Ambition Flashcards
How does Shakespeare present ambition in Macbeth?
Shakespeare presents ambition as a powerful but dangerous force. Macbeth’s ambition drives him to commit regicide, but it ultimately leads to his downfall.
What is the significance of the quote: ‘Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself’ (Act 1, Scene 7)?
This quote reveals Macbeth’s awareness that his ambition is excessive and might lead to disaster. He recognizes the risks but still allows ambition to consume him.
How does Lady Macbeth influence Macbeth’s ambition?
Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth by questioning his masculinity and urging him to seize power, demonstrating how ambition can be fueled by external influence.
How does Banquo act as a contrast to Macbeth’s ambition?
Banquo, though given a prophecy, does not act immorally to achieve power. His contrast with Macbeth highlights how unchecked ambition leads to corruption.
What role do the witches play in fueling Macbeth’s ambition?
The witches plant the idea of power in Macbeth’s mind, but they never directly tell him to act. Their role highlights the dangers of allowing ambition to override morality.
How does Shakespeare use dramatic irony to highlight the dangers of unchecked ambition?
The audience knows Macbeth’s ambitions will lead to tragedy, but he remains unaware. This heightens the tension and emphasizes the destructive nature of unchecked ambition.
How does the theme of ambition relate to the Jacobean belief in the Divine Right of Kings?
Macbeth’s ambition challenges the Divine Right of Kings, which stated that monarchs were chosen by God. His usurpation is unnatural and leads to chaos.
How does Macbeth’s ambition lead to his downfall?
His ambition blinds him to reality, making him paranoid and reckless. He isolates himself, loses his allies, and ultimately faces a tragic downfall.
Why is Macbeth’s ambition considered a tragic flaw?
In Aristotelian tragedy, a tragic flaw (hamartia) is a character’s inherent weakness. Macbeth’s unchecked ambition makes him a classic tragic hero.
How does Shakespeare use imagery to explore ambition in Macbeth?
Shakespeare frequently uses dark imagery, such as blood and darkness, to symbolize the corrupting effects of ambition throughout the play.
How does Shakespeare present ambition in Macbeth?
Shakespeare presents ambition as a dangerous and corrupting force. Macbeth’s unchecked ambition leads him to commit murder and ultimately causes his downfall.
What is the significance of the quote: ‘Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself’ (Act 1, Scene 7)?
This quote reveals Macbeth’s self-awareness that his ambition might lead to his own destruction, but he still chooses to pursue power.
How does Macbeth’s ambition evolve throughout the play?
Macbeth starts as a loyal warrior but becomes consumed by ambition after hearing the witches’ prophecy. He transitions from hesitant to ruthless as he pursues power at all costs.
How does Lady Macbeth manipulate Macbeth’s ambition?
Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s masculinity and courage, pushing him to act on his ambition. She plays a key role in convincing him to murder Duncan.
How do the witches influence Macbeth’s ambition?
The witches plant the idea of power in Macbeth’s mind through their prophecies, but they never instruct him to act. This highlights how ambition is driven by personal choice.
How is Banquo’s ambition different from Macbeth’s?
Banquo is ambitious but does not act immorally to achieve power. He remains honorable, serving as a contrast to Macbeth’s unchecked ambition.
How does Shakespeare use dramatic irony to highlight ambition?
The audience knows that Macbeth’s ambition will lead to his ruin, but he remains blind to this truth. This creates suspense and emphasizes the dangers of unchecked ambition.
How does ambition contribute to Macbeth’s downfall?
Macbeth’s ambition isolates him, makes him paranoid, and leads him to commit more crimes. His excessive ambition ultimately causes his death.
How does Lady Macbeth’s ambition change throughout the play?
Initially, Lady Macbeth is ruthless and ambitious, but as the play progresses, guilt overwhelms her. Her ambition backfires, leading to her mental breakdown and suicide.
How does the theme of ambition connect to the Jacobean era and the Divine Right of Kings?
Macbeth’s ambition challenges the Divine Right of Kings, which held that monarchs were chosen by God. His usurpation is seen as unnatural, leading to chaos and his downfall.
Why is ambition considered Macbeth’s tragic flaw?
Macbeth’s ambition (hamartia) drives his downfall, making him a classic tragic hero. His desire for power blinds him to reason and morality.
How does Shakespeare use imagery to explore ambition in Macbeth?
Shakespeare uses dark imagery, blood, and unnatural events to symbolize the destructive consequences of ambition.
What role does ambition play in Macbeth’s increasing paranoia?
As Macbeth’s ambition grows, so does his paranoia. He sees threats everywhere, leading him to kill Banquo and Macduff’s family to protect his throne.
How does ambition create tension in the play?
The constant struggle for power between characters, especially Macbeth, Banquo, and Malcolm, creates dramatic tension as ambition drives conflict.
What is the moral message about ambition in Macbeth?
Shakespeare warns against unchecked ambition. The play suggests that ambition without moral restraint leads to destruction and chaos.
Analyse: “Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on the other” (Act 1, Scene 7)
Macbeth acknowledges that his ambition is excessive and dangerous. He realizes that ambition alone, without justification, can lead to downfall—foreshadowing his own fate.
Analyse: “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition” (Act 1, Scene 7)
Macbeth admits that ambition is his sole motivation for killing Duncan. This highlights ambition as his tragic flaw (hamartia), leading to his downfall.
Analyse: “Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires” (Act 1, Scene 4)
Macbeth wants to conceal his ambition, showing how it conflicts with morality. The imagery of light vs. darkness emphasizes his inner turmoil.
Analyse: “Thou wouldst be great; Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it” (Act 1, Scene 5)
Lady Macbeth fears Macbeth is too weak to act on his ambition. She believes ambition must be accompanied by ruthlessness (“illness”) to succeed.
Analyse: “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here” (Act 1, Scene 5)
Lady Macbeth rejects femininity and calls on dark forces to remove her compassion, showing how ambition drives her to deny her natural instincts.
Analyse: “Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?” (Act 2, Scene 1)
Macbeth hallucinates a dagger leading him to Duncan, symbolizing how ambition corrupts his mind and pushes him toward murder.
Analyse: “To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus” (Act 3, Scene 1)
Macbeth realizes that ambition alone is not enough—he must eliminate threats (Banquo) to secure his power. This marks his transformation into a tyrant.
Analyse: “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown” (Act 3, Scene 1)
Macbeth feels insecure about his throne because the witches predicted Banquo’s descendants will rule. His insatiable ambition leads him to order Banquo’s murder.
Analyse: “O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!” (Act 3, Scene 2)
Macbeth describes his tormented, ambition-fueled paranoia. The scorpion imagery suggests a mind poisoned by ambition.
Analyse: “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!” (Act 5, Scene 1)
Lady Macbeth, once ambitious and ruthless, is now consumed by guilt. Her ambition has turned into psychological torment, leading to her downfall.
Analyse: “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” (Act 5, Scene 5)
Macbeth, realizing ambition has left him with nothing, delivers a nihilistic speech about life’s futility. His despair shows that ambition has destroyed his purpose.
Analyse: “I will not yield, to kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet” (Act 5, Scene 8)
Even in death, Macbeth clings to his ambition. His tragic downfall proves that unchecked ambition leads to isolation and ruin.
Analyse: “______ ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on the other” (Act 1, Scene 7)
Vaulting
Analyse: “I have no ______ to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition” (Act 1, Scene 7)
spur
Analyse: “______ hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires” (Act 1, Scene 4)
Stars
Analyse: “Thou wouldst be great; Art not without ______, but without the illness should attend it” (Act 1, Scene 5)
ambition
Analyse: “______ spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here” (Act 1, Scene 5)
Come
Analyse: “Is this a ______ which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?” (Act 2, Scene 1)
dagger
Analyse: “To be thus is nothing, but to be ______ thus” (Act 3, Scene 1)
safely
Analyse: “Upon my head they placed a ______ crown” (Act 3, Scene 1)
fruitless
Analyse: “______ full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!” (Act 3, Scene 2)
O
Analyse: “Out, ______ spot! Out, I say!” (Act 5, Scene 1)
damned
Analyse: “______ , and tomorrow, and tomorrow” (Act 5, Scene 5)
Tomorrow
Analyse: “I will not ______, to kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet” (Act 5, Scene 8)
yield
