How is the theme of ambition presented in Shakespeare's Macbeth?

one example paragraph:The theme of ambition is presented as the direct cause of madness, This was ironically done by Shakespeare because Macbeth's hamartia is the ambition of power, and this is shown as the play progresses, both he and Lady Macbeth continue to grow more mad and guilty causing them to fall from power. Shakespeare shows this progressing when Macbeth begins to have visions due to his guilt "a dagger of the mind, a false creation" the fact that the dagger is in his mind suggests that the overwhelming guilt of violence and murder is causing him to deteriorate yet ambition led him to this place. Arguably Lady Macbeth has the most ambition in the entire play "fill me crown to toe top full of direst cruelty" suggests she has no guilt initially, unlike Macbeth who does have doubt at the start. This is unusual because at the time women were seen as submissive in comparison to their husbands and would not be allowed to have their own opinions in the household. Lady Macbeth's ambition is so strong she is able to manipulate Macbeth by putting down his masculinity "When you durst do it, then you were a man" showing how ultimately Shakespeare wants to show that being overly ambitious for power will lead to a loss of it.

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Answered by Maja K. English Literature tutor

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