The most obvious way that Shakespeare shows the theme is through the characters. [T] As the main protagonist in the novel, Macbeth demonstrates the theme of voracious ambition triumphing over righteousness. [S] Initially, Macbeth is far from evil within: “Chance may crown me, without my stir,” preferring to let fate lead his future. Macbeth’s “vaulting ambition” leads to him killing King Duncan to secure his own destiny. Macbeth fears his own temptations and the retribution of his own soul, as he mentions “So foul a fair a day I have not seen,” (upon his first interaction with the Three Witches) and “stars,

On all levels of life, people are left with options, possibilities. Often times these options leave one with a moral dilemma - should one sacrifice their ethics, and do whatever is necessary to accomplish the goals that are set? Or should one set aside the “any means necessary” attitude and do what they sincerely believe is right? Shakespeare’s Macbeth presents this dilemma very plainly, presenting a series of characters that embody these hypothetical questions to the core. Macbeth wants to be the King so badly that he is willing to do anything. He is only surpassed in ambition by Lady Macbeth, who even goes so far as to wish she was a man so that she could do what other men are too afraid to do themselves. Banquo is also ambitious but he never gets the chance to act on it. He only waits to see what the prophecies will do and never furthers his son to the kingship by any action of his own. He only questions Macbeth and waits for luck to befall him. These three individuals are very different in character, and all go down different paths throughout the story. However, they are intertwined characters because all illustrate how selfish ambition can make even the best of men (and women) into corrupt, selfish raiders who will stop at nothing to accomplish their goals.

Scotland under the rule of Macbeth is described as, “shrouded in darkness“, by Malcolm. In addition, Scotland as described by Ross as, “O Nation Miserable,” has fallen off the “Chain of Being” and is now occupied with the forces of “chaos and disorder.” Scotland, in Act 1, before Macbeth becomes its ruler is described as the “land of light. In addition Macbeth at first is an agent of order and thus is described with words such as “noble” and “loyal” but when he becomes me an agent of disorder, he is described with adjectives such as “dark” and “devilish.” The witches, the most obvious symbols of pure evil, are described as, “dark as midnight,” as well as “secret, black, and midnight hags,” which indicates their wicked nature. [M] Darkness in our society is indicative of evil. For instance, a black cat, a dark night, and a dark place are all symbolic of diablerie. William Shakespeare employs the motif of darkness throughout his play Macbeth to describe the agents of disorder that are caused when individual aspirations go uncontrolled. The witches are the direct cause of Macbeth’s initial thirst for Duncan’s forbidden throne. Their diabolical scheming begins the chain of events that leads to the darkening of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s souls. Illustrating this point further, the land of Scotland was, under Duncan’s rule, a place that shone with righteousness. However, under the rule of Macbeth, it becomes a land in chaos, representing the darkness that has resulted in the evil that the already “black” hearted Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have granted through their actions.

The evil deed of murdering the king becomes too much of a burden on the Macbeths, as

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