NCEA 1.5 Formal Writing : Ambition in Macbeth

In 1606, a new play by the legendary playwright Shakespeare was first performed in his Globe Theatre, London. The new tragedy, titled ‘Macbeth’, allowed the audience to gain a unique insight into the terrible and dire consequences of unrestrained ambition. Shakespeare gave us this insight with a masterful use of dramatic devices throughout the entire play such as dramatic irony, and language effects like soliloquy and metaphors, and created a new world for the audience to enter.

Macbeth’s mind is clear and filled with noble thoughts, but he has a small flaw in his thinking. The protagonist, and arguably the antagonist of the play, Macbeth, is presented in the beginning as a brave, noble and courageous hero, that fought loyally for his king. But we are soon shown by Shakespeare that every man has a flaw, including Macbeth, and his ambition. The predictions he receives from the witches stirs this ambition, and causes Macbeth to be obsessed with the idea that he had been told by the witches, of becoming king. In Macbeth’s first soliloquy Shakespeare says “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man, that function Is smothered in surmise, and nothing is, But what is not.” Macbeth is saying that he may have to murder the king to become it, and that the very thought is poisoning his mind. However, it is interesting that his mind jumped right to the thought of murder, showing us the wickedness that might be dormant in Macbeth’s mind, ready to be awakened. He goes on to say, “If Chance will have me king, why, Chance may crown me, Without my stir.” He is essentially contradicting himself, saying that he will become king regardless of his actions, but put into context with his previous statements, it seems as if this is less of an idea but more of an excuse, trying to rid his mind of his treasonous thoughts. This soliloquy is a good example of dramatic irony, when the audience knows something that most or all of the characters do not. This is used to give the audience better ideas of the events happening, and the causes. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony in this case to show us the mind of Macbeth, and show what flaws he may have. Macbeth is already becoming conflicted by his ambition to become king, and Shakespeare has shown us this through his use of soliloquy and dramatic irony.

Macbeth is becoming much more willing to do terrible deeds to become the king, and this is shown during Act 2 Scene 1 of the play, where Shakespeare reveals this with the creation of an apparition. A bloody dagger appears in front of Macbeth, but it is not determined whether it is a true supernatural appearance or “but A dagger of the mind, a false creation”. This dagger appears at a very specific moment, when Macbeth is thinking about the possible murder of Duncan. This apparition has been formed by Macbeth’s unstable mind, and he speaks to the dagger as if it were a sentient being. This shows Macbeth’s unsurety about murdering the king, and is now desperately scrambling to make excuses and justifications for the murder. With this desperation is the creation of this ‘sentient dagger’, and Macbeth then goes on to blame the dagger for the treasonous thoughts, and make it appear as if the dagger is forcing him to kill Duncan, rather than Macbeth do it of his own will. Macbeth then says, “Thou marshell’st me the way that I was going”, saying that the dagger is controlling Macbeth’s actions and telling Macbeth to perform the murder. The fact the he is trying to make excuses portrays Macbeth, ironically, as a weak minded coward, a stark contrast to the hero in the beginning. However, Macbeth believes this justification is enough, and the upcoming murder of Duncan now seems inevitable. This scene show how Macbeth is becoming more unstable, and wants to perform evils actions but still needs justification to do it. His ambition is quickly becoming a doorway for his wickedness to come through and reveal itself.

Macbeth’s mind is becoming increasingly degenerate, and Shakespeare gives us an insight to this degeneration of his mind by ambition in Act 3 Scene 4. After the killing of Duncan, he was deeply affected, carrying massive guilt of his actions. He is left broken and uncertain of his next actions, while his ever increasing ambition is goading him onward. The successful murder of Duncan, however, makes Macbeth believe that these evil and dark actions that he performs, although immoral, will always work. This thought, along with his ambition, twists Macbeth’s mind into believing he must do whatever it takes to stay as king. Shakespeare says, “I am in blood Stepped in so far, that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er.” This quote shows how Macbeth believes he is too deep in his river of guilt, and that going back will be no better than going forward. This is obviously untrue, as going back would save a lot of death, pain and suffering of the people of Scotland, but Macbeth’s corrupt and selfish mind is convinced that the best path for him to take is the one going forward. This is a big turning point for the behavior and upcoming actions of Macbeth, as he now is convinced that he must go ahead and commit to all necessary actions, good or evil, to stay as king. This belief shows his almost complete loss of humanity and morality. This change of mind was the final push that set his wickedness loose, and it is now shown to everyone. The degeneration of Macbeth’s mind is apparent with his flawed ideas, caused by his ambition.

The degeneration of Macbeth’s mind is complete after the sudden suicide of Lady Macbeth, a clear consequence of the savage ambition within Macbeth. Macbeth is now but a shadow of his glorious past, having nothing to live for. He then says, “To the last syllable of recorded time”. This metaphor shows us the deep pit of despair and hopelessness that he is now in, but it also tells us something more. This is actually Shakespeare talking to his audience through Macbeth, and this can be identified by the specific use of the words in this quote. A syllable is a measurement of time for a play, which ironically he is a character in. Macbeth cannot know that he is in a play, so it is Shakespeare using the character to connect to the audience. He is saying how all plays will end, and that this play is nearing it’s end. He goes on to say, “a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more”. Shakespeare is telling us that as the play ends, so does the story and all it’s characters. This again is a metaphor comparing his life to a play, which he is a part of. Because this is a line from Macbeth, its almost as if he is subconsciously aware that his life is nearing it’s end, which only adds to his already consuming despair. This metaphor also relates to all humans, and the despair they would feel if they were certain of the upcoming death. Macbeth’s mind has been consumed and destroyed by his blinding ambition, and the wicked consequences of his actions.

Shakespeare’s use of literary devices in specific places has added great depth and additional meaning to his texts, and better aids the communication of his ideas. The degeneration of Macbeth’s mind by his ambition is shown throughout the play, and use of literary devices such as dramatic irony connect parts of the play together, and creates a world that the reader can immerse themselves in. The use of soliloquy allow us to enter the world and Macbeth’s mind in a special and insightful way, and use of metaphors to connect the fictional with the real world, and the reader. This tragedy, along with Shakespeare’s other plays, have shown us a new psychological understanding into the way of the human mind. Shakespeare’s texts have been renowned pieces of literature for centuries, by his powerful use of literary devices to enhance the stories he creates.