Ambition and Power

• “if chance may have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir” - Macbeth (A1, S3)

  Macbeth’s initial reaction to the witches’ prophecy reflects his inner conflict. Though he’s ambitious, he considers waiting to see if destiny will make him king “without his stir.” This line highlights his ambivalence —he’s tempted by power, but he’s not yet ready to take immoral action. It introduces a key tension: his ambition is at odds with his moral hesitation.
• “art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it” - Lady Macbeth (A1, S5)

  Lady Macbeth understands her husband’s ambitious nature but fears he lacks the cold-blooded cruelty necessary to fulfill it. Her words introduce the idea that ambition needs ruthlessness to succeed, especially when it defies moral constraints. This observation foreshadows her role in pushing Macbeth to action, as she seeks to fill the “illness” or ruthless drive he lacks
• “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, that o’erveaps itself and falls on the other” - Macbeth (A1, S7)

  Macbeth reflects that ambition is his only motivation. He recognizes that ambition, like a rider who jumps too high, often “o’erleaps” and ends in failure. This line highlights his awareness of the dangers of unchecked ambition. Though he foresees potential consequences, he’s willing to ignore them, a decision that ultimately leads to his moral decline and tragedy.
• “When you durst do it, then you were a man” - Lady Macbeth (A1, S7)

  Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth’s ambition by questioning his courage and masculinity, suggesting he must follow through on his desire for power. This moment shows how ambition, in the hands of another, can be weaponized. Lady Macbeth’s challenge awakens Macbeth’s ambition to prove himself, pushing him to ignore his conscience.
• “Is this a dagger which I see before me” - Macbeth (A2, S1)

  Macbeth’s vision of a dagger leading him to Duncan’s chamber symbolizes the grip his ambition has on him. The hallucination reflects his inner conflict, as his ambition overpowers his morals and draws him into a violent path. The dagger is both an invitation and a warning, illustrating the psychological toll of unchecked ambition.
• “Hear it not Duncan, for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell” - Macbeth (A2, S1)

  Macbeth’s ambition has now fully taken control, and he is committed to murder. This moment represents a point of no return; the “knell” signals the death of both Duncan and Macbeth’s morality. His ambition, which seemed like a distant thought, has now materialized into deadly action.
• “to be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus” - Macbeth (A3, S1)

  Now that Macbeth is king, he realizes that achieving power isn’t enough—he must secure it. His ambition has shifted from gaining power to maintaining it, and this obsession drives him to eliminate any threats, including Banquo. This line reflects how ambition, once satisfied, breeds paranoia and further violence.
• “We have scorched the snake not killed it” - Macbeth (A3, S2)

  Macbeth uses the metaphor of a “scorched snake” to indicate that the threat to his power remains. His ambition has pushed him to act violently, but he realizes it only brings temporary security. This moment emphasizes the insatiable nature of ambition, which keeps demanding more sacrifices to secure power.
• “The castle of Macduff I will surprise…give the edge of the sword…all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line” -Macbeth (A4, S1)

  Macbeth’s ambition has become tyrannical; he no longer targets only threats to his power but also innocent families. This act of violence shows how his ambition has degraded his humanity, turning him into a merciless ruler who sacrifices anyone who might jeopardize his throne. It reflects the moral descent caused by unchecked ambition.
• “I have almost forgot the taste of fears” -Macbeth (A5, S5)

  Macbeth acknowledges that his ambition and violence have numbed him to fear, revealing the depth of his desensitization. His pursuit of power has made him lose touch with human emotions, showing how ambition can strip away one’s humanity and moral judgment.
• “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day” - Macbeth (A5, S5)

  After Lady Macbeth’s death, Macbeth reflects on life’s emptiness, realizing that ambition has left him with nothing but despair. His desire for power has brought no lasting joy, only a sense of futility. This soliloquy is a powerful expression of disillusionment, revealing the ultimate emptiness of an ambition-driven life.