Macbeth's Ambition Research Paper

Ambition is the desire to achieve something for example the determination to achieve success. Ambition can clearly be seen as a corrupting force in the play ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare. Macbeth is a brave and loyal Thane of King Duncan but after a chance meeting with the Three Witches becomes cruel and develops and insatiable thirst for power. On the other hand in the film ‘Gattaca’ directed by Andrew Niccol ambition is a chance for the main character Vincent to develop and overcome barriers in the way of his life goal.
In the play ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare, ambition is characterised as dangerous and irrational. To have an ambition is to have a strong desire to achieve something, in the play Macbeth has a strong desire to become king, which causes him to act irrationally and certifiably insane. Macbeths ambition is dangerous as he believes the only way to become king (after hearing the witches prophecy) is to murder King Duncan. Macbeth believes that Duncan’s death will bring him success he believes it to the point of being willing to risk
At the start of the play Macbeth is brave and loyal and displays many of the attributes of a great king. However after conversing with the three witches his state of mind goes on a downward spiral eventually ending in his demise. His thirst for power and wealth cause him to act foolishly and with haste rather than waiting to see if the witches’ predictions come true. It is clear from Macbeths reaction to King Duncan telling Malcom that he will be Prince of Cumberland that Macbeths desires have already started to take a toll on his mind ‘That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, For in my way it lies.’ (I. IV. 48). This clearly shows that ambition is taking away Macbeths rational thoughts and he is choosing to act without thought towards the consequences and is only focused on his goal of becoming