Macbeth Theme- Ambition Flashcards
What does the phrase ‘I want doesn’t get’ imply in the context of ambition?
‘I want’ does get, especially if you kill everyone standing in your way
What is the main theme of ‘Macbeth’?
Ambition
How does ambition affect Macbeth’s character throughout the play?
It motivates him to commit terrible deeds and transforms him from a ‘valiant’ soldier to a ‘dead butcher’
What does the play suggest about the dangers of ambition?
Ambition can quickly spiral out of control
What moral consideration does Macbeth initially have regarding killing Duncan?
He considers the morality of killing Duncan for a long time
What does Macbeth’s decision to kill Banquo reveal about his character?
He doesn’t hesitate about killing Banquo, indicating his moral decline
What pattern emerges once Macbeth starts killing?
He has to kill more people to secure his position
What does ambition make people become, according to the play?
Ruthless and selfish
How do Macbeth and Lady Macbeth end up due to their ambition?
They are both eventually destroyed by their ambition
What can the play be read as a warning against?
Ambition that isn’t balanced by reason or morals
What is Macbeth’s ‘fatal flaw’?
Ambition
How is Macbeth described at the beginning of the play?
A brave hero, described as ‘noble’
What does Lady Macbeth believe about Macbeth’s ambition?
She thinks he isn’t ruthless enough to take action
What does ambition often lead to, according to the text?
It can lead a person to aim too high and fail
What does Lady Macbeth’s view on ambition foreshadow?
Macbeth’s own tragic downfall
What happens to Macbeth by the end of the play?
He dies an ‘abhorred tyrant’
Is ambition always a negative trait in ‘Macbeth’?
No, it can be good or bad
How are Malcolm and Macduff’s ambitions characterized?
They are ambitious for their country and for the good of Scotland
What is Banquo’s ambition regarding his sons?
He hopes that ‘there come truth’ from the Witches’ prophecy
Fill in the blank: Lady Macbeth believes that ambition often ‘_______ itself / And falls’.
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