Ambition In William Shakespeares Macbeth And Banquo

There are many quotations regarding ambitious individuals and how it leads to their success. That’s because, for the most part as seen in our class demonstration, individuals view ambition in a positive aspect. In the play Macbeth, however, ambition carries quite a different connotation. Ambition by itself is not seen as dangerous in the play, but when it is paired with being proactive, these traits lead to deadly success. Being proactive is one of the seven habits of highly effective people, and is in direct contrast to reactive people. Whereas proactive people are constantly working to expand themselves, reactive people are waiting for circumstances to occur prior to displaying action. The characters of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and†¦show more content†¦However, Macbeth’s greediness turns his subjects against him with one saying, â€Å"This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues, /Was once thought honest† (Act 4, Scene 3, Lines 14-15). Macbethâ₠¬â„¢s ambition to remain King and his actions toward that goal, such as killing Banquo, lead the people of Scotland to profess him a tyrant and seeking his death. Utilitarianism is happiness for the greatest people; however, Macbeth uses his ambition and actions to advance his title for personal victory, rather than focusing on the needs of his people. Lady Macbeth was not pleased with the means in which personal immoral ambition and proactivity lead to her success. Lady Macbeth, after reading the note from her husband regarding the witch’s predictions, had an intense wish to have Macbeth as King of Cumberland―with or without his aid. She, therefore, convinces Macbeth to kill King Duncan, and he obliges her demands. However, when he is too afraid to go back to the scene of the crime to place daggers by the servants, Lady Macbeth says â€Å"Infirm of purpose! /Give me the daggers† (Act 2, scene 2, Lines 68-69). It was Lady Macbeth who created a plot and strategized the murder of King Duncan, as she anticipated a delay in Macbeth devising a scheme of his own. She was being proactive while constantly attempting to convince Macbeth to kill Duncan and provided him with aShow MoreRelatedTaylor Travis . Mr. Ortiz. English 12. 27 February 2017.1321 Words   |  6 PagesTaylor Travis Mr. Ortiz English 12 27 February 2017 Unit 3: Comparison Essay Both Macbeth and Throne of Blood illustrate the negativity associated with extreme ambition and desire for power. The two titles tell the story of a greatly respected warrior and his wife and their eventual downfall after pursuing a higher position of power. Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, and Akira Kurosawa’s movie, Throne of Blood, share many similar aspects, ranging from plot to characters to setting. However, the twoRead MoreLuis Sotelo. Mr. Ortiz. English 12. 27 February 2017. 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