Ambition
In William Shakespeare's Macbeth, Macbeth's greatest and worst attribute, also known as his tragic flaw, is ambition. It leads him to a high position of power, but also in the end leads to his guilty downfall and destruction.
From the beginning of the play, ambition is shown as a positive quality. For instance, when King Duncan's army, led by Macbeth and Banquo, defeat the rebels. Macbeth reveals his flaw when fighting fearlessly, risking his own life to save his country. He is seen as a strong soldier who is loyal and courageous, a true hero. Duncan refers Macbeth as the "worthiest cousin." King Duncan then praises Macbeth and cannot reward him enough for all he has done. For example, "More is thy due than more than all can pay." (I, IV, 21) Through Macbeth's ambition as a soldier, he earns a ranked position with high power, as shown when made Thane Of Cawdor. Sadly though, his reign of power and ambition will corrupt his morals. With power comes responsibility and......
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Approximate Word Count: 560
Approximate Pages: 3 (260 words per double-spaced page) |