William Shakespeare s Macbeth - The Ultimate Chase

Ambition in Macbeth: The Ultimate Chase Written in 1606 for King James I of England, Macbeth, a tragic play by William Shakespeare, introduces a new perspective on a series of events that took place in history through its modified plot (Marotous, 2011). The protagonist, Macbeth, portrayed initially as a devoted kinsman grows to become malicious following the revelation of the prophecies. Fueled by the objective of acquiring the throne, he assassinates the monarch of Scotland, thereby disrupting the Great Chain of Being (Marotous, 2011). As Macbeth’s guilt gnaws at his conscious mind, coupled with his false sense of security, he is ultimately brought to his downfall as a sovereign. Alongside, Macbeth’s pursuit of acquiring and maintaining his identity as king, Shakespeare uses three elements of fiction, specifically, characters, literary devices and, the plot, to reveal the theme of ambition. To begin with, Macduff, Lady Macbeth and Banquo, were all characters in the play that had a strong desire to achieve th eir goals, regardless of the obstacles that impeded their progressions. Although Macduff’s initial intention was to put an end to the reign of the tyrant, he alters his motives when faced the hurdle of the death of his loved ones. He no longer wants to just bring justice to the people of Scotland, but personally kill Macbeth at all costs, â€Å"If thou be’st slain and with no stroke of mine/†¦my sword/I sheath†¦ undeeded (V. vii, 20, 24-25).† When confronting