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Macbeth The Positive And Negative Outcomes Macbeth The Positive And Negative Outcomes That Ambition Can Have On A Character In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare suggests that ambition often results in greed, but this greed can be intercepted. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are ambitious characters, and they display the negative effects it can have on a person, being greed. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth should learn to control this gluttony, and by doing this, their ambition will have positive rather than negative outcomes. A good example of this is Banquo; he is an ambitious character, but he doesnt give in to greed, leaving him with a guilt free conscience. Through the use of indirect characterization, Shakespeare displays the positive and negative outcomes that ambition can have on a character. Shakespeare illustrates Macbeth as an ambitious character, where greed is the resultant.
Macbeth is shown to be a brave and noble character at the beginning of the play, when he is at battle. The Sergeant describes him, saying, which smoked with bloody execution / Like Valour's minion carved out his passage. (I. i. 20 - 21) This indeed depicts Macbeth as being ambitious. The Sergeant paints the picture of Macbeth, making him seem like he has untainted morals, and clean aspiration. But this is certainly not the case. Shortly before killing Duncan, Macbeth says to himself, Is this a dagger, which I see before me / the handle toward my hand?
Come, let me clutch thee (II. i. 41 - 42) He says this while imagining a dagger leading him to the place where he plans to kill Duncan. By hum saying this, it shows him ambition results in his greed, where his ripe morals have soured. In Macbeth's castle, just after Lady Macbeth dies, Macbeth says, Lifes but a walking shadow, a poor player, / that struts and frets his hour upon the stage. (V. v. 26 - 27) By using symbolism, Macbeth describes the depressing fact that fame does not last forever. He also displays resentfulness; the guilt for all he has committed.
Macbeth's greed due to ambition is easily implied by the use of symbolism. Shakespeare's portrayal of Lady Macbeth exposes the fact that she is am ambitious character. Her ambition is attained only through great effort, in attempt to help Macbeth succeed. Lady Macbeth forces herself to become more masculine, and by doing this, she will acquire more ambition. Bring forth men children only, says Macbeth to Lady Macbeth, For thy undaunted mettle should compose / nothing but males. (I. vii. 80 - 83) Macbeth says this at the end of the scene, where he generalizes Lady Macbeth as being too masculine.
He wonders how she can be so strong, and wants her masculinity. Lady Macbeth pushes Macbeth's buttons, making Macbeth become even more anxious. Her purpose in gaining such strength is to set an example for Macbeth, and to push him into doing evil deeds. After Macbeth murders Duncan, she says to him, give me the daggers / the sleeping and the dead are but pictures. (II. ii. 64 - 65) She says this when Macbeth refuses to bring the daggers back to the murder scene. The use of imagery shows how Lady Macbeth has obtained the ambition that she longed for.
She shows strength, where as Macbeth shows resentfulness. The difference between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is that Macbeth shows resent for the greed that became of him, and Lady Macbeth welcomed it. Through the use of imagery, Shakespeare displays the fact that Lady Macbeth is ambitious, but because of this, greed results. Banquo is also seen as an ambitious character, but his ambition results in a more positive outcome. He has ambition, but he uses it for the better.
After being in brutal battle with his companion Macbeth, King Duncan praises him saying, I have begun to plant thee, and will labour / to make thee full of growing. Noble Banquo / that has no less deserved, nor must be known / no less to have done so. (I. iv. 33 - 36) Duncan uses a metaphor to relate Banquo to seeds in which he is planting. This predestined thought shows a future outcome for Banquo, which is that he will be the father to a line of kings. Duncan illustrates how Banquo's positive ambition will get him farther in life, as where Macbeth's greed got him killed. In seeking to augment it, but still keep my bosom franchised and allegiance clear, Says Banquo to Macbeth, I will be counseled. (II.
i. 34 - 36) Macbeth is telling Banquo that if he is to follow him, good things will become of him. Banquo does not take up his offer, and shuns the thought. He says that he wants to keep his conscience clear and guilt free, rather than taking greed on hand. Through indirect characterization, Banquo is portrayed as one with strong ambition, but also strength to keep away from greed. Bibliography the global shakespeare series MACBETH 3 a 9
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Research essay sample on Macbeth And Lady Macbeth Positive And Negative
