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Emily Eskuri

Mrs. Short

AP English 12

9 December 2016

Ambition

Most people have a specific goal in life that they would like to achieve. They want the

best position for a job, a nice house to live in, or to be happy. Those ambitions in life are natural,

however, they work hard to earn that position with determination and perseverance. In the book

Macbeth by William Shakespeare, his idea of ambition has a negative connotation. His idea of

murder and corruption has formed the backbone of Lady Macbeths desire for power, which then

fueled Macbeths aspiration for the throne. Shakespeares theme of ambition proves that people

can be evil to take what they crave.

To begin, Shakespeares initial examples of ambition can be easily reflected off of Lady

Macbeths power hungry soliloquy. After hearing about Macbeths prophecy from the witches

come true about him becoming the Thane of Cawdor, Lady Macbeth realizes that they can utilize

their knowledge of the prophecy and see it through. In her soliloquy she cries out, Come, you

spirits/That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,/And fill me from the crown to the toe top-

full/Of direst cruelty (Shakespeare, Act 1, Sc. 5, Lines 47-50). Lady Macbeth is asking to be

turned into a man in order to commit a crime that would give her the throne of King Duncan,

which is murdering him. Her malicious intent conveys the ambition she has for dominance.

Continuing on with Lady Macbeths ambitious and evil passion, she convinces Macbeth

to kill King Duncan because she knows that it is Macbeths opportunity for fulfilling the

prophecy. When Macbeth considers backing out of her plan, she scolds him and questions his
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masculinity. She then tells him, I have given suck, and know/ How tender tis to love the babe

that milks me./I would, while it was smiling in my face,/Have plucked my nipple from his

boneless gums/And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you/Have done (Shakespeare, Act

1, Sc. 7, Lines 62-67). Lady Macbeth says that she will murder a newborn if it meant giving her

the opportunity that he has to possess control. Lady Macbeths will to achieve her ambitions is

parallel to the opening paragraphs of the book, Their Eyes Were Watching God. It reads, Ships

at a distance have every mans wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others

they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes

away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men. Now, women

forget all those things they dont want to remember and remember everything they dont want to

forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly (Hurston 1). This quote

resembled the main character Janie, who had to watch her dreams pass her at first. Her ambitions

of finding love were difficult because she had a predetermined future. However, this quote can

be related to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, for Lady Macbeth is craving power, and Macbeth had

an uncertain feeling about murdering King Duncan. After persuasion from Lady Macbeth, he

kills the king, switching to his ambition for the throne at all costs.

Overall, Lady Macbeth is the initial epitome for malicious ambition. She convinced

Macbeth that his only option to fulfilling the witches prophecy and taking control of the throne

was by murder. He took the idea of murder as a way to maintain power, therefore killing Banquo

and Macduffs family afterwards. Lady Macbeths plan was the gateway for ambition to turn

awry, and eventually ended up giving her guilt. Her ambition killed her as well because she could

not contain her composure. All in all, Shakespeare is elaborating that ambition can have negative
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actions. Most people believe that determination and initiative is the course for success, however,

some people want to find the easiest path to what they desire, and it can be unethical and corrupt.

Works Cited

Hurston, Zora Neale: Their Eyes Were Watching God. New York: Perennial Classics, 1937. Print.
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Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. New York: Washington Square, 1992. Print.