Ambition – The Driving Force Of William Shakespeare’s Tragedy “Macbeth”

The 2018 publication of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth authored by The Three Witches Publication Company details the dark consequence of over-ambition. Ambition is something we all have, it is a characteristic embedded into the fabric of human free will. Ambition engenders drive and aspiration for individuals, however, evident in the case of the Scottish thane, if left unchecked. Ambition can lead to one’s undoing. Shakespeare toys with this unique conception and its universal appeal as he weaves supernatural elements into the textile of the play that wildly uproots the status quo of the early 17th century. Macbeth still remains relevant today through its universal appeal and appreciation. It is a text that continues to engage and challenge its wide audience of school students and avid fans of the bard across the globe. In our contemporary world, it raises a great question. Are you overambitious?

The Three Witches publication company goes above and beyond to encapsulate the rich context and plot of the play. “Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble!” This infamous quote symbolizes the dark nature of the character of the three witches and foreshadows the notion of the sinister temptations of human free will. You see everybody is unique. We each have our own predetermined destiny and lives. It is how we are able to achieve this destiny that is the nature of humanity, our free will. The Three Witches corrupt Macbeth’s character by exposing him to his own destiny, to take the throne. In doing so Macbeth gets lost. He gets lost in himself and his newfound destiny. He knows he is to be king but his free will, his journey to his destiny, can never be revealed to him as it is his own decision. Macbeth experiences this deep internal conflict of his fate and free will. This temptation and lack of clarity is a motif throughout the play as we see it symbolized by different characters from the normal and supernatural world. Lady Macbeth herself is representative of an entity of Macbeth’s mind and the dark thoughts and motivations that taunt his consciousness.

The dramatic device of dramatic irony is heavily utilized in this respect. As the audience we can so clearly see Macbeth’s conflictions and the alternate meaning of the characters around him. However, Macbeth remains blind to what is truly occurring, and in his own pursuit of perfection, his obsession with guilt, power and violence, lead to his own downfall. This provides a valuable learning experience to Macbeth’s audience. The battle between fate and free will is something we experience all the time. It represents a darker affection humanity has towards the idea of perfection. Encapsulating societies obsession with the future, our end goal, and in doing so our negligence to our free will, the path we will take. In my opinion, this relates to the trap created by advertisements. Companies emulating the character of the three witches display such enticing items like flashy cars and life-changing limited chances at dirt cheap real estate investments. These companies are so sinister in teasing us with a look at our potential fate, seducing us with a depiction of success and self-worth that is irresistible. They, however, chose to cut out the consequences of taking on such big purchases and all the small terms and conditions that typically follow. The play teaches its audience to exercise humility, to be cautious about the decisions they make and to be content and grateful with their status quo. The play teaches us to avoid the very thing Macbeth is undone by, his over ambition. This contemporary relevance and widespread appeal is a testament to the universality and impact of Shakespeare’s work. Many centuries after the plays creation, Macbeth continues to be applicable and valuable in the lives of its readers, a truly amazing accomplishment.

In cessation, Macbeth is a fantastic classic piece of literature that continues to transfix and inspire its audience, remaining relevant even in the 21st century. Macbeth explores the nature of humanity and the conflictions of our fate and free will. Macbeth toys with this idea to present an intense and rich storyline that presents a plethora of valuable lessons to the reader. He preys on our insecurity to leave a meaningful impact, influencing us to take a look in the mirror and question our own character. Macbeth is a unique text that provides a valuable reading experience to its audience. William’s effective use of dramatic devices like dramatic irony, conflict and foreshadowing, complement the key themes of fate, free will and ambition that function to create a text with a universal appeal and meaningful message to it audience. I can certainly say after reading the whole play myself, it is a truly interesting and eye opening experience.