Macbeth-Ambition

• "Vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself and falls on th' other" (Act.1)

  Personification: Macbeth personifies his ambition, portraying it as possessing a potency comparable to a human force that can exert influence and corrupt his formerly innocent mind.
• • When he acknowledges its eventual "fall" it indicates Macbeth's awareness that his all- encompassing ambition is his hamartia (fatal flaw that leads to his downfall) destined to lead to his mental and physical decline. Alternatively, this portrayal positions Macbeth as a victim ensnared (trapped) by his own ambition, showcasing his

  introspective understanding of its fatal consequences and presenting him as vulnerable to its relentless influence.
• • Metaphor: The metaphorical portrayal of Macbeth's "vaulting ambition" draws a parallel between him and a jockey who is to manage an untamable, almost animalistic force.

  This metaphor not only depicts Macbeth's struggle to control his ambitious nature but also suggests self-deception - Macbeth believes that he is able to harness some control over his ambition, enough that he is able to transcend the societal, political and divine limitations placed upon him.