Macbeth and Vaulting Ambition Essay examples

Submitted By Monica-Tobias
Words: 351
Pages: 2

Although Macbeth feels guilt after killing Duncan, ambition is the true cause of the tragedy in the play because even though Macbeth did most of the killings, Lady Macbeth was the one who encouraged him to do them.
In the play Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to commit atrocities to be able to be king. She says, “But screw your courage to the sticking–place, and we’ll not fail..” This shows how she’s fortifying Macbeth to keep doing the murdering’s. After he kills Duncan and goes back home with his bloody hands his wife says, “A little water clears us of this deed.” Meaning she thought that by just washing his hands everything would be fine, no matter if he just killed the king!
Not only is the aspiration for the kingdom from Lady Macbeth, but also from Macbeth. “I have no spur to trick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition,” this words come directly out of Macbeth’s mouth. They show how even though Lady Macbeth is crazy and wants the throne to belong to her husband it is also him that is willing to do anything to own it.
Although ambition is the main cause of tragedy during the play Macbeth starts feeling guilt after he kills for the first time. Macbeth says, “I heard a voice cry ‘sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep. Macbeth shall sleep no more”, this shows how after killing Duncan the remorse gets to him. Also when he sends Banquo to get killed his ghost starts haunting him. In scene three while being in a hall in the palace, Banquo’s ghost appears and