Ambition

Question 1

Macbeth quotes for ambition:

Answer 1

• “Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’ other”
• “With Tarquin’s ravishing strides, towards his design”

Question 2

Analyse “vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’ other”

Answer 2

• Macbeth personifies his ambition, portraying it as possessing a potency comparable to a human force that can exert influence and corrupt his formerly innocent mind
• When he acknowledges its eventual “fall”, it indicates Macbeth’s awareness that his all-encompassing ambition is his hamartia destined to lead to his mental and physical decline. Alternatively, this portrayal positions Macbeth as a victim ensnared by his own ambition, showcasing his introspective understanding of its fatal consequences and presenting him as vulnerable to its relentless influence
• The metaphorical portrayal of Macbeth’s “vaulting ambition” draws a parallel between him and a jockey who is to manage an untamable, almost animalistic force
• This metaphor not only depicts Macbeth’s struggle to control his ambitious nature but also suggests self-deception as Macbeth believes that 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

Question 3

Analyse “with Tarquin’s ravishing strides, towards his design”

Answer 3

• Macbeth ambitiously strives to emulate Tarquin, the Roman tyrant whom raped his wife, so he can embody what it means to be a ruthless blood-thirsty leader
• Macbeth’s ambition is further fuelled by the lingering emasculation he experienced at the hands of Lady Macbeth in Act 1. For him, power becomes synonymous with brutality, and this perception is compounded by his insatiable ambition, which propels him toward a relentless pursuit of dominance through brute force.
• The diction “design” connotes intentional creation, mirroring Macbeth’s intentional crafting of his desired position as King through ambitious pursuits. Despite his transgression of natural order in this pursuit, the seductive allure of these temptations of power and authority obstructs him from seeing the permanent and eternal consequences he will face

Question 4

Lady Macbeth quotes for ambition

Answer 4

• “Make thick my blood, stop up th’ access and passage to remorse”
• “A little water clears us of this deed”

Question 5

Analyse “make thick my blood, stop up th’ access and passage to remorse”

Answer 5

• The imperative “make thick my blood” illustrates how she commands for emotional restraint and a callous indifference. Recognising that her aspirations for tyranny require a detachment from femininity and the accompanying emotions, Lady Macbeth seeks to rid herself of these elements to pave the way for her ruthless ambitions.
• This is a seductive and manipulative woman who can lure men into danger or sin . She is therefore a femme fatale as she not only is manipulative but rejects her womanhood and mother hood.

Question 6

Analyse “a little water clears us of this deed”

Answer 6

• Lady Macbeth’s omnipotent ambitions blind her to the profound mental turmoil Macbeth is experiencing
• Her callousness becomes apparent as she employs litotes, such as the understatement “a little”, not only to trivialise the act of murder but also to emasculate Macbeth, encouraging him further along his murderous path.
• She employs euphemism to characterise regicide as a mere “deed”, highlighting a paradoxical aspect of her character. Despite her ambitions to shed feminine traits and embrace tyrannical brutality, she struggles to articulate the gravity of the heinous act.
• This foreshadows her descent into a melodramatic state of insanity in Act 5, where she grapples with an inability to fully grasp the enormity of the sins committed.

Question 7

Banquo quotes for ambition

Answer 7

• “Royalty of nature”
• “He hath wisdom that doth guide his valour to act in safety”

Question 8

Analyse “royalty of nature”

Answer 8

• The portrayal of “royalty” conjures an image of divine ordination, signalling Macbeth’s acknowledgement of Banquo’s moral stature and respectability akin to one chosen by God.
• Banquo serves as a foil to Macbeth, epitomising an ideal balance between ambition and respectability. As Macbeth descends from being “worthy” to a “hell-hound”, he contrasts sharply with Banquo’s ability to retain both ambition and piety

Question 9

Analyse “he hath wisdom that doth guide his valour to act in safety”

Answer 9

• Macbeth epitomises the sin of envy, one of the seven deadly sins, as he desires for Banquo’s capacity for courage in tempering ambition and abstaining from succumbing to these “deep desires”
• The diction of the term “guide” connotes leadership, revealing Macbeth’s initial attempt to direct and lead his ambition. However, he succumbs to its potent influence, rendering him vulnerable. In stark contrast, Banquo emerges as a figure capable of self-guidance, steering clear of the temptations of sin
• The ambivalent portrayal of Banquo stands as the antithesis to Macbeth’s bloodthirsty depiction, underscoring the contrast in their responses to ambition’s compelling force

Question 10

Macduff quotes for ambition

Answer 10

• “I have no words; my voice is my sword”
• “Turn, hell-hound, turn”

Question 11

Analyse “I have no words; my voice is my sword”