Macbeth - Thematic Discussion

The theme ambition is seen through several of the characters throughout the play, Macbeth. Ambition plays a key factor in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s decision to kill Duncan. The main cause of this wants to kill  Duncan his for his throne as king that the witches promised Macbeth on act one scene one. Macbeth possesses enough self-awareness to realize the dangers of overzealous ambition: “I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition which overleaps itself / And falls on the other” (25-28). And yet, the temptation to carry out the witches' prophecy is ultimately too strong for Macbeth to curb his ambition. In Lady Macbeth’s lexicon, incidentally, “hope” is also another word for “ambition” and perhaps “temptation.” As Macbeth expresses his doubts about killing Duncan, she demands: “Was the hope drunk / Wherein you dressed yourself” (35-36)? Ironically, Lady Macbeth must herself rely on intoxicants to “make [her] bold” before executing her ambitious and murderous plans (II ii 1).  Once the intoxication wears off, Lady Macbeth finds that she is unable to cope with the consequences of her own "hope." Lady Macbeth actually starts sleepwalking and tries washing the blood off her hands revealing that guilt is eating her from inside out. But Duncan was not the only one Macbeth was willing to kill for his crown, once he got the crown he had a couple of murderers murder Banquo and Fleance but Fleance got away and Banquo died. He killed the two guards outside of Duncans Chambers in the aftermath of killing Duncan. This just furthers the proof that ambition to have all the power got away from Macbeth. Ultimately, ambition and temptation prove fatal for both the Macbeths. Now the Macbeths were not the only ones strung out by ambition, Malcolm also wanted the throne, however, he wasn't going to kill for the power he was willing to Macbeth for the protection and happiness of the country of Scotland. Why Scotland when he had his own country because his country was destroyed because of Macbeth. None of the countries, not even Macbeths own army wanted to help Macbeth fight against Malcolm. The difference is Macbeth was driven by evil and power to get the throne and Malcolm was driven by the people and good for them, he wanted to heal the scarred country not control it. His ambition was fair and good while Macbeth's ambition was greedy and evil which never ends well for anyone, and Macbeth learned that by having his head cut off by Malcolm when he finally figured out he was defeated.