Macbeth_-_Charting_His_Downfall

Macbeth - Charting His Downfall Macbeth - Charting His Downfall Ambition can be a great thing if used wisely. In Shakespearean times, ambition was seen to be wrong, as it went against the natural order. Macbeth is an individual who possesses the potential for greatness; however he suffers from a flaw, “vaulting ambition”. The realization of this ambition pushes him into cycles of moral degeneration. In the end, he must pay for his sins - with his life. We see this throughout the play in many different situations. Macbeth is a great and loyal man to his country yet his ambition is strong. When he first visits the Three Sisters after the battle has been won he and Banquo are given three prophecies each. These prophecies tell Macbeth that he will become Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glammis and eventually King of Scotland. Macbeth is very pleased to hear this and becomes increasingly vain. Banquo, Macbeth’s closest firend, tries to warn Macbeth that the witches are not to be trusted. We are soon also shown Macbeth’s ambition again when he finds out that Malcolm will be heir to the throne. It is here that Macbeth first thinks about killing Duncan in order to have the throne macbeth, lady, shakespeare, ambition, three, macduff, wife, moral, great, first, eventually, duncan, begins, banquo, woman, witches, thinks, scotland, play, must, much, feel, born, apparitions, against, very, throne, thane, soon, sins, room, prophecies, people, pay, outside, out, order, one