Table of ContentsIntroductionAmbition in MacbethConclusion for Macbeth EssayReferencesIntroductionIntroduction: Shakespeare's play "Macbeth", written in 1606, is about a man named Macbeth who develops the ambition to become king. The main theme of Macbeth is the corrupting nature of unchecked ambition, which unfolds through his struggle between his ambition and morality, driven by his desire for power. Dramatic techniques used include foreshadowing and dramatic irony. Linguistic devices create images such as hallucinations and soliloquies. Both techniques are fundamental to creating meaning and demonstrating the metamorphosis of Macbeth's character due to his deep ambition. Thesis Statement: In Macbeth, uncontrolled ambition is presented as a dangerous quality; this results in the downfall of Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth. Ambition becomes the driving force of the play, a warning to everyone against its dangers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get the original essayAmbition in MacbethBackground: Macbeth's unchecked ambition is driven by a number of factors. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth reveals himself to be a loyal, strong and courageous warrior who won the battle and brought victory to Scotland. Topic Sentence: Shakespeare uses foreshadowing as a dramatic technique in Scene 1, Act 1 to allow the reader to predict what might happen later in the story. The witches set the tone in this scene with a storm and predictions that Macbeth's life will become so confusing that he will have difficulty telling the difference between good and evil, "right and wrong." Evidence and Quote: When Macbeth thinks he hears a voice while killing Duncan, this foreshadows the insomnia that plagues Macbeth and his wife, thus presenting the consequences of ambition. In Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth says "that I may pour my spirit into thine." ear and chastise with the valor of my tongue everything that prevents you from accessing the golden round" this shows ambition as the image of her pouring evil spirits into his ear and attacking him with her brave tongue, she thinks he is too good and is afraid to commit regicide This shows that she has much more ambition than him here because she thinks he is incapable of doing this job and so she will try. to convince Macbeth to murder Duncan by “pouring the spirits into your ear.” Topic Sentence: Lady Macbeth is presented as a ruthless woman who will stop at nothing to win the crown Evidence and Quote: Lady Macbeth is more ambitious than her. husband and has less moral ethics This is Lady Macbeth's driving force that encourages him to overcome his strong sense of guilt and implement the prophecies She does this by attacking his manhood and states that. she would have murdered her child while he was breast-feeding, rather than break a promise as Macbeth had done. Macbeth cannot find a reason to kill Duncan and also realizes that jumping too high can only lead to a fall. This is expressed in Act 1, Scene 7: "To prick the sides of my intention, but only an ambition which leaps over itself and falls upon the other." Topic Sentence: Macbeth's ambition leads him to murder many close friends, which in turn leads to his ruin. Commentary: Macbeth murders Duncan, a guest in his own castle for his own selfish reasons. Dramatic irony is used when Duncan arrives at Macbeth's castle. He comments on the pleasantness of Macbeth's castle as the audience knows that Macbeth planned his murder to take placethere the same evening. Evidence and Quote: Additionally, Macbeth orders his men to kill Banquo and his son, one of his closest friends, because he poses a threat to him. Macbeth also arranges the murder of Macduff's entire family. Therefore, the problem, the play suggests, is that once one decides to use violence to further one's quest for power, it is difficult to stop. This leads directly to Macbeth's downfall as it causes Macduff to despise him. By allowing his ambition to corrupt his morals and murdering Macduff's family, Macbeth sets the stage for his own downfall. Topic Sentence: Linguistic devices help create Macbeth's vivid imagery that presents the audience with a warning against the dangers of ambition. Evidence and Quote: Hallucinations are a very important motif throughout the play; this not only shows the warning against the dangers of ambition, but also the mental effect that this uncontrolled ambition has produced on the character. As Macbeth is about to kill Duncan, he sees a dagger floating in the air. Covered in blood and pointed towards the king's chamber, the dagger represents the bloody act that Macbeth is about to commit, hence a warning. Macbeth exclaims in Act 2, Scene 1: “Is this a dagger that I see before me? » Later, Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost sitting in a chair at a feast. Banquo's ghost warns Macbeth that his ambition has corrupted his moral sense. He sees the ghost as a consequence of the murder of his best friend. Macbeth's ambition ultimately became his weakness. Although he suppressed this weakness for a long time, Macbeth was ultimately defeated by it; this led to madness. However, it is Macduff who ends up killing Macbeth after killing the king and his family. Lady Macbeth also suffers from mental illness. She sleepwalks and believes her hands are stained with blood and cannot be washed by any amount of water. Commentary: The symbolism of hallucinations and blood is depicted as a supernatural sign of guilt and weakness of character, thus leading to the downfall of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. It is this mental problem that leads Lady Macbeth to suicide, following her actions. Characters' words and actions do not always express people's true character. Only when they think out loud are their true nature and thoughts revealed. Shakespeare uses soliloquies in a beautiful way to show the dangers of the ambitions that led to the downfall of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. In Act 1, Scene 7, Macbeth is debating whether or not he should kill Duncan. He said: “If it was done when it was done, then it would be good if it was done quickly. If assassination could hinder the consequences and make up for his reprieve, success, this blow could be the ultimate solution. » This soliloquy suggests that Macbeth is afraid, almost as if he knows he is going to do it. unable to bear the consequences of his dangerous ambition. Thus, through the use of soliloquies, we see that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's ambition completely subverts their reasoning abilities and ultimately leads to their downfall. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion for Macbeth EssayConclusion Paragraph: In conclusion, the tragedy of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's downfall was caused by their ambition, which is reflected in Shakespeare's use of dramatic techniques and linguistic devices. Macbeth is therefore a warning against the dangers of ambition. Macbeth degenerates from a powerful and respectable general to a desperate and insecure tyrant. Although ambition drives many people to achieve, 6(1), 125-143..