How adequate is tragedy of ambition' as a description of Macbeth?.
Tragedy of ambition' is a correct and adequate description of the play. Ambition is a major theme in Macbeth and it provides the reasoning for the central deed and the results that follow, which eventually lead to Macbeth's downfall.
A tragedy is essentially the portrayal of the fall of a great person because of a flaw in their character. Macbeth's flaw, of course, is his ambition.
Ambition is defined as the strong desire to achieve something, and this is obviously evident in the play as Macbeth strives to make himself King, and prevent fate from occurring. Not only is ambition present in Macbeth, but in Lady Macbeth as well.
Ambition motivates both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to commit dreadful deeds, and later, Macbeth's ambition turns into obsession. By the end of the play, Macbeth's ambition ultimately causes his ruin and that of Scotland.
There is no doubt that Macbeth has ambition. His ruthless seeking after power is the tragic flaw that causes his downfall. When the witches tell Macbeth that he will become King, his interest is instantly aroused. Macbeth ponders over whether to believe them, and he agonises over whether he should kill Duncan to gain the throne. Macbeth lists all the reasons he shouldn't - "return/To plague th'inventor-, "I am his kinsman and his subject-, "his host-, "this Duncan hath been/So clear in his great office-, "The deep damnation of his taking-off-. Macbeth states that his only motivation to kill is his ambition - "I have no spur/To prick the sides of my intent, but only/Vaulting ambition-.
It could be said Macbeth has three motivations to kill Duncan - his own ambition, Lady Macbeth's ambitions and the persuasive nature of the witches. Macbeth's ambition is to become King. His only problem is whether he should wait for it to happen, or to make fate his own. Lady Macbeth's ambition motivates Macbeth until he becomes a tyrant.