Macbeth quotes ambition Macbeth is a courageous Scottish general who is not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds, yet he deeply desires power and advancement. It can also be seen as a warning against those who seek to undermine or overthrow the rule of a rightful king. Macbeth describes his ambition as being "black and deep desires," which makes it sound… well, wrong. Below are the key quotes from the play, along with explanations of their significance. These quotations are essential for understanding the play's themes, characters, and dramatic In Act 5, scene 1, Lady Macbeth sleepwalks through Macbeth’s castle on the eve of his battle against Macduff and Malcolm. 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 Quotes about Ambition from Lady Macbeth #17: Yet do I fear thy nature; / It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness. Macbeth dramatizes the psychological and physical damaging effects caused by the political ambition of those who look for power just for their own sake. Macbeth should appear innocent to hide his devious and murderous plans. Macbeth acknowledges that his ambition is driving him to commit heinous acts without any moral justification. Macbeth senses that the murder will change his life, by making him king, but also by unleashing his dark ambition on the world. This verb reflects just how important ambition is for Lady Macbeth, who seems to feel that without it Macbeth might be in danger – the only reason we would “fear” for someone. Learn how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are driven by their desires for power, and how they face the consequences of their actions. Character: Lady Macbeth; Act 1, Scene 5; Techniques: Characterisation #18: Art not without ambition, but without / The illness should attend it. Macbeth is said to be great, and with ambition, yet he lacks the illness and the streak of ruthlessness that comes with ambition for it to be effective. The Witches’ prediction sets in motion the plot of the play, as Macbeth and his wife murder to assure that he will become, and stay, king. Act 1 Scene 3 - 馃檹馃憫 "All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter" - Gives Macbeth the ambition to become king. Unchecked ambition becomes Macbeth's downfall and he's an over-reacher. Principally, Macbeth is a play about ambition and its consequences. Oct 29, 2024 路 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. As warned in Macbeth quotes, ambition without control can result in downfall. Is ambition okay in any context, or are we all supposed to let fate and chance toss us around? Act 1, Scene 4 Summary Nov 21, 2023 路 Macbeth: Witches' Quotes About Ambition. For a start, it engenders a debate in the mind of the audience as to who the ambitious character is. Macbeth wasn't ambitious the throne, but was the victim of a magic spell that made him want to kill Duncan. "Look like th'innocent flower but be the serpent under't. This quote illustrates how Macbeth’s ambition is the driving force behind his actions, leading to his own downfall. Similar to her husband’s guilt-induced hallucinations, Lady Macbeth has started seeing things that aren’t there – namely, blood on her hands, a physical . Shakespeare's Macbeth is a tragedy centred on ambition, power, guilt, and fate. By the end of the speech, he seems to have decided against the murder, but his wife will soon talk him back into it. Mar 28, 2025 路 Macbeth Quotes, Witches and Omens: Fate’s Twisted Call. In the final words of Macbeth’s soliloquy, he reveals that the sole reason for his murder of Duncan is his ambition. Macbeth Act 1 Scene 4 Macbeth means that he wants the stars to go dark so that no one will be able to observe him and see his disloyalty. ” – Macbeth. The passage describes the tension between Macbeth’s unwillingness to move ahead with his plan, and his acknowledgement that his ambition is leading him down a dangerous path. This statement highlights the potential pitfalls of pure ambition without purpose. Also, her use of nature has two meanings: firstly, his nature is his personality and she fears his personality is too weak to be able to kill the king. 6 days ago 路 Ambition and power. With in-depth analysis of key quotes, this third Ambition in Macbeth is far from a straightforward illustration of the theme (t here are many significant Macbeth ambition quotes). The three witches in the play ignite the actions that follow, which ultimately put Macbeth’s ambition on display. Metaphor and personification. The one thing he does have is ambition, which he compares to a horse and rider who overestimate their ability to leap over an obstacle, and end up falling down. Character: Lady Macbeth; Act 1, Scene 5; Techniques: Characterisation May 24, 2019 路 The motor that drives the tragedy of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" is the lead character’s ambition. , ''Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts - unsex me here''. Study with Quizlet and memorise flashcards containing terms like Lady Macbeth is also ambitious for power. Conclusion. Everyone must balance ambition with realism. Three witches stir a tempest of prophecy, their words a snare for Macbeth’s soul. and others. In the end, the words of Macbeth stand as a mirror to our own struggles. , ''That I may pour my spirits in thine ear and chastise with the valor of my tongue''. The witches' prophecy is stated as follows: The Tragedy of Macbeth is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare that was first performed back in 1606. Through a series of compelling quotes, the playwright illuminates the complexities of human ambition, revealing its transformative power and destructive potential. She is completely undone by guilt and has lost her mind. Each quote uncovers the cost of ambition, guilt, and power. By contrasting these two characters with others in the play, such as Banquo, Duncan, and Macduff, who also want to be great leaders but refuse to allow ambition to come before honor, Macbeth shows how naked ambition, freed from any sort of moral or social conscience, ultimately takes over every other characteristic of a person. This section explains the key quotes in the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. The witches planted the idea into his head - almost like he gets possessed - and the play isn't actually about Macbeth's ambition at all, but a quite misogynistic play that warns the audience about the dangers of witchcraft. The main theme of Macbeth —the destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints—finds its most powerful expression in the play’s two main characters. Macbeth wants the darkness to cloak his ambitions in a pall of darkness. Feb 23, 2025 路 “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition. It is his primary character flaw and the trait that causes this brave soldier to murder his way to power. These words also foreshadow an early step on Macbeth's journey towards his consuming, ruthless villainy catalysed by ambition. Unchecked ambition can lead to overreach, causing failure in the long run. Study with Quizlet and memorise flashcards containing terms like Ambition in Macbeth, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself and falls on th'other", "stars hide your fires, let light not see my black and deep desires" and others. One of the most notable quotes that showcases Macbeth’s ambition is when he says, “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself, and falls on the other” (Act 1, Scene 7). Study with Quizlet and memorise flashcards containing terms like "Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act of this imperial theme" (Macbeth, 1:3), "Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires" (Macbeth, 1:4), "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself and falls on th'other" (Macbeth, 1:7) and others. Explore the theme of ambition in Macbeth through the most significant quotes from the play. Macbeth has always dreamed of becoming king, so he is unnerved to hear his ambition said aloud. An extended equestrian metaphor explains that he has no other motivation to spur himself to commit regicide than ambition. Memorable lines from the tragedy explore themes like reality and illusion, ambition and power, and guilt and remorse. Studying Macbeth? Dr Aidan, PhD in Shakespeare, provides you with the third key theme in Macbeth - AMBITION. Feb 17, 2024 路 Shakespeare’s tragic play Macbeth delves into the perilous consequences of unbridled ambition, a theme that reverberates throughout the narrative. They twist truth into traps, setting a stage where chaos reigns and fate feels like a rigged game—think 2025’s AI oracles or rumor-driven panics whispering destiny in our ears. Ambition is one of the strongest themes in Macbeth. In terms of classical tragedy Macbeth fits the bill. Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most quoted plays, with memorable quotes aplenty. Here we list 60 of the most well known Macbeth quotes: 'Out damned spot!' Nov 30, 2018 路 Macbeth, William Shakespeare's bloodiest play, is one of the most quoted dramatic works in the English language. eyciul ghtuzacf pfbh boriv bdisu mhcpr zksuem qblydg uxovl lkzmvvx jasp cvh jxioi qms sjeyi