Ambition

• Ambition


  The plot of Macbeth is propelled forwards by the Macbeths' manipulative ambition; both centre their actions around their ultimate desire for Macbeth to become king. Both characters exploit those around them in order to improve their position in the social hierarchy and are spurred on by the prophecies of the three Witches. Ambition is seen as corrupting and causes Macbeth to lose his nobility and ultimately become intensely violent. Nevertheless, both he and his wife suffer deep remorse and guilt over their actions - causing Lady Macbeth to ultimately kill herself. Macbeth in some senses is a dramatic representation of the devastating psychological consequences of pursuing one's ambitions without any regard for morality.
• The entire play explores the titular character's quest to fulfil his ambitions, which he describes as: "black and deep desires" (A1.S4)
• Tragic Flaw


  One characteristic of Shakespearean tragedy is that all protagonists have a tragic or fatal flaw (translated from the Greek word hamartia). Characters' tragic flaws set in action a chain of events in which felicity is changed into disaster. Macbeth's insatiable ambition is his tragic flaw. Macbeth is willing to give up everything to become king. The murders that he and his wife commit cause both to grow mad with guilt.
• Macbeth's ambition


  Ultimately leads him to murder Duncan
• Lady Macbeth


  Alongside the three Witches' prophecy, Lady Macbeth is seen as the other motivator of Macbeth's ambition to usurp the crown. She relentlessly criticises his actions and lack of masculinity, and it is her attitude which arguably leads him to kill Duncan. However, this ambition contributes to her own insanity and she eventually commits suicide.
• Shakespeare demonstrates in his play that overwhelming ambition leads to loss and suffering. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth end up dead, and prior to their deaths they are less powerful and less happy than they were at the beginning of the play.
• Guilt


  Ambition is the play's central theme and guilt is its result. Macbeth and his wife are tormented by guilt, so much so that their sanity is undermined.
• Blood


  Blood is another motif in Macbeth which vividly symbolises sin, and thus is intimately connected to guilt. At the beginning of the play, blood represents Macbeth's loyalty and bravery as a soldier. Later in the play, Macbeth changes from "noble" (A2.S3) to a "butcher" (A5.S8) and an "abhorred tyrant" (A5.S8) and his hallucinations of blood represent his guilt.