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Essay / Power and Ambition in Macbeth by William Shakespeare
A famous writer once said: “For where there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and all evil. » (James 3:16, Bible) Desire, determination and power absolutely corrupt. Shakespeare invites his readers to the kingdom of Scotland to experience kingship at its finest. Through the eyes of a brave Scottish nobleman protagonist known as Macbeth, he rises as a soldier and promising future leader whose megalomaniac ambition led to his tragic downfall. Tempted by an overflow of ambition, he kills and shows that he will do anything to gain power. This essay analyzes how, in Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses the concept of ambition to explore its impact on how it motivates Macbeth and his wife to come up with a plan to kill for the throne, as well as to explore how ambition can be destructive. to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay The playwright begins with Macbeth, having heard the prophecies that promised him power, he says: “Two truths are spoken. Like happy prologues to the act of swelling. From the imperial theme” while reciting the witches’ prophecy. He immediately begins to wonder if this means their third prophecy will also be true. The eagerness with which he turns to this idea suggests that he finds the possibility attractive. As Macbeth moves in and out of reality and finds himself disoriented over time throughout Acts 1 and 2. While he is under the influence of his own wife inserting bad ideas, he realizes that 'he would have to commit a terrible and violent act to gain the position. As he mocks him, he says: “You would be a great art not without ambition, but without illness accompanying it.” Lady Macbeth knows what Macbeth is capable of, she thinks he will do anything to let his ambition escape into reality, to obtain the power he wants. He goes from a rational and reasonable man to a questionable man. Scotland is plunged into further chaos through Macbeth's thirst for supremacy, his recognition of his crimes, and further disruptions in the human order. Power has the ability to be related to greatness, but at the same time it is capable of destroying a person's nature. In the play, Macbeth becomes in a position of power, the definition of control changes, the control and manipulation of the characters in the book becomes easier over time, which deteriorates his conscience, being Macbeth, the protagonist becomes corrupted thanks to the power that 'he acquires, this play is a great example of someone who starts out as Macbeth and has no motive or reasoning for wanting to aspire to power, later in the play he does terrible and unspeakable things to gain power. authority and power. Power tends to work to benefit their desires, which happens when it works against them. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. .” (John Dalberg-Acton) A strong desire and determination to succeed in the wrong way can lead to corruption. Throughout the play, Macbeth is controlled by his own vivid imagination. Due to his consciousness, he has visions of a dagger, Banquo's ghost and even a "murder sleep", his constant drive for ambition and lust for power pushes him into a dizzying fall. When he realizes that his struggle for power is over, he says: “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, he advances at this petty pace from day to day. Until the last.