Ambition and Overconfidence

Question 1

1:3 Macbeth
Latent Ambition
Idea that he is thinking about killing Duncan, it makes his hair stand and heart race depicting a physical reaction and illuding to him being panicked by this thought.

Answer 1

“If good why do I yield to that suggestion/ whose horrid image doth unfix my hair/ and make my seated heart knock at my ribs”

Question 2

1:3 Macbeth
Latent Ambition
Committing regicide will go against and upset the chain of beings. It was just a thought at this stage (fantastical-horrible to imagine), however, Macbeth doesn’t know who he is at this stage (shakes so my single state of man that function).

Answer 2

“Against the use of nature?…My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical”

Question 3

1:4 Macbeth
Appearance v Reality
people cannot see the terrible desire that lays within him (ambition)

duplicate

Answer 3

“Stars, hide your fires/ Let not light see my black and deep desires.”

Question 4

1:5 Lady Macbeth
Shows lady Macbeth is a strong-willed person and has lots of ambition.
MacBeth is too decent/kind and doesn’t have the strength to commit regicide.

Answer 4

“yet do I fear thy nature/ It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness…/Art not without ambition, but without/ The illness should attend it.”

Question 5

1:5 Lady Macbeth
Ambition
Asking for her women sentiments to be removed so she can commit regicide.
Thinks she can only commit regicide when her feminism is removed.

Answer 5

“That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here/ and fill me from the crown to the tow topfull/ of direst cruelty; make thick my blood.”

Question 6

1:7 Macbeth
Ambition
Admitting to fatal flaw – no personal motive to commit regocide just ambition to be king.

Answer 6

“I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Vaulting ambition which o’erleapss itself/ and falls on th’other.”

Question 7

1:7 Macbeth
Ambition
He is getting a lot of praise by Duncan for his appointment as thane of Cawdor and his actions in war.

Answer 7

“We will proceed no further in this business/ He hath honoured me of late.”

Question 8

4:1 Macbeth
Ambition
Who can move a forest?

Answer 8

“Who can impress the forest, bid the tree/ Unfix his earthbound root.”