree of kings with Banquo as its root.
Context
Shakespeare was deliberately flattering James I, for whom the play was written, as he was a Scottish descendant of Banquo.
‘a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more’
Language - extended metaphor
people are actors and life is a stage. MB realises that he is just a ‘poor player’ with a limited amount of time on Earth. All his ambition has been for nothing and he has damned him soul to Hell.
Topic sentence 1:
The witches prediction that Macbeth will be king touches upon his hamartia: his ambition.
Topic sentence 2 on LMB’ knowledge
Lady Macbeth knows her husband is ambitious but too kind a man to act upon his desires.
Topic sentence 3 on Banquo
Banquo is ambitious for his sons to be kings, but unlike Macbeth, he leaves it to fate.
Topic sentence 4:
Achieving his ambition does not bring Macbeth contentment, and he dies knowing he’ll be forgotten.
