Ambition

• What drives the plot of Macbeth forward?

  The manipulative ambition of the Macbeths
• How do the Macbeths exploit those around them?

  They exploit others to improve their position in the social hierarchy
• What role do the prophecies of the three Witches play in Macbeth's ambition?

  They spur on Macbeth's ambition and actions
• What psychological consequences does Macbeth face due to his ambition?

  He loses his nobility and becomes intensely violent
• What ultimately happens to Lady Macbeth as a result of her ambition?

  She suffers deep remorse and guilt, leading to her suicide
• How is ambition viewed in Jacobean and Elizabethan England compared to modern Western society?

  It was seen as a dangerous quality in Jacobean and Elizabethan England
• What is the Great Chain of Being?

  It is a hierarchical structure of all beings in the universe, believed to be divinely ordained
• What does ambition equate to in the context of the Great Chain of Being?

  Ambition is equated with sin
• What does Macbeth describe his ambitions as?

  “Black and deep desires”
• What are the two key sources of Macbeth's ambition?

  The Witches' prophecy and Lady Macbeth
• How does Macbeth's ambition lead to his tragic flaw?

  His insatiable ambition drives him to commit murder and ultimately leads to his downfall
• What does Macbeth see as the only option to continue on his ambitious path?

  Murdering King Duncan
• What metaphor does Macbeth use to describe his ambition in Act One, Scene Seven?

  He compares ambition to a spur used in horse riding
• What does Ross imply about ambition when he exclaims “Thriftless ambition, that will ravin up / Thine own lives’ means!”?

  Ambition is an unnatural phenomenon that leads to destruction
• How does Lady Macbeth influence Macbeth's actions?

  She criticizes his masculinity and pushes him to commit murder
• What does Lady Macbeth's soliloquy reveal about her character?

  It shows her ambition and belief that evil deeds are necessary to achieve greatness
• How does Lady Macbeth's ambition compare to Macbeth's?

  She is more ruthless and single-minded in her ambition
• What power dynamic exists between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

  Lady Macbeth wields power over Macbeth and directs his actions
• How does Shakespeare portray Lady Macbeth in relation to gender norms?

  She is portrayed as a masculine character due to her ambition and ruthlessness
• What does Shakespeare demonstrate about ambition in Macbeth?

  Overwhelming ambition leads to loss and suffering
• How does guilt manifest in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

  They are tormented by guilt, undermining their sanity
• What does the apparition of Banquo’s ghost represent?

  It represents Macbeth's guilt and mental unhinging
• How does blood symbolize guilt in Macbeth?

  Blood symbolizes sin and is connected to the characters' guilt
• How does Macbeth's perception of blood change throughout the play?

  It shifts from representing loyalty and bravery to symbolizing guilt and sin
• What does Macbeth predict about his guilt after murdering Duncan?

  He predicts that his guilt will grow and cannot be washed away
• How is blood described in the context of Macbeth's bravery as a soldier?

  It represents loyalty and bravery
• How does the language used to describe Macbeth's actions as a soldier differ from his actions as a murderer?

  The language shifts from commendation to descriptions of brutality and tyranny
• What does the phrase “a dagger of the mind, a false creation” signify?

  It signifies Macbeth's mental distress and hallucinations caused by guilt