Macbeth's Ambition

Shakespeare’s plays are relevant to today’s audience because of the issues they explore.- 887 words

Classic plays explore timeless themes that still astoundingly reflect people’s behaviour, nature and ambitions in today’s society. Ambition is a quality in which we all possess, however, it is the way we interpret it, that will determine how far we will go to attain what we desire. The famous William Shakespeare’s plays are global successes, appreciated for their timeless themes. Ambition can be used to an extent, but as seen in the tragedy, Macbeth (1623) the protagonist Macbeth, becomes power-hungry and his life becomes fuelled, negatively, by ambition. Shakespeare is still able to connect with today’s audience, through characters, dramatic
Shakespeare’s tragedy has been able to relate to today’s audience, as it explores the issue ambition, and how Macbeth takes ambition to the next level as he creates chaos just to achieve what he desires, power. Following the announcement of Macbeth becoming thane; his ambition jumps in when he realises the prophecy of becoming king may indeed become true. Thus, has cruel thoughts of killing the king to gain the crown. ‘If good, why do I yield to that suggestion, Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair, And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,’- A1 S3. Today’s society use ambition, but it needs to be controlled. In this play Macbeth becomes too ambitious when he decides to commit murder for his own personal gain. Shakespeare’s use of the dramatic technique soliloquy allows the audience to view what personal thoughts Macbeth is having. When alone on stage Macbeth expresses his cruel thoughts of killing King Duncan, aloud. This enables
Shakespeare's Macbeth, comprises of the negative side of ambition, where one may go too far to gain power or strength which will result in negative consequences. Lady Macbeth, wants the power more than her husband thus, is willing to do anything for her husband to become king. She is the powerful women who persuades her husband to kill King Duncan after his reluctant thoughts. Lady Macbeth’s ambition comes to a point where she informs her husband to, ‘Look like th’ innocent flower/but the serpent under’t’ (A1, S5). Shakespeare’s use of symbolism enables the audience to understand Shakespeare’s use of language, how Lady Macbeth’s ambition goes overboard and complements the extract as it represents the idea stronger than its literal meaning. Today’s audience are able to relate to this idea of ambition being taken overboard, as we see it in media, and everyday life when a person goes too far which then results in conflict. Shakespeare uses flower to symbolise how Macbeth should act, sweet, innocent and kind. Then he uses serpent, which symbolises a snake, an evil creature, hence ‘but the serpent under’t’ as he will commit an evil act of murder. Both flower and snake are commonly used in today’s society as people will compare one another to either sweet as a flower or evil like a snake. Again seen through this extract, Shakespeare is able to relate his ideas to today’s audience. Before