Ambition Flashcards
Theme
Both Macbeth’s are ambitious characters which are their harmartias and lead to their own demises and the deterioration of their relationship
The seed of ambition is planted by the witches however Shakespeare uses the foil of Macbeth to show how Banquo is able to resist the temptation of evil whilst Macbeth falls for it
Macbeth is ambitious from the start when he says ‘stars hide your fires. Let not light see my deep and black desires’
However he is also aware that it may trip him up later on ‘vaulting ambition that over leaps itself’
Lady Macbeth is ambitious when she calls upon the agents of evil to ‘unisex her’ so that she can gain power to help kill Duncan
Consequences of ambition are shown through guilt and symbols of sleep, knocking and blood
