Macbeth - Ambition Flashcards
Intro
Shakespeare presents ambition as a corrupting force
- his ambition is manipulated by external forces (witches and LM) but ultimately he chooses his downfall
Shakespeare contrasts Macbeths unchecked ambition with Banquos moral restraint, reinforcing the idea that ambition without morality leads to destruction
How does Shakespeare show that ambition is sparked by external forces
Macbeths ambition is awaken by the witches
- shows power can be temping but must be controlled
“Stay you ___ speakers, ____ __ ____”
“Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more” (A1S3)
“Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more” (A1S3)
- imperative ‘stay’ shows his desperation as he is immediately intrigued by power
- jacobeans believed witches were agents of the devil -> Shakespeare suggests Macbeth already harboured ambition, making him vulnerable
“Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more” (A1S3) - alternate interpretation
- witches do not force M to act -> he chooses to listen which shows ambition is already inside him
How does Shakespeare show that ambition overrides morality
Macbeth realises ambition is dangerous but still pursues it, proving ambition can blind people to consequences
“V_____ ambition, which ______ itself”
‘Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself’ (A1S7)
‘Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself’ (A1S7) - how does this quote show Macbeths moral conflict
- metaphor ‘vaulting ambition’ suggests recklessness -> he knows his ambition is dangerous but proceeds anyway
‘Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself’ (A1S7) - alternate interpretation
Macbeth is not purely evil - his soliloquy shows internal conflict which makes him a tragic hero rather than a villain
How does Shakespeare show that unchecked ambition leads to nihilism
By the end, Macbeths ambition has emptied him of emotion
-> shows power without meaning is worthless
“T_______, and t_______, and t________”
“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” (A5S5)
“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” (A5S5) - how does it show his final views
- repetition of ‘tomorrow’ mimics a lifeless cycle, showing Macbeths emotional emptiness
“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” (A5S5) - alternate interpretations
Ambition has consumed Macbeth, leaving him disillusions as he no longer believes power has meaning
Conclusion
Macbeths unchecked ambition leads to his downfall while Banquos controlled ambition makes him a moral contrast and a FOIL to Macbeth.
Shakespeare warns us that power without morality leads to destruction
Lady Macbeths ambition at start
Lady Macbeths ambition is equally intense, yet she underestimates its consequences
- Shakespeare contrasts their ambitions to show that unchecked ambition leads to destruction
How does LM ambition differ from M
Lady Macbeths ambition is just as ruthless and manipulative showing that ambition is not just a personal flaw but a corrupting influence on others
‘Un___ me here, and ___ me from the c____ to the toe top - full of d_____ c_____’
“Unsecured me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top - full of direst cruelty” - LM (A1S5)
“Unsecured me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top - full of direst cruelty” - LM (A1S5)
- command ‘unsex me here’ shows she sees gender as a barrier to ambition, rejecting femininity in favour of power
- women in Jacobean England has little social power, making her ambition seem unnatural and shocking
“Unsecured me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top - full of direst cruelty” - LM (A1S5) - alternate interpretation
Lady Macbeths reliance on supernatural forces suggests that her ambition is not self-sustaining - she needs external help to gain power (seen through Macbeth)
Macbeth vs Banquo
While Macbeth’s ambition spirals into tyranny, Banquo represents a noble alternative—someone who harbours ambition but remains morally steadfast
Shakespeare contrasts Banquo’s restraint with Macbeth’s desperation. Whereas Macbeth murders to secure power, Banquo remains honourable, making him a FOIL to Macbeth.
However, Macbeth sees Banquo as a threat, showing that unchecked ambition leads to paranoia and self-destruction.
“Thou s___ get k___, though thou b_ n___”
“Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none” (A1S3) - Banquo
“Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none” (A1S3) - Banquo interpretation of the prophecy
Unlike Macbeth, Banquo also hears the witches’ prophecy yet he does not act on it. Instead of forcing fate, Banquo chooses to let events unfold naturally, showing that ambition can exist without corrupting one’s morality.
Ultimately, Banquo’s fate proves that ambition alone is not dangerous—it is the choices made in pursuit of power that determine one’s downfall.
