ambition Flashcards
(13 cards)
intro
- Shakespeare explores ambition as a destructive force that leads to the downfall of individuals who overreach their moral and natural limits
- ambition is shown as both a driving force and a hamartia, corrupting those who pursue power without restraint
- it is mainly explored through the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
- themes of violence, guilt, and the supernatural all link to ambition
- Shakespeare presents ambition in ‘Macbeth’ as a dangerous, corrupting force that drives individuals to defy moral boundaries and disrupt the natural order
paragraph 1 quotations
‘fair is foul, and foul is fair’
‘unsex me here’
‘fair is foul, and foul is fair’ analysis
→ by speaking in trochaic tetrameter, they oppose the other characters, who speak in iambic tetrameter, emphasising the influential and overwhelming power they exploit in order to manipulate Macbeth
→ corrupted ambition, therefore, is both a symptom and a cause of the disruption of the natural order
→ furthermore, by declaring that ‘fair is foul’, Shakespeare implies that even acts that appear honourable can lead to chaos and destructive power
→ Macbeth’s internal conflict and descent into a murderous tyranny are prime examples; his initial ambition (to some may seem ‘fair’) quickly transforms into a path of brutal violence and moral decay (‘foul’)
→ moreover, this line is spoken by the witches, whose very presence disrupts the natural order and causes Macbeth’s power-hungry ambition
→ their chant foreshadows the violent upheaval that will plague Scotland due to Macbeth’s ambition causing his overindulgence of power and his tyrannical regime
‘unsex me here’ analysis
→ her rejection of traditional feminine qualities highlights the extent to which ambition can compel individuals to discard their natural identities and moral limitations. By manipulating Macbeth’s insecurities, she catalyses his transformation from a valorous warrior into a tyrant blinded by ambition
→ in Jacobean times, traits associated with femininity - such as compassion, sensitivity and nurturance - were seen as weaknesses. By demanding to be ‘unsexed’, Lady Macbeth is essentially rejecting these qualities in order to embrace a colder, more ruthless nature. This transformation is crucial for her ambition: she believes that without these feminine constraints, she will be better equipped to pursue the power she desires
→ the word ‘unsex’ is a powerful imperative that commands the removal of gender identity. It suggests a complete metamorphosis, where natural human traits are cast aside in favour for hardened, almost inhuman determination. This language underlines the idea that ambition, for Lady Macbeth, is so overwhelming that it justifies the rejection of her very nature
→ the invocation to the spirit is also links her ambition to the supernatural, hinting that the pursuit of power in ‘Macbeth’ is not merely a human failing, but one that is influenced by otherworldly forces
→ through this appeal, Shakespeare presents ambition as a force that can compel individuals to subvert their inherent identities and moral limitations
→ Lady Macbeth’s willingness to forsake her femininity reflects the broader theme of the play: the corrosive impact of unchecked ambition
→ her transformation is not portrayed as liberating, but as a dangerous deviation from the natural order - a deviation that ultimately leads to moral decay and chaos
→ ambition, in this light, is both a personal and societal hazard, capable of corrupting even the most intricate aspect of ones character
paragraph 1
- from the onset of the play, Shakespeare immediately establishes the overwhelming influence of the supernatural on ambition, which acts as a catalyst to the destruction of the natural order
- the witches, with their ambiguous prophecies, hold power over the ambition of Macbeth, and therefore eventually over the whole of Scotland
- in Act 1, Scene 1, their invocation of chaos - ‘fair is foul, and foul is fair’ - not only blurs the lines between good and evil, and therefore moral and immoral ambition, but also implies that the corruption of ambition is part of a much larger, almost cosmic cycle
→ by speaking in trochaic tetrameter, they oppose the other characters, who speak in iambic tetrameter, emphasising the influential and overwhelming power they exploit in order to manipulate Macbeth
→ corrupted ambition, therefore, is both a symptom and a cause of the disruption of the natural order
→ furthermore, by declaring that ‘fair is foul’, Shakespeare implies that even acts that appear honourable can lead to chaos and destructive power
→ Macbeth’s internal conflict and descent into a murderous tyranny are prime examples; his initial ambition (to some may seem ‘fair’) quickly transforms into a path of brutal violence and moral decay (‘foul’)
→ moreover, this line is spoken by the witches, whose very presence disrupts the natural order and causes Macbeth’s power-hungry ambition
→ their chant foreshadows the violent upheaval that will plague Scotland due to Macbeth’s ambition causing his overindulgence of power and his tyrannical regime
- as the play progresses slightly, ambition is introduced as a perilous impulse
- in act 1, scene 5, Lady Macbeth amplifies destructive ambition
- in her soliloquy, where she implores the spirits to ‘unsex me here’ and fill her with cruelty, she reveals her own ruthless desire for power
→ her rejection of traditional feminine qualities highlights the extent to which ambition can compel individuals to discard their natural identities and moral limitations. By manipulating Macbeth’s insecurities, she catalyses his transformation from a valorous warrior into a tyrant blinded by ambition
→ in Jacobean times, traits associated with femininity - such as compassion, sensitivity and nurturance - were seen as weaknesses. By demanding to be ‘unsexed’, Lady Macbeth is essentially rejecting these qualities in order to embrace a colder, more ruthless nature. This transformation is crucial for her ambition: she believes that without these feminine constraints, she will be better equipped to pursue the power she desires
→ the word ‘unsex’ is a powerful imperative that commands the removal of gender identity. It suggests a complete metamorphosis, where natural human traits are cast aside in favour for hardened, almost inhuman determination. This language underlines the idea that ambition, for Lady Macbeth, is so overwhelming that it justifies the rejection of her very nature
→ the invocation to the spirit is also links her ambition to the supernatural, hinting that the pursuit of power in ‘Macbeth’ is not merely a human failing, but one that is influenced by otherworldly forces
→ through this appeal, Shakespeare presents ambition as a force that can compel individuals to subvert their inherent identities and moral limitations
→ Lady Macbeth’s willingness to forsake her femininity reflects the broader theme of the play: the corrosive impact of unchecked ambition
→ her transformation is not portrayed as liberating, but as a dangerous deviation from the natural order - a deviation that ultimately leads to moral decay and chaos
→ ambition, in this light, is both a personal and societal hazard, capable of corrupting even the most intricate aspect of ones character
paragraph 2 quotations
‘will all great Neptune’s oceans wash this blood clean from my hands?’
‘all perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand!’
‘will all great Neptune’s oceans wash this blood clean from my hands?’ analysis
nature of unchecked ambition
→ ‘blood’ symbolises noir just the literal evidence of the crime, but also the guilt and moral corruption that now marks him
→ by invoking Neptune (the Roman god of the sea), Shakespeare uses hyperbole to suggest that even the vastest of the ocean, a symbol of nature’s cleansing power, is insufficient to remove the stain of his deeds
→ Macbeth’s ambition drives him to commit regicide, setting him on a path of moral decay. His inability to cleanse himself, despite the enormity of ‘Neptune’s oceans’, highlights a crucial irony: while his ambition pushes him to seize power at all costs, it also condemns him to a life of guilt and paranoia. The imagery of blood and futile cleansing efforts underscore to permanence of his moral corruption - no matter how high he climbs, his ambition leaves an indelible mark on his soul
→ this line serves as a cautionary moment in the play, highlighting how the pursuit of power, when driven by ambition without moral restraint, can leave lasting scars that defy even the cleansing power of nature
‘all perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand!’ analysis
→ ‘perfumes of Arabia’ evokes an image of something rich, exotic and overwhelmingly powerful
→ ‘perfumes’ are typically used to mask up unpleasant odours, suggesting Lady Macbeth seeks to cover up the stain of her guilt, which was a result of her ambition
→ her realisation that nothing can absolve her wrongdoing reflect the inescapable nature of guilt - a force that not only marks one physically but also leaves an indelible scar on the conscience
→ her words suggest that some actions are so deeply wrong that no external remedies, no matter how extravagant, can cleanse her of her guilt
→ furthermore, the use of ‘will not’ imparts a tone of inevitability as Lady Macbeth, recognises that her guilt is permanent, indicating her internal collapse and the ultimate failure of her earlier attempts to suppress her conscience
→ it becomes clear to the audience that her ambition, that may have initially been seen as a strength, ultimately becomes the source of her psychological torment
paragraph 2
- as the play progresses, Shakespeare illustrates how unchecked ambition leads to a spiral of guilt and paranoia
- after committing regicide, Macbeth is tormented by the consequences of his ambition, which is his hamartia
- ‘will all great Neptune’s oceans wash this blood clean from my hands?’ → Act 2, Scene 2
→ powerful expression of guilt that also reflects the destructive nature of unchecked ambition
→ ‘blood’ symbolises noir just the literal evidence of the crime, but also the guilt and moral corruption that now marks him
→ by invoking Neptune (the Roman god of the sea), Shakespeare uses hyperbole to suggest that even the vastest of the ocean, a symbol of nature’s cleansing power, is insufficient to remove the stain of his deeds
→ Macbeth’s ambition drives him to commit regicide, setting him on a path of moral decay. His inability to cleanse himself, despite the enormity of ‘Neptune’s oceans’, highlights a crucial irony: while his ambition pushes him to seize power at all costs, it also condemns him to a life of guilt and paranoia. The imagery of blood and futile cleansing efforts underscore to permanence of his moral corruption - no matter how high he climbs, his ambition leaves an indelible mark on his soul
→ this line serves as a cautionary moment in the play, highlighting how the pursuit of power, when driven by ambition without moral restraint, can leave lasting scars that defy even the cleansing power of nature
- Lady Macbeth too becomes consumed with guilt as a result of unchecked ambition, and her descent into madness was epitomised by her sleepwalking when she desperately cried: ‘all perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand!’
→ ‘perfumes of Arabia’ evokes an image of something rich, exotic and overwhelmingly powerful
→ ‘perfumes’ are typically used to mask up unpleasant odours, suggesting Lady Macbeth seeks to cover up the stain of her guilt, which was a result of her ambition
→ her realisation that nothing can absolve her wrongdoing reflect the inescapable nature of guilt - a force that not only marks one physically but also leaves an indelible scar on the conscience
→ her words suggest that some actions are so deeply wrong that no external remedies, no matter how extravagant, can cleanse her of her guilt
→ furthermore, the use of ‘will not’ imparts a tone of inevitability as Lady Macbeth, recognises that her guilt is permanent, indicating her internal collapse and the ultimate failure of her earlier attempts to suppress her conscience
→ it becomes clear to the audience that her ambition, that may have initially been seen as a strength, ultimately becomes the source of her psychological torment
paragraph 3 quotation
‘a tale told by an idiot’
‘a tale told by an idiot’ analysis
→ reveals the emptiness of unchecked ambition
→ encapsulates how his drive for power - once a promising route to greatness - has led him to a life devoid of meaning
→ throughout the play, Macbeth’s ambition propelled him to commit regicide and to pursue power at any cost. However, at this point he recognises that his ruthless quest has resulted in chaos rather than fulfilment
→ the phrase suggests that all violent struggles and manipulations were as meaningless as the incoherent story of a fool
→ his ambition, which once promised power and significance, has left him with a legacy of bloodshed and despair
→ the word ‘idiot’ is both a self-deprecating admission and a powerful indictment of the ambition that drove his actions
→ it implies that the noise and fury of his deeds amount to nothing of real value → Shakespeare’s use of this metaphor emphasises that ambition, when pursued without moral restraint, can reduce a once-noble man to a pitiable figure - one whose life is as trivial and disordered as the rambling of an ‘idiot’
paragraph 3
- near the end of the play, Shakespeare presents ambition as a self-destructive and isolating force that ultimately leads to emptiness
- Macbeth calls life ‘a tale told by an idiot’
→ reveals the emptiness of unchecked ambition
→ encapsulates how his drive for power - once a promising route to greatness - has led him to a life devoid of meaning
→ throughout the play, Macbeth’s ambition propelled him to commit regicide and to pursue power at any cost. However, at this point he recognises that his ruthless quest has resulted in chaos rather than fulfilment
→ the phrase suggests that all violent struggles and manipulations were as meaningless as the incoherent story of a fool
→ his ambition, which once promised power and significance, has left him with a legacy of bloodshed and despair
→ the word ‘idiot’ is both a self-deprecating admission and a powerful indictment of the ambition that drove his actions
→ it implies that the noise and fury of his deeds amount to nothing of real value → Shakespeare’s use of this metaphor emphasises that ambition, when pursued without moral restraint, can reduce a once-noble man to a pitiable figure - one whose life is as trivial and disordered as the rambling of an ‘idiot’
conclusion
- Shakespeare presents ambition in ‘Macbeth’ as a corrupting and ultimately self-destructive force
- initially a spark that promises greatness, ambition soon spirals out of control, driving Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to commit heinous acts that disrupt both their moral integrity and the natural order
- Macbeth’s reflection on the futility of life encapsulates the hollowness of his pursuits - despite his relentless drive to power, his achievements amount to nothing but chaos and despair
→ through this tragic transformation, Shakespeare warns that unchecked ambition not only destroys individuals but also unravels the fabric of society itself
