Ambition

Definition

Ambition refers to a strong desire to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. In literature, it often drives characters to pursue power, success, or personal goals, leading to both positive and negative consequences. This term is key in understanding the motivations behind characters' actions and the moral implications of their pursuits.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Ambition often serves as a driving force for many characters in Shakespeare's works, showcasing their desires and motivations.
2. In plays like 'Macbeth,' ambition leads to moral corruption and tragic consequences, illustrating the dark side of unchecked ambition.
3. Shakespeare explores how ambition can create conflict between personal desires and ethical considerations, highlighting internal struggles within characters.
4. Characters with ambition often face obstacles or opposition from others, leading to tension and drama in the narrative.
5. Ambition can serve as both a motivating factor for success and a potential source of downfall, emphasizing the duality of human aspirations.

Review Questions

• How does ambition shape the decisions and actions of characters in Shakespeare's plays?
  • Ambition significantly influences characters' choices, pushing them towards both noble pursuits and destructive paths. In 'Macbeth,' for instance, Macbeth's ambition leads him to murder King Duncan to claim the throne. This act of ambition not only alters his fate but also spirals into further violence and guilt, showcasing how ambition can propel characters into tragic outcomes while simultaneously defining their identities.
• Compare the portrayal of ambition in 'Macbeth' with its representation in another Shakespearean play. What similarities or differences do you observe?
  • In 'Macbeth,' ambition manifests as a destructive force that corrupts Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, leading them to commit heinous acts for power. In contrast, in 'Henry V,' King Henry's ambition is portrayed more positively as he seeks to unite England and reclaim his rightful throne. While both plays examine ambition's role in leadership and power dynamics, 'Macbeth' focuses on its darker consequences, whereas 'Henry V' highlights a more noble pursuit of ambition aimed at the greater good.
• Evaluate the impact of ambition on the themes of power and morality in Shakespeare's works. How does this evaluation deepen our understanding of human nature?
  • Ambition profoundly influences themes of power and morality across Shakespeare's works, revealing the complexities of human nature. Characters driven by ambition often face moral dilemmas that challenge their integrity and ethical beliefs. By analyzing how ambition leads to both triumphs and downfalls, we gain insights into humanity's struggle with desire for power versus adherence to moral principles. This exploration encourages reflection on our own ambitions and the potential consequences they may carry in real life.

Related terms

Tragic Flaw: A character trait that leads to the downfall of a protagonist, often linked to ambition, such as hubris or excessive desire for power.

Machiavellianism: A political theory that advocates for cunning, manipulation, and the use of deceit in pursuit of power, often tied to ambitious characters.

Catalyst: An event or character that provokes significant change or action in a story, frequently driven by the ambition of a key character.