Ambition Flashcards
Macbeth
**The plot of Macbeth is propelled forwards
by the Macbeths’ manipulative spiralling ambition; **
both centre their actions around their
ultimate desire for Macbeth to become
king. Both characters exploit those around
them in order to **improve their position in
the social hierarchy and are spurred on
by the prophecies of the three Witches.
Ambition is seen as corrupting and
causes Macbeth to lose his nobility and
ultimately become intensely violent.
Macbeth in some senses is a
dramatic representation of the
devastating psychological consequences of pursuing one’s ambitions without any regard
for morality.
Mabeth
- ” Brave Macbeth “
- ” Vaulting ambition which o’er leaps itself” - ➔ He compares his current situation to
horse riding; ambition is the
metaphorical spur he, the rider, uses
to motivate his horse - ” The entire play explores the titular character’s quest to fulfil his ambitions, which he
describes as: “black and deep desires” - ➔
Lady macbeth
Alongside the three Witches’ prophecy,
Lady Macbeth is seen as the other
motivator of Macbeth’s ambition to
usurp the crown. She relentlessly
criticises his actions and lack of
masculinity, and it is her attitude which
arguably leads him to kill Duncan.
However, this ambition contributes to her
own insanity and she eventually commits
suicide.
Similarly to her husband, when Lady
Macbeth first hears of the Witches’
prophecies, her mind immediately jumps
to murder
Lady macbeth
” It is too full o’ th’ milk of human
kindness “
- “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts”
Banquo
Banquo asks the witches to “speak then to me” as he wants to know what the “seeds of time” have in store for him. This demonstrates that though Banquo is interested by the prophecyand does show his own ambition, the ambition he possesses is not as strong as Macbeth’s (or he tries to disguise it).
