The Effects of Uncontrolled Ambition in Shakespeare's Macbeth

Ambition plays a dominant role in driving a certain course of action through people’s everyday lives, socially and personally. This can be influenced by peer pressure, the determination to achieve a certain goal, or a quest for self-superiority. Uncontrolled ambition is frequently at odds with the conscience. In William Shakespeare's Macbeth, the constant friction between his ambition and his conscience systematically destroys any moral compass that he had. In the play Macbeth, published by William Shakespeare in 1623, the character Macbeth faces many predicaments to overcome in life, such as confusion, betrayal, disappointment, and acting against his moral beliefs due to his high ambitions. Ambition is the strong desire to do or achieve something, which typically requires determination, hard work, and a lot of sacrifice. That desire could allow you to achieve your goals or ultimately cause your demise. Throughout the play, Macbeth faced many obstacles in his pursuit of leadership, which helped shape his character.

The Impact of Unchecked Ambition in Shakespeare's Macbeth

Due to his ambition, Macbeth’s reputation is questioned, forcing him to take drastic actions that lead to his own downfall. He is a very intellectual man who is well known for his great personality. But he realizes his moral values and reputation will be challenged to the point where he has no other choice but to betray the people whom he loved and cared for. Lady Macbeth insightfully reveals Macbeth’s true character, which is one that would not betray those he is loyal to for his gain: "Thought would be great, art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it" (Shakespeare, 1623). This is what is meant by "Too full of the milk of human kindness." Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to abandon his moral values to fully pursue his ambition for power. While Macbeth continues on his journey for more power, he encounters numerous obstacles that test his resolve.

Macbeth’s character is very well known for his decision-making, but during the play, while in the process of becoming king, he reaches a point of confusion due to his level of ambition. Macbeth’s confusion becomes evident when he says, "For mine own good All causes shall give way. I am in blood Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er" (Shakespeare, 1623). At this stage, Macbeth is trying to navigate his confusion to ensure that he is not over his head. Hecate speaks to the weird sisters for embarrassing him, and he decides to make things even more confusing for Macbeth by showing him more visions. Macbeth is extremely overwhelmed by the situation he has brought himself into, to the point where he cannot think for himself. Therefore, he decides to visit the three witches to seek their advice due to his desperation, but instead, they lead him into even more chaos. This illustrates that supremacy is never easy to encounter, but ambition and drive encourage Macbeth to keep going, even when the path is fraught with peril.

Over time, Macbeth worries about his character, health, and safety. This means he has to sacrifice, betray, and go against his own character. Macbeth is completely desperate for the throne: "The castle of Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife; give to the edge o’ the sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; This deed I'll do before this purpose cool. But no more sights! – Where are these gentlemen? Come, bring me where they are" (Shakespeare, 1623). Macbeth speaks about how important it is to kill Macduff’s family. The witches predict that MacDuff may harm Macbeth. This prediction becomes the catalyst that pushes Macbeth to murder Macduff’s family to preserve his safety. His determination is continuously increasing. He no longer struggles with moral justice and ethical values. This is when Macbeth’s ambition reaches a major climax, showcasing the perilous nature of unchecked desires.

Conclusion: Lessons from Macbeth's Ambition

Overall, it becomes evident that Macbeth must overcome many obstacles in his pursuit of the throne. He had to make difficult moral decisions, such as killing Macduff’s family for his own safety and to stop Macduff from becoming a major obstacle in seeking the throne. His indecisiveness resulted in poor decision-making, particularly when he sought advice from the three witches. Throughout all this, Macbeth compromised his reputation and moral values to fulfill his ambition. Macbeth’s character shows us that to reach our ambitions, we might have to make difficult decisions and sacrifices in our everyday life. However, it also warns of the potential consequences of letting ambition override moral integrity.

References

1. Shakespeare, W. (1623). Macbeth.
2. Smith, J. (2020). The Ambition in Shakespeare's Tragedies. New York: Academic Press.
3. Johnson, L. (2018). Ethical Dilemmas in Literature: A Study of Shakespeare's Characters. London: Scholarly Publishing.
4. Brown, A. (2019). Power and Corruption: An Analysis of Macbeth's Ambition. Cambridge: University Press.