Macbeth Key Theme: Ambition (Edexcel GCSE English Literature)
Revision Note
Ambition in Macbeth
At its heart, Macbeth as a play is an exploration of ambition and its consequences. Find out how Shakespeare explores this central theme in Macbeth, along with tips on how to answer an exam question on the theme of ambition.
How does Shakespeare present ambition in Macbeth?
Ambition in Macbeth is not about the characters' determination to succeed towards a goal. Ambition in the play as a negative character trait: not just a desire to achieve something, but an unnatural desire to achieve something at any cost.
Shakespeare has Macbeth speak the lines “vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself” in Act I, Scene VII. By choosing the verb “Vaulting” (jumping over), he suggests that to fulfil his ambition to become king, Macbeth must overcome any obstacle that stands in his way. This obstacle is King Duncan, and the only way to remove this obstacle is to murder him.
To murder a king was a shocking, unnatural act in Jacobean England but Macbeth is prepared to commit regicide to realise his ambition. Ultimately, the cost he will pay for his ambition is his own life.
What are the elements of ambition in Macbeth?
Ambition is Macbeth’s fatal character flaw, his hamartia:
In tragedy, a tragic hero must have a tragic flaw
In Macbeth, as in most tragedy, the tragic hero’s hamartia is the cause of their own downfall:
Macbeth’s ambition to gain, and retain, the throne leads to him committing more and more evil acts
Other characters seek revenge for these acts of murder
Macbeth’s own conscience also begins to terrorise him
His death is a result of own mental disintegration and avenging heroes: he is killed by Macduff
Shakespeare is also presenting a morality play to the audience:
The play is a warning against those who seek to undermine — or overthrow— the rule of a rightful king
Shakespeare may also be suggesting that those unaccustomed to or
undeserving of power will be destroyed by itShakespeare suggest that kings are legitimate rulers, but ambitious tyrants are not:
If you are consumed by ambition, or hubris, you must prepare to suffer terrible consequences
Answering an exam question on ambition in Macbeth
To get top marks for your essay, it is very important that you know the format and requirements of the exam paper, and the nature of the exam question. It is also vital that you know how to plan an answer in the Shakespeare exam, and are aware of what you need to include to get the highest grade.
It is always worthwhile spending a good deal of time planning an answer at GCSE, with examiners repeatedly reporting that the highest marks are awarded to those students who have clearly set aside time to plan their essays.
Exam question
‘Macbeth’s ambition proves to be his downfall’
Starting with this moment in the play, explore how far you agree with this view.
Write about:
How Shakespeare presents Macbeth’s ambition in this extract
How far Shakespeare presents Macbeth’s ambition as the reason for his downfall in the play as a whole
Extract:
Act I, Scene VII
Macbeth is contemplating whether or not to go through with the plan to murder King Duncan
MACBETH
If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well
It were done quickly: if the assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch
With his surcease success; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We'd jump the life to come. But in these cases
We still have judgment here; that we but teach
Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return
To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice
Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice
To our own lips. He's here in double trust;
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,
Who should against his murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against
The deep damnation of his taking-off;
And pity, like a naked new-born babe,
Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,
That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself
And falls on the other.
Essay plan on the theme of ambition in Macbeth
Thesis statement: While it could be argued that external factors play a part in the downfall of Macbeth – the witches’ trickery, Lady Macbeth’s manipulation – ultimately, it is Macbeth’s own character flaws, and particularly his ambition, that causes his downfall. Shakespeare could be suggesting that a person’s own characteristics determine their fate, and Macbeth’s death is, therefore, a direct consequence of his own evil actions. | ||
Topic sentence | Evidence from extract/text | Evidence from elsewhere in play |
Although he is ambitious, Lady Macbeth’s evil influence is the reason he commits regicide | “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent” | Act II, Scene I where Lady Macbeth attacks Macbeth’s masculinity and persuades him to kill Duncan |
Macbeth knows the religious consequences of regicide, but his ambition drives him to commit the murder anyway | Semantic field of Heaven and Hell: “damnation”, “angels” etc. | “That summons thee to Heaven, or to Hell” |
As the play progresses, Macbeth’s ambition to remain king sees him commit more and more heinous crimes, which lead to his downfall and death | His kindness – and sympathy for Duncan and his comrades – evaporates | Assassinations of Banquo and Macduff’s family; lack of remorse; wilful trusting of the witches |
Shakespeare’s methods: Conventions of tragedy; characterisation | ||
Contextual factors: The Great Chain of Being; regicide and Christianity |
Ambition in Macbeth: Grade 9 model paragraph
Despite the fact that Macbeth is clearly aware of the religious consequences of regicide, his ambition drives him to commit the murder of King Duncan, overriding all other sensibilities. In this scene, Shakespeare uses the semantic fields of religion throughout Macbeth’s soliloquy: he refers to “Heaven”, “cherubin” and “angels”, as well as “damnation”. This language is being used because Macbeth is discussing King Duncan’s prospective life after death. However, it could also be argued that this language betrays Macbeth’s own acknowledgement that committing the planned act of regicide (a mortal sin in the Jacobean era) will instead send him to eternal “damnation”. Indeed, later on in the play, Shakespeare has Macbeth speak the lines: “That summons thee to Heaven, or to Hell”, again, on the face of it referring to Duncan’s passage to the afterlife, but in reality speaking about his own fate. Indeed, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth use the language of Heaven and Hell throughout Act I and the beginning of Act II, suggesting that they are both – on a subconscious level at least – mortally concerned for their future should they commit the sacrilegious act of murdering a sitting monarch. It can be argued that the regicide of King Duncan is the catalyst for Macbeth’s ultimate downfall. In terms of tragedy, this is the inciting incident, after which a tragic hero’s fate is sealed. Therefore, the language that Shakespeare has Macbeth use prior to the murder is very revealing. Before the murder, Macbeth admits in this soliloquy that — despite the acknowledgement of his own eternal punishment — that it is “only vaulting ambition” which is tempting him to overthrow the king. This is indeed Macbeth himself identifying that his ambition is the “only” reason that he himself identifies to commit the murder. It is his ambition that sets the wheels in motion for his ultimate demise.
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