Ambition

Banquo - Order and Disorder/ Ambition

Witches give Banquo the prophecy that his children will be kings - similar to Macbeth, the witches try and fuel his ambition - vague language links to equivocation

Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none - A1S3

Macbeth - Ambition

Brings the question whether M can be blamed for his actions as it’s already decided by fate

If chance will have me King, why chance may crown me without my spur - A1S3

Banquo/ Macbeth - Ambition/Kingship

Could reference how Banquo never becomes king, OR how Banquo is greater because he isn’t driven by greed or ambition

Lesser than Macbeth, and greater - A1S3

Macbeth - Ambition/ Guilt and Conscience

Macbeth tries to hide his desires because of his fear of his own ambition

Let not light see my black and deep desires - A1S4

Lady Macbeth - Masculinity

Ridding herself of all stereotypically feminine traits to become a ruthless killer - doesn’t naturally have cruel tendencies (need help from spirits) - exterior is an act - aware of her perceived weaknesses

Unsex me here,/ And fill me [with] direst cruelty - A1S5

Macbeth - Ambition

LM believes that M doesn’t have the wickedness to fulfil his ambition - isn’t immoral enough - shows how he was corrupted by power

Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it - A1S5

Macbeth - Ambition

M acknowledges how excessive his ambition is - compares it to a horse that jumps too high - aware of his hamartia/ fatal flaw

I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition - A1S7

Banquo - Ambition

Power can affect even the noblest of minds - Banquo also had ambition - asks the supernatural to suppress his ambitions - shows it’s possible to refrain from acting on ambition

Merciful power,/ Restrain in me the cursed thoughts - A2S1

Lady Macbeth - Masculinity/Ambition

Despite being ambitious and has a strong desire to be cruel, she cannot actually kill - still a woman, who is, by nature. weaker

Had he not resembled/ My father as he slept, I had done ‘t - A2S2

Banquo - Ambition

Believes that his prophecies may come true as Macbeth’s - however unable to cross the moral boundaries and act on his thoughts - keeps his ambition in check through morals

May they not be my oracles as well, and set me up in hope? - A3S1

Macbeth - Ambition

Highlights M’s vaulting/endless ambition - cannot be fulfilled even after getting the crown - his status is only temporary

Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown - A3S1

Macbeth - Violence and Tyranny

Snake is a symbol of evil - evil can’t be defeated (foreshadows M’s descent into tyranny) - implies more murders will occur to secure M and LM positions of power

We have scorched the snake, not killed it - A3S2