macbeth Flashcards
How are key ideas of ambition are expressed in Macbeth
• Ambition is the hamartia (fatal flaw that causes the downfall) of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Their relentless pursuit of desires fuelled by an insatiable ambition becomes the catalyst for their inevitable mental and physical collapse, ultimately culminating in their tragic downfall.
- Ambition is the driving force behind the tragedy in the play. Macbeth is constructed as a tragic hero who undergoes a fall from grace as a result of his overindulgence in ambition
- Ambition deceives individuals into having the illusion that they can transcend social, political and divine constraints. However, this deceptive allure inevitably collides with the harsh realities of existence and the destiny set out for them by God
• Ambition will mentally rot the faculties of your mind whilst making you believe you’re indestructible - it obstructs individuals from seeing their true ephemeral (fleeting/ not permanent) nature.
What are Shakespeares intentions with ambition
• Shakespeare utilises ambition as a central theme to underpin the play, revealing its morally corrosive and blinding influence on individuals driven by self-fulfilling and egocentric aspirations.
• Through ambition, Shakespeare allows his audience to examine the inherent flaws and capriciousness (easily changing) of human nature. He illuminates how ambition, when in the wrong mind, can readily justify the belligerent (brutal) pursuit of power, status and
• Through his allegorical (intended to teach) play, he aims to teach the audience that even in the presence of divine authority (God), ambition can be so omnipotent (all-powerful) it wins. He cautions his audience about succumbing to the seductive allure of sinful temptations, warning how this will lead to a life permanently separated from God and one united with the devil.
MACBETH - AMBITION
what is the quote VAWOIAFOTO from Act 1
‘Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’ other’
MACBETH - AMBITION
‘Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’ other’ analysis
- Personification: 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 harmatia 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 a vulnerable to its relentless influence
- Metaphor: The metaphorical portrayal of Macbeth’s ‘vaulting ambition’ draws a parallel between him and a jockey who is to manage an untameable, almost animalistic force
- This metaphor not only depicts Macbeth’s struggle to control his ambitious nature but also suggests self-deception- 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 place upon him
MACBETH - AMBITION
what is the quote WTRSTHD from act 2
‘With Tarquin’s ravishing strides , towards his design’
MACBETH - AMBITION
‘With Tarquin’s ravishing strides , towards his design’ analysis
• Contextual link: 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-thristy leader.
• Macbeth’s ambition is further fuelled by the lingering emasculation (using his masculinity against him) he experienced at the hands of Lady Macbeth in Act 1. For him, power becomes synonymous (closely linked) with brutality, and this perception is compounded by his insatiable ambition, which propels him towards a relentless pursuit of dominance through brute force.
• Connotations on “design”: The diction “design” connotes intentional creation, mirroring Macbeth’s intentional crafting of his desired position as King through ambitious pursuits. Despite his transgression (going against of natural order in this pursuit, this seductive allure of these temptations of power and authority obstructs him from seeing the permanent and eternal consequences he will face.
LADY MACBETH - AMBITION
What is the quote MTMBSUTANPTR
‘Make thick my blood, stop until th’ access and passage to remorse’
LADY MACBETH - AMBITION
‘Make thick my blood, stop until th’ access and passage to remorse’ analysis
Imperative : 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
- Femme fatale: This is a seductive and manipulative women who can lure men into danger or sin - it is a common trope within literature and poetry. She is thus a femme fatale as she is not only manipulative but rejects her womanhood and motherhood - a typical trope to a femme fatale
LADY MACBETH - AMBITION
What is the quote ALWCUOTD from act 2
‘A little water clears us of this deed’
LADY MACBETH - AMBITION
‘A little water clears us of this deed’ analysis
• Litotes (under-exaggeration): Lady Macbeth’s omnipotent (all-powerful) ambitions blind her to the profound mental turmoil Macbeth is experiencing.
• Her callousness (cruelness) becomes apparent as she employs litotes, such as the understatement “a little,” not only to trivialise (make it seem less important) the act of murder but also to emasculate Macbeth, encouraging him further along his murderous path.
• Euphemism: She employs euphemism (substituting a phrase or word with something less harsh or blunt) to characterise regicide as a mere “deed,” highlighting a paradoxical (conflicting) aspect of her character. Despite her ambitions to shed feminine traits and embrace tyrannical brutality, she struggles to articulate the gravity (seriousness of the heinous (evil) 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.
BANQUO - AMBITION
What is the quote RON ( said by Macbeth in act 3)
‘Royalty of nature’
BANQUO - AMBITION
‘Royalty of nature’ analysis
- imagery of royalty: the portrayal ‘royalty’ conjures an image of divine ordination, signalling Macbeth’s acknowledgement of Banquo’s moral stature and respectability akin to one chosen by God
- Foil: Banquo serves as a foil to Macbeth, epitomising an ideal balance between ambition and respectability. As Macbeth descends form being ‘worthy’ to a ‘hell-hound’ he contrasts sharply with Banquo’s ability to retain both ambition and piety
BANQUO - AMBITION
what is the quote HHWTDGHVTAIS said by Macbeth in act 3
‘He hath wisdom that doth guide his valour to act in safety’
BANQUO - AMBITION
‘He hath wisdom that doth guide his valour to act in safety’ analysis
• 7 deadly sins: 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.”
• Diction + connotation: The diction of 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 (uncertain) portrayal of Banquo stands as the antithesis (contrast) to Macbeth’s bloodthirsty depiction, underscoring the contrast in their responses to ambition’s compelling force.
MACDUFF - AMBITION
What is the quote IHNW; MVIMS from act 5
‘I have no words; my voice is my sword’
MACDUFF - AMBITION
‘I have no words; my voice is my sword’ analysis
- Violent metaphor: in employing a violent metaphor, Macduff contends that the restoration of Scotlands natural order necessitates physical violence - his ambition is to rightfully restore Scotland. Thus, the initial upheaval, brought about by Macbeth’s violent tyrannical means, mandates a similar force to rectify the natural order that has been disrupted.
- Macduff is the archetype of the avenging hero, motivated by revenge. Despite his personal motivations rooted in revenge, the notability of his intentions shines through. His ambitious pursuit of dismantling Macbeth single-handedly to restore order is materialising into a reality.
- Short sentences: The short sentence reflects the short amount of time that Scotland will have to continue to suffer - by slewing Macbeth Scotland can be rightly governed and flourish under divine ordain.
MACDUFF - AMBITION
What is the quote THHT in act 5
‘Turn, hell-hound, turn’
MACDUFF - AMBITION
‘Turn, hell-hound, turn’ analysis
• Repetition on “turn”: The repetition of the term “turn” symbolises Macbeth’s upheaval of order through his tyrannical rule. Conversely, it also highlights the palpable (almost reachable) nature of Macduff’s ambitions and aspirations to reinstate order in Scotland. Once Macbeth “turns” to face Macduff, Macduff knows he is able to defeat him.
• Epithet “hell-hound”: The infernal (hellish) imagery evoked by the epithet (nick-name)
“hell-hound” accentuates Macduff’s condemnation of Macbeth’s diabolical ambitions and the ensuing turmoil.
• Macduff stands in stark contrast once more as the antithesis to Macbeth. While Macbeth prioritises his own selfish ambitions and desires, Macduff places his country and the people that reside in it at the forefront of his concerns.
MALCOLM - AMBITION
What is the quote AGAVNMR//IAIC said to Macduff in Act 4
‘A good and virtuous nature may recoil // in an imperial charge’
MALCOLM - AMBITION
‘A good and virtuous nature may recoil // in an imperial charge’ analysis
• Diction on ‘recoil: Malcolm’s statement betrays a deep understanding of human nature. The diction on “recoil” illuminates he recognises the seductive nature of power and the risk of moral compromise, even for the well-intentioned.
• This subtle admission (statement) underscores Malcolm’s wisdom - he recognises that true leadership requires not just good intentions, but also the strength to confront the potential compromises that power demands.
• Enjambment: The enjambment (no punctuation at the end of the line) after ‘recoil makes the line bleed into the next, this physically representing how swiftly an individual with a “good and virtuous nature” can be seduced by the allure of “imperial charge” and power.
• Malcolm is shrewd (good judgement) and wise as he understands the complexities of human nature - how even those divinely ordained, like himself, can be swayed by the satanic temptation of power. Here, Malcolm acknowledges the fragility of faith in the face of immense ambition.
