| “For brave Macbeth- well he deserves that name.” (Act 1 Scene 2- Captain) | – When we meet Macbeth at the start of the play, he is brave honourable and moral; qualities he soon sheds as the play develops. – We meet him soon after the battle as an ambitious man- willing to win everything (all the obstacles) that comes his way. A man of action on the battlefield and a man of benevolence and passion when away from the battlefield. |
| “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man.” (Act 1 Scene 3-Macbeth) | – The ladies have not said a word about murder and yet his first thought is about killing Duncan; always had the ambition to murder him.- It is mighty suspicious, almost as if the witches have just aroused a murderous ambition that has been there all along. |
| “Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires!” (Act 1 Scene 4- Macbeth) | – Macbeth describes his ambition as being “black and deep”, which makes it appear malevolent. – His ambition to have power and rule- deadly desire has been awoken within himself by the stir of the witches and himself. |
| “If chance will have me king, why, chance will crown me, Without my stir.”(Act 1 Scene 3- Macbeth) | – 3 Witches prophesies are what gives Macbeth’s ambition a push and cause him to commit foul deeds. – Figures that becoming king is his destiny; ambitious/enthusiastic about it. |
| “Yet do I fear thy nature; it is too full o’th’ milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition but without the illness should attend’t.” (Act 1 Scene 5- Lady Macbeth) | – After reading the letter from her husband, Lady Macbeth’s intention immediately turns to the idea of murder and becoming powerful and mighty. – Macbeth is too benevolent and soft to commit such a sin which is what Lady Macbeth is concerned about. |
| “I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition.”(Act 1 Scene 7- Macbeth) | – He cannot encourage himself to action; the only thing motivating him is ambition. – There’s no intention to kill Duncan, however, he wants the power for himself. |
| “Gainst nature still. Thriftless ambition that will ravin up thine own life’s means.”(Act 2 Scene 4- Ross) | – Pride and excessive; a tragic flaw that will lead to a downfall.- Ross considers the hollowness of an ambition, which can destroy a person’s life/ ambition is to blame for Duncan’s murder. |
| Ambition | A strong desire to do or achieve something. |
| Regicide | The action of killing a king. |
| Motif of Light and Darkness | Represents innocence and evil. |
| Motif of Blood | Represents evil plans and consequences of overreaching ambition |
| Motif of Prophecies | Initially drives Macbeth’s ambition to become king. The witches use equivocation to word them. |
English Literature Macbeth: Ambition quotes
August 1, 2019