ambition Flashcards
introduction:
In Shakespeare’s tragedy, ambition is the hamartia of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. It becomes the catalyst for their inevitable mental and physical collapse, ultimately culminating in their tragic downfall.
key ideas:
- Macbeth ambition at beginning
- Macbeth ambition at end
- LM ambition
topic sentence in paragraph 1 (macbeth ambition beginning):
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth personifies his “ambition” in his soliloquy, where he debates on committing regicide.
quote to use in paragraph 1 (macbeth ambition beginning):
“vaulting ambition that overleaps itself and falls on the other”
paragraph 1 analysis (macbeth ambition beginning)
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth personifies his “ambition” in his soliloquy, where he debates on committing regicide. He acknowledges that his only motivation is his “vaulting ambition” that “overleaps itself”, not his loyalty to the crown. The adjective “vaulting” connotes to a leaping, uncontrollable force, suggesting that his ambition is excessive and dangerous. This emphasises how Macbeth’s ambition is uncontrollable, much like an untamed horse, thus highlighting his reckless pursuit of power. This not only portrays his struggle to control his ambitious nature, but also suggests self-depiction- he believes he is able to harness some control over his ambition, enough that he is able to transcend the societal, political and divine limitations placed upon him. Yet, it still “falls on the other”, perhaps foreshadowing the cyclical nature of the play: Macbeth kills Duncan to become king, but his ambition leads him to commit further murders and ultimately to his own violent death at the hands of Macduff.
topic sentence paragraph 2 (macbeth end):
Towards the end of the play, Macbeth realises he is too deep into his ambition and violence to stop now.
key quotes in paragraph 2 (macbeth ambition end):
“stepped in so far”
“wading”
“blood”
“tomorrow”
“petty pace”
“a tale told by an idiot…signifying nothing”
analyse “stepped in so far”, “wading” and “blood”
He has “stepped in so far” that he is at the point of no return. Previously, the motif of “blood” (the consequence of murder) was merely on his hands, yet now it has enrobed his entire body, and by extension his entire sense of being. The fact that he used the metaphor of “wading” in this “blood” exemplifies how he acknowledges his conscience is permanently stained with guilt as a result of his ambition, and there is nothing he can do to change that. The verb “wade” implies imagery of struggling through deep waters, further suggesting that this guilt from his ambition has engulfed him entirely.
analyse “tomorrow” “petty pace” and “a tale told by an idiot…signifying nothing”
By this point he has achieved everything he wanted, yet his ambition has left him empty; life now feels meaningless. The repetition of “tomorrow” creates a tone of despair, highlighting how ambition has given him nothing but suffering at a “petty pace”. This perhaps could be considered his peripeteia (where he realises that his ambition has ultimately led to his downfall), and that life is futile: “a tale told by an idiot… signifying nothing”.
paragraph 2 analysis (macbeth ambition end):
Towards the end of the play, Macbeth realises he is too deep into his ambition and violence to stop now. He has “stepped in so far” that he is at the point of no return. Previously, the motif of “blood” (the consequence of murder) was merely on his hands, yet now it has enrobed his entire body, and by extension his entire sense of being. The fact that he used the metaphor of “wading” in this “blood” exemplifies how he acknowledges his conscience is permanently stained with guilt as a result of his ambition, and there is nothing he can do to change that. The verb “wade” implies imagery of struggling through deep waters, further suggesting that this guilt from his ambition has engulfed him entirely. By this point he has achieved everything he wanted, yet his ambition has left him empty; life now feels meaningless. The repetition of “tomorrow” creates a tone of despair, highlighting how ambition has given him nothing but suffering at a “petty pace”. This perhaps could be considered his peripeteia (where he realises that his ambition has ultimately led to his downfall), and that life is futile: “a tale told by an idiot… signifying nothing”.
topic sentence paragraph 3 (LM ambition):
Alternatively, Lady Macbeth understands that her ambitions are constrained by her femininity, and means that she has this ‘passage to remorse’.
key quotes in paragraph 3 (LM ambition):
“passage to remorse”
“make thick my blood”
“out, damned spot! out i say!”
“a little water clears us of this deed”
“with a taper”
“thick night”
analyse “passage to remorse”
Alternatively, Lady Macbeth understands that her ambitions are constrained by her femininity, and means that she has this ‘passage to remorse’. Her want to stop the ‘access’ to remorse, not necessarily a maternal emotion, highlights how she sees emotion synonymous with weakness.
analyse “make thick my blood”
This is emphasised by the imperative “make thick my blood”, illustrating how she commands for emotional restrains and a callous indifference. As, getting rid of these elements enables her to pave the way for her ruthless ambitions. However, she struggles to articulate the gravity of the consequences of the “deeds” they commit.
analyse “out damn spot out i say”
By Act 5, she is driven to a state of somnambulism and hallucinogenic madness exclaiming “out, damned spot! Out I say!”, which directly juxtaposes her litotes in Act 1 (“a little water clears us of this deed”). This allows the audience to see how her ambitions have corrupted and ultimately destroyed her mind. She also has a constant need for light (she is always seen to be “with a taper”) illustrating her fear of darkness- an antithesis to her earlier presentation in Act 1 where she calls upon the “thick night”. Essentially, her ambition that once made her fearless, has now consumed and destroyed her mind.
paragraph 3 analysis (LM ambition):
Alternatively, Lady Macbeth understands that her ambitions are constrained by her femininity, and means that she has this ‘passage to remorse’. Her want to stop the ‘access’ to remorse, not necessarily a maternal emotion, highlights how she sees emotion synonymous with weakness. This is emphasised by the imperative “make thick my blood”, illustrating how she commands for emotional restrains and a callous indifference. As, getting rid of these elements enables her to pave the way for her ruthless ambitions. However, she struggles to articulate the gravity of the consequences of the “deeds” they commit. By Act 5, she is driven to a state of somnambulism and hallucinogenic madness exclaiming “out, damned spot! Out I say!”, which directly juxtaposes her litotes in Act 1 (“a little water clears us of this deed”). This allows the audience to see how her ambitions have corrupted and ultimately destroyed her mind. She also has a constant need for light (she is always seen to be “with a taper”) illustrating her fear of darkness- an antithesis to her earlier presentation in Act 1 where she calls upon the “thick night”. Essentially, her ambition that once made her fearless, has now consumed and destroyed her mind.
conclusion on how ambition is presented:
Therefore, ambition is presented as having the power to mentally rot the faculties of your mind whilst making you believe you are indestructible- it obstructs you from seeing your true ephemeral nature. Perhaps Shakespeare is highlighting the blinding influence of these egocentric aspirations.
