In Shakespeares Macbeth, Shakespeare explores the effect of ambition on a character.
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rsmiles (student)
Macbeth In Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’, Shakespeare explores the effect of ambition on a character. Ambition is shown to be a fundamental theme throughout Act one as well as a recurring theme throughout the play. As in the case of tragic dramas, the protagonist, Macbeth, is first recognised as a well respected hero, but due to his own evil ambition, which, ultimately, is shown to be a serious flaw in his character and a corrupting force, falls from a position of great honour or power to his destruction and shame. The audience realises Macbeth’s ambition from a very early stage in the play from his aggressive and courageous fight at the battle, against the rebels, to earn the King’s respect and honour as a ‘valiant cousin’ and a ‘worthy gentlemen’. He is described as being ‘savage’ in battle, delivering a ‘bloody execution’ and using his sword to ‘carve’ out a victory. The violent and bloodthirsty imagery emphasizes how ambitious Macbeth is which may imply how he might be seen as a threat if fighting against the King. Macbeth’s downfall and corruption is first introduced after the battle, upon the heath, with the three witches where they inform of both Macbeth and Banquo’s prophecies. Macbeth expresses his enthusiasm to hear more of this ‘strange intelligence’ and wishes ‘they had stayed’; on the contrary, Banquo is palpably more cautious and wonders if both Macbeth
and he have ‘eaten on the insane root’. By illustrating how eager and prepared Macbeth is to trust the witches, who, in Shakespearean times were considered to be enemies of society, Shakespeare stresses Macbeth’s ambition which noticeably contrasts with Banquo’s sensible and doubtful reaction. Shakespeare’s use of allowing Macbeth to talk ‘aside’ about Duncan’s ‘murder’ which, although now is ‘fantastical’, makes the audience realise that Macbeth is already strategising. When Duncan declares that his son, Malcolm, is to become King, Macbeth immediately sees Malcolm as a ‘step on which [he] must fall down, or o’erleap’. By conspiring against Duncan and ...
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and he have ‘eaten on the insane root’. By illustrating how eager and prepared Macbeth is to trust the witches, who, in Shakespearean times were considered to be enemies of society, Shakespeare stresses Macbeth’s ambition which noticeably contrasts with Banquo’s sensible and doubtful reaction. Shakespeare’s use of allowing Macbeth to talk ‘aside’ about Duncan’s ‘murder’ which, although now is ‘fantastical’, makes the audience realise that Macbeth is already strategising. When Duncan declares that his son, Malcolm, is to become King, Macbeth immediately sees Malcolm as a ‘step on which [he] must fall down, or o’erleap’. By conspiring against Duncan and Malcolm, Shakespeare reveals how Macbeth’s ambition causes him to change from loyal to treacherous. However, Macbeth is aware that by murdering Malcolm, he could cause his own death and tells the stars to ‘hide their fires’, confirming that Macbeth understands it is wrong, but is willing to take the risk which demonstrates his evil ambition. Light and dark imagery is relevant in showing Macbeth’s corrupted loyalty. Throughout the play, darkness symbolises treachery, cruelty and evil and later on in the play, Lady Macbeth tells the ‘thick night’ to ‘pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell’ for secrecy. This contrasts to the imagery of light that King Duncan refers to ‘like stars’, reflecting innocence and nobility. The contrast between how Duncan and Macbeth use the stars reflects their own personality. Secrecy is a theme closely related to the theme of ambition and Macbeth’s ambition lies behind his false appearance of both himself and his castle. We see this when King Duncan first arrives at Macbeth’s castle and observes how ‘the air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself’. This example of pathetic fallacy along with Banquo’s description of how the ‘the temple-haunting martlet does approve’. Nevertheless, Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony reveals how, this seemingly ‘pleasant’ castle which disguises Macbeth’s ambition, will be Duncan’s death place. Furthermore, another use of dramatic irony when Duncan, without knowingly, compares Macbeth to the previous Thane of Cawdor whom, he ‘built an absolute trust’ on and who betrayed him, supports Macbeth’s corrupted loyalty. During this act, where Macbeth displays, what his wife later describes as, being an ‘innocent flower’ on the surface, but a ‘serpent under’t’, the audience may feel sympathy towards the naïve and overly-trusting King whilst being disgusted at Macbeth’s cruel ambition. Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth’s ambition as an infectious force through the fact that even after Macbeth confronts his wife about how they ‘will proceed no further in this business’ of murdering Duncan, Lady Macbeth is able to intimidate her husband into obeying her and is motivated by her own evil ambition, which is filled with the ‘direst cruelty’. She attacks her husband’s manhood and courage, accusing him of being a ‘coward’ and a ‘poor cat I’th’adage’. She also delivers a powerful and violent speech in which she describes how she would have rather ‘dash’d the brains out’ of her own baby than go back on her word and this displays her own evil ambition. Her reference to gruesome body parts such as ‘gums’, ‘nipple’ and ‘brains’ make her sound witch-like and, in the end, Macbeth is persuaded into plotting against Duncan once again. We see that it is Macbeth who says the final lines, indicating that Lady Macbeth has manipulated him into becoming the one who is ambitious and in control. By the end of act 1, Macbeth realises that ‘vaulting ambition’ is his only justification for murdering Duncan, which, he claims, ‘o’erleaps itself and falls onto th’other’, proving that his ambition is not enough to overcome his fear and guilt at murdering Duncan who is here ‘in double trust’. In this last act, the audience is aware that Macbeth’s ambition has made him morally indecisive and hesitant because he starts to list reasons why he should or should not kill the King and the repetition of the word ‘if’ symbolises Macbeth’s confusion. This moral quandary makes Macbeth more vulnerable and dependent on others, as he himself is indecisive and, eventually, allows Lady Macbeth to influence her husband into being ambitious again. In Act 1 of Macbeth, Shakespeare explores the negative impacts of ambition on a character. He demonstrates how ambition is a corrupting force which destroys loyalty, and this is shown through Macbeth’s deceit of Duncan. He also portrays how ambition leads a person to become morally indecisive and forces them choose choices that they would not necessarily choose if they were in a clearer state of mind. However, Shakespeare explains how Macbeth’s downfall is his own responsibility, for he deliberately chooses to listen to the witches, whereas, his more sensible friend, Banquo did not. Although Lady Macbeth and the witches attack his weaknesses, such as his courage and manhood it should be clear that it is Macbeth who first considers murder and writes to his wife about his plans. In his prophecy the witches do not even mention murder and it is him that comes up with the idea. Therefore, Macbeth is entirely to blame for his downfall due to his ambition which causes his death and shame.
by
rsmiles (student)
