While reading this amazing creation of Shakespeare, I have always thought of corruption its effect. The more I read the more I realized and understood the undesirable effects of corruption. I wouldn’t say ambition is the effect of corruption but it’s rather one of the factors. Supporting my finding and analysis that this story is based on corruption that is brought upon by so much ambition I have quoted several quotations found in this book.
As stated by Lady Macbeth “The raven himself is hoarse. That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan. Under my battlements. Come, you spirits. That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full. Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood, Stop up the access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep the peace between Th’ effect and it.
Come to my woman’s breasts, And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers, Wherever in your sightless substances, You wait on nature’s mischief. Come, thick night, And pall thee in the most dun smoke of hell, That my keen knife sees not the wound it makes, Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, To cry ‘Hold, hold!” In essence, Lady Macbeth was saying that for as long as her ambition for her husband is present, it will be used to help his husband acquire the crown.
Even if it was going to cause her to kill or commit violence, she was ready for it in her desire to get what she wants. Discussing every significant role of this novel, here are the characters: Macbeth, is a Scottish General and Thane of Glamis that was influenced by the prophecy and his wife to do violent acts; Lady Macbeth, is the wife of General Macbeth that influenced his husband to kill Duncan for the throne; Three Witches, the three sire that prophesized the kingship of Macbeth; Banquo, is the epitome of the opposite of Macbeth.
Yes, he has ambition, but he did not put it into action through Violence and death; King Duncan, Signified a benevolent, righteous, and virtuous king that Macbeth killed due to his wife’s influence and great ambition; Macduff, A nobleman that was against the kingship of Macbeth. Macduff was Macbeth’s greatest challenge against his throne; Malcolm, in addition to Macduff, is the other challenge of Macbeth against his throne. He is one of the sons of King Duncan; Lastly, Hecate, the leader and goddess of the three witches that aided in their plot against Macbeth. Looking at each character and comparing their roles to the society each has its own definition.
For example, Macbeth is a politician or an individual who has so much ambition and is willing to take any challenge just to have what he wants. While Macduff represents the people of the society that wouldn’t take any of his inadequate domination. As an effect, the people are willing to fight back or give awareness to bring down inhumane or hostile acts. On the other hand, Lady Macbeth is the epitome of the source of evil or untamable ambition. It could be money, power, or both. The Images or theme that Shakespeare essentially used is the negative effect of so much ambition that leads to corruption. Macbeth is a symbol that any society should try to avoid.
It signifies that if life is lead by ambition that would not be stopped by anything regardless of this hostility the world will be in danger. Similar to Hitler, if ambition is not in tacked with the proper values world war 3 will occur. I believe that the impact that society has on this novel is a preview of not allowing control on public or personal desires to be in place to avoid innocent people, family, race, or country being affected by victims of personal desires.