Ambition and Power Destroy Macbeth ‘Thriftless ambition that will ravine up, Thin own life’s means. ” Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth shows the destructive power of uncontrolled ambition and power on a man. Burning ambition and later, uncontrolled power leads to the downfall of all Machete’s ‘life’s means’, that is religion, sanity and a good national relationship. In the 17th century, religion was the lifeblood of all men; it bonded all people – from peasants to Kings under a central belief.
Through the act of regicide, Macbeth essentially cuts himself off from God, which destroys a vital part of what Macbeth is as a man. After killing Duncan, Macbeth is unable to ask for forgiveness, he ‘could not say amen’ when he was in ‘most need of blessing’. The ‘sacrilegious murder’ of a King makes Macbeth realism that he has committed an unforgivable sin. This leads him to believe that he has been cursed as he hears a voice say ‘sleep no more,’ ‘the Innocent sleep’. As a result of this Macbeth believes God has abandoned him and this destroys his religious destiny, a core part of his being.
Burning ambition and a lust for power drive Macbeth insane and this is linked to his eventual demise. As Machete’s guilt and paranoia set in, the audience soon realizes that Macbeth – once a noble and mighty warrior, is not fit to rule. Although he now appears to have all he desires, he still ‘dwells in doubtful joy, not satisfied with merely being monarch Macbeth despises having been given a fruitless crown’ and ‘barren scepter’ – he believes his children must be monarchs as well.
This constant struggle to remain on the throne causes Macbeth to become paranoid, he sets spies upon the other Thanes and refuses to sleep – terrified that he will be killed as Duncan was. This constant Inner turmoil, combined with the pressures of being a monarch eventually become too much for Macbeth to handle and he drives himself insane. Machete’s uncontaminated ambition and absolute power corrupt and affect his decision- making. We see the Thane of Glacis slowly change from a mighty and noble warrior to a power hungry tyrant concerned only for himself. Ambition and power create a monster.
By consorting with inherently evil beings and usurping the throne, Macbeth scripts the natural order of Scotland and under Machete’s rule Scotland becomes a ‘poor country, almost afraid to know itself. This is a consequence of Machete’s disruption, after all ‘unnatural deeds do breed unnatural troubles’. When other characters of the play mention Machete’s reign, It Is often with negative connotation. ‘Usurper’, tyrant’, ‘devil’ and fiend’ are synonymous with Macbeth throughout the play. Machete’s ambition and power ultimately destroy his relationship with his country and her people. ND all that he holds dear. His religion – as the act of regicide is to kill God’s representative on earth and to therefore cut oneself off from God, his sanity – as Macbeth paranoia and struggle to remain on the throne drives him insane, and his relationship with his country and her people – as his ambition and power cause him to disrupt the natural order and make selfish decisions. Macbeth drive for ambition and power is the true villain of the play and the real reason behind his destruction. In the end, Machete’s ambition is a Vaulting ambition which drapes itself and falls on other’s’.
