Macbeth's Ambition

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prophecies. Macbeth expresses his enthusiasm to hear more of this ‘strange intelligence’ and wishes ‘they had stayed’; on the contrary, Banquo is palpably more cautious and wonders if both Macbeth and he have ‘eaten on the insane root’. By illustrating how eager and prepared Macbeth is to trust the witches, who, in Shakespearean times were considered to be enemies of society, Shakespeare stresses Macbeth’s ambition which noticeably contrasts with Banquo’s sensible and doubtful reaction. Shakespeare’s use of allowing Macbeth to talk ‘aside’ about Duncan’s ‘murder’ which, although now is ‘fantastical’, makes the audience realise that Macbeth is already strategising.

When Duncan declares that his son, Malcolm, is to become King, Macbeth immediately sees Malcolm as a ‘step on which [he] must fall down, or o’erleap’. By conspiring against Duncan and Malcolm, Shakespeare reveals how Macbeth’s ambition causes him to change from loyal to treacherous. However, Macbeth is aware that by ...

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