Ambition

Definition

Ambition is the strong desire to achieve success, power, or a particular goal, often driving individuals to take bold actions. In literature, especially in tragedies, ambition serves as a critical motivator for characters, often leading to their rise and fall. This theme is particularly significant in the exploration of moral dilemmas and the consequences of pursuing personal desires at any cost.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In Shakespearean tragedies, ambition is often depicted as a double-edged sword, where the pursuit of power can lead to both greatness and ruin.
2. The consequences of unchecked ambition are frequently illustrated through the tragic arcs of characters who become consumed by their desires.
3. Ambition can drive characters to commit morally questionable actions, leading to themes of guilt and redemption throughout the narrative.
4. Shakespeare uses ambition to explore the psychological struggles within characters, highlighting their internal conflicts between desire and morality.
5. The interplay between ambition and fate is a common motif in tragedies, questioning whether characters are masters of their destiny or victims of their ambitions.

Review Questions

• How does ambition function as a motivating force for characters in Shakespearean tragedies?
  • Ambition serves as a crucial motivating force for characters in Shakespearean tragedies, pushing them towards their goals and influencing their actions. It can lead to significant achievements but also opens the door to moral corruption and eventual downfall. Characters like Macbeth showcase how ambition can drive individuals to commit heinous acts in pursuit of power, resulting in dire consequences for themselves and those around them.
• Discuss the relationship between ambition and hubris in tragic literature. How do they interact to shape character destinies?
  • Ambition and hubris are closely intertwined in tragic literature, as unchecked ambition often gives rise to hubris. Characters who exhibit excessive pride as they pursue their ambitious goals may ignore warnings or ethical considerations, leading to their eventual downfall. This dynamic creates a cycle where ambition fuels hubris, which in turn leads to tragic consequences, reinforcing the theme that overreaching one's limits can result in destruction.
• Evaluate the role of ambition in shaping moral ambiguity within Shakespeare's tragedies. How does this complexity enhance the narrative?
  • Ambition plays a central role in creating moral ambiguity within Shakespeare's tragedies by complicating characters' motivations and actions. As characters pursue their ambitious goals, they face dilemmas that challenge their ethical beliefs and values. This complexity enriches the narrative by allowing audiences to grapple with the characters' justifications for their actions, inviting deeper reflection on the nature of ambition itself and its impact on human behavior.

Related terms

hubris: Excessive pride or self-confidence that often leads to a character's downfall, frequently seen in tragic heroes.

tragic flaw:

A character trait that leads to the downfall of a protagonist in a tragedy, often closely related to their ambition.

moral ambiguity: The presence of conflicting ethical principles in characters' decisions, often stemming from their ambitious pursuits.