Macbeth Blind Ambition
Blind Ambition In the tragic play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth begins as an honorable man and heroic soldier who proves his value to king Duncan. However, a witches prophecy that Macbeth will become king plants a seed in his mind that begins to control his thinking and actions. Macbeth's ambition to be king blinds him from his morals, leading to tragedy for all.
The witches prophecy plants the seed of ambiont that leads Macbeth on his tragic path. Once Macbeth hears the prophesy that he will be king, he wants it to be true. When he learns that he has been named Thane of Cawdor as well as Glamis, Macbeth says to himself, “Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, the greatest is behind”(1.3.126). Macbeth believes that because the first part of the witches prophecy came true, the rest of their predictions will become reality when he says, “Two truths are told, as the happy prologues to the welling act of the imperial theme”(1.3.140-42). Macbeth does not yet know how the prophecy will unfold but he seems determined to make it true. Macbeth knows that the witches word is not truthful but his ambition lures him to the witches.
Macbeth’s ambition is so great that he comes up with a plan to kill King Duncan when the king is staying at Macbeth’s castle. As Macbeth considers his plan, he evaluates the pros and cons of his action and admits to himself that it is immoral and wrong to kill Duncan for several reasons: “He is here in double-trust; First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the dead; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself... I have no spur to prick the side of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleps itself and fall on th’ other-”(1.7.12-27). Macbeth admits that it is wrong and that his ambition is what is driving him to commit murder to gain the throne. Macbeth knowing it was wrong still killed King Duncan because his ambition out weighed his moral Despite his doubts and
The witches prophecy plants the seed of ambiont that leads Macbeth on his tragic path. Once Macbeth hears the prophesy that he will be king, he wants it to be true. When he learns that he has been named Thane of Cawdor as well as Glamis, Macbeth says to himself, “Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, the greatest is behind”(1.3.126). Macbeth believes that because the first part of the witches prophecy came true, the rest of their predictions will become reality when he says, “Two truths are told, as the happy prologues to the welling act of the imperial theme”(1.3.140-42). Macbeth does not yet know how the prophecy will unfold but he seems determined to make it true. Macbeth knows that the witches word is not truthful but his ambition lures him to the witches.
Macbeth’s ambition is so great that he comes up with a plan to kill King Duncan when the king is staying at Macbeth’s castle. As Macbeth considers his plan, he evaluates the pros and cons of his action and admits to himself that it is immoral and wrong to kill Duncan for several reasons: “He is here in double-trust; First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the dead; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself... I have no spur to prick the side of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleps itself and fall on th’ other-”(1.7.12-27). Macbeth admits that it is wrong and that his ambition is what is driving him to commit murder to gain the throne. Macbeth knowing it was wrong still killed King Duncan because his ambition out weighed his moral Despite his doubts and