Macbeth - Ambition

Question 1

Act 1 Scene 3

Answer 1

Mac encounter with witches has left him ‘rapt withall’ – speechless - mac is spellbound by the predictions – mac is also scared of the powerful ambition awakened in him by witches

Question 2

Act 1 Scene 7 - 1

Answer 2

At the start of Act 1 Scene 7 Macbeth has “no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition” - dynamic - ‘vaulting’ - personifying ambition - elevating its strength and significance - ambition is boundless and a dominating force - admits that he is only driven by ambition and believes it will be his downfall.

Question 3

Act 1 Scene 7 - 2

Answer 3

During this scene Lady Macbeth questions Macbeths masculinity by saying that murdering Duncan would make him “so much more the man.” – uses alliterative sound of ‘m’ to bring out his ambition – shows audience Lady
Macbeth’s powerful and manipulative role in their relationship.

Question 4

Act 3 Scene 1

Answer 4

‘To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus’ - parallel phrasing - repetition of the phrasing - reflects his inner turmoil - adverbial ‘safely’ is strengthening is need for security - use of the conjunction reflects the duality of his kingship - still has further ambition despite still being king - no limit to his ambition

Question 5

Act 4 Scene 1

Answer 5

‘All this is so’ - Shows power of the witches as they plot against Macbeth – supernatural powers – short monosyllabic statement of fact shows witches power as they can spark ambition with only a few words - Macbeth utterly taken in and transported by the visions

Question 6

Act 5 Scene 8

Answer 6

“Yet I will try the last.” – remains falsely ambitious to the very end – modal verb ‘will’ – falls back on what he knows best.