Macbeth's ambition

• "If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir" (act 1, scene 3)


  Macbeth personifies chance as an active force that can determine his fate

  -shows his ambition is initially passive
• "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition" (act 1, scene 7)


  -he compares ambition to a rider trying to jump too far and falling, showing that he has no reason to kill Duncan

  
  

  -Macbeth recognises that ambition alone is dangerous, and that it can cause someone to jump too far and fall
• "But screw your courage to the sticking-place, and we'll not fail" (act 1, scene 7)


  imperative command- shows her authority in their relationship as she emasculates Macbeth

  she goes against traditional femininity snd embodies androgyny
• "thou wouldst be great; Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it" (act 1, scene 5)


  shows how lady macbeth believed macbeth is too morally weak to act. she sees ambition as something that should be corrupted to succeed

  highlights the subversion of gender roles, she sees herself as the one to push macbeth into power