Grade 9 Macbeth Essay on Ambition – IGCSE English Literature Example

How does Shakespeare present the theme of ambition in Macbeth?

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth (1606) is a play that, at its very core, warns of the dangers of unchecked ambition and accepting your God-given role in the Great Chain of Being. Functioning as a didactic force of royalist propaganda, Shakespeare aimed to ingratiate himself with the newly crowned King James I by discouraging attempted acts of regicide following the Gunpowder Plot. Throughout the play, Macbeth’s hamartia, his “vaulting ambition”, can be seen to misguide the protagonist to his tragic downfall and ultimate punishment: a beheading fit for a traitor. Though some may argue that the Witches or Lady Macbeth “spur” Macbeth’s ambition, ultimately, Macbeth’s actions are driven by his desires and moral weakness, for which he alone must bear responsibility.

Shakespeare establishes Macbeth’s ambitious and violent nature in the play’s opening scenes. Indeed, Macbeth begins the play as “brave Macbeth”, a hero and saviour of Scotland, helping to defeat the Norwegian army. Yet just as the Witches warn that “fair is foul and foul is fair”, the audience comes to realise that their first impression of Macbeth as a “brave” hero may mask a “serpent” underneath. Macbeth’s first words in the play mirror the Witches aforementioned paradox, as he exclaims surprise at “so fair and foul a day”, echoing the Witches’ paradoxical warnings that appearances may be deceiving. A Jacobean audience would have an instinctual fear of the supernatural, so Macbeth being aligned with the Witches so early on may be the first indicator that he should not be trusted. Upon first hearing the Witches’ prophecy that he “shall be King hereafter”, Macbeth’s ambition immediately becomes apparent as he muses that if “chance may have [him] king” then “chance may crown [him]” without his “stir”. Macbeth personifies chance as though to suggest that these matters are now out of his control, yet this may be a way to absolve blame for his later actions. He may be able to argue that it was not his own murderous choices that led him to the “golden round” but the force of fate. However, Shakespeare cleverly uses Banquo as a foil character to contrast Macbeth’s immediate infatuation with the prospect of being King with a more logical and sceptical reaction. Banquo neither “fears nor begs” for the Witches’ attention, whilst Macbeth asks them to “stay”. Banquo warns Macbeth that these are “instruments of darkness” whose words may manipulate. In contrast, Macbeth is immediately enthralled by the Witches’ prophecies, even returning to seek out the Witches in Act 4. Finally, Banquo does nothing to make the Witches’ prophecies come to fruition, and Macbeth plots the murder of his King within days of this moment. Through this contrasting characterisation, Shakespeare presents an ideal subject in Banquo, who respects the natural order, fears the supernatural, and keeps his ambition in check. This idealised portrayal would likely please King James I, both as a warning against disrupting the Great Chain of Being and as a nod to his descent from Banquo.

Though it is clear that Macbeth’s potential for excessive ambition was present from the first moments of the play, some may still argue that this hamartia was only catalysed by the supernatural. The Witches’ use of the trochaic tetrameter immediately sets them apart as untrustworthy outsiders. This contrasts strongly with the other high-status courtly members who speak in iambic pentameter. Therefore, Macbeth’s willingness to be swayed by the “supernatural soliciting” of such clearly untrustworthy and otherworldly creatures could be seen as nothing more than a flimsy excuse to allow his ambition to reign. Likewise, Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth’s deadly ambition, acting almost as a fourth Witch, by calling on “spirits” to “unsex” her so that she may strip herself of feminine kindness to encourage her husband to deadly (but socially advantageous) regicide. Arguably, living in a patriarchal society, Lady Macbeth’s ambition could only be furthered through her husband. This line of thinking has often led to Lady Macbeth being blamed for “spurring” Macbeth’s ambition to its deadly conclusion. Yet without the horse, without the ambition, there would be nothing to “spur” into action. The temptation to blame women for all men’s sins is culturally engrained, yet also remember that King Duncan was so trusting that he became weak enough to allow two traitors in his midst. Therefore, it could be argued that Duncan’s weak kingship laid the foundation for Macbeth’s ambition to surface. It must also be remembered that Macbeth committed the first murder of King Duncan by his own hands. His subsequent murders happened entirely without Lady Macbeth’s involvement, with Macbeth encouraging her to be “innocent of the knowledge” of Banquo’s murder and having no prior knowledge of Macbeth’s plans to kill Macduff’s family. Perhaps Shakespeare warns that whatever predisposition we have towards seeking power, our actions are choices for which we are solely responsible.

Macbeth’s ambition consequently fractures the natural order, as Shakespeare cautions that we must respect our rightful place in society. According to the Divine Right of Kings, the monarch is God’s chosen representative on earth; by committing regicide, Macbeth defies God himself. Shakespeare thus makes it apparent that Macbeth’s kingship is decaying the fabric of Scotland, shown when Macduff laments, “bleed, bleed, poor country”. This personification of Scotland highlights the mass suffering and bloodshed as a result of Macbeth’s unholy rule. Furthermore, Macbeth finds no satisfaction in fulfilling his ambition to become King, as his ambition then moves onto another goal to yearn for, specifically the lack of hope for any future royal lineage as the Macbeths are childless. The metaphors Macbeth uses are particularly apt when he complains of a “fruitless crown” and a “barren sceptre”, as both phrases not only reference the Macbeths’ apparent infertility but may also allude to the unnatural state of Scotland under the unrightful King. Scotland, too, is “fruitless”, “barren”, and bleeding when the laws of God go unheeded. Indeed, when Angus describes Macbeth’s “giant’s robe” hanging loose like it is worn by a “dwarfish thief”, Shakespeare’s use of metaphor powerfully conveys Macbeth’s unworthiness for his position. Like the crown and the sceptre, the robe symbolises royalty, which Macbeth is unfit to wear. This emphasises that Macbeth’s ambition has led a small and incapable man to “overleap” his position in the natural order, resulting in both personal and societal suffering.

Ultimately, Macbeth’s ambition must be punished and the natural order restored. Shakespeare utilises a cyclical structure to suggest a return to God’s will, as the play starts and ends with a traitor being beheaded – both the then Thanes of Cawdor. By Macbeth’s downfall, the cyclical structure shows that Scotland has returned to the hands of the rightful heir, Malcolm, as decreed by the Divine Right of Kings. Macbeth’s punishment for his “vaulting ambition” also follows the typical structure of a tragic fall, with Macbeth beginning as a high-status character, “brave Macbeth”, and ending as a disgraced “butcher” and a “tyrant”. The noun “butcher” reveals that Macbeth’s actions have been for no higher, holier purpose but were acts of violent, thoughtless savagery, focused only on becoming King for his own sake and not for the good of his country. Being “beheaded” then is a fitting punishment: a brutal and humiliating death for someone who inflicted mindless “gory” suffering on the innocent lives around him. By the end of the play, Malcolm takes the throne as its rightful heir and “plants” a new peace. The nature imagery here juxtaposes the storms, night-time settings and supernatural deeds seen in the rest of the play. Shakespeare seems to suggest that the natural order has been restored: a true King sacrifices for the good of his country and seeks power not to satisfy his ambition but because God has entrusted him.

In conclusion, Shakespeare warns against unchecked ambition and the disruption of God’s natural order. While external forces like the Witches and Lady Macbeth influence Macbeth, his choices ultimately lead to his downfall. Shakespeare presents ambition not as a path to greatness but as a force that corrupts, isolates, and destroys. By restoring rightful leadership through Malcolm, the play reinforces that power must be earned through legitimacy and duty, not seized through violence and pride.

What are the elements of a Grade 9 Literature essay?

1. Start with a Clear Thesis Statement

Your essay should open with a concise thesis that answers the question and states your main argument about Macbeth.

For example, you might argue that Macbeth’s downfall is primarily driven by unchecked ambition and moral weakness. A clear thesis provides focus and guides your entire essay.

2. Organise Your Paragraphs by Big Ideas

Structure your essay around key ideas or themes. For Macbeth, you might consider:

Macbeth’s ambition and violence from the start
The influence of women and supernatural elements
Macbeth’s transformation into a tyrant
The theme of divine justice and natural order

Each paragraph should focus on one of these ideas, with topic sentences that clearly introduce the point.

3. Develop Your Arguments with Analysis

For each point, include detailed analysis of language, form, and structure. For example:

Analyse how Macbeth’s language in his soliloquys becomes more fragmented, until the iambic pentameter in his final “tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow” speech is irregular, mirroring his broken state of mind.
Consider the use of structure, especially Shakespeare’s use of a cyclical structure with the play both beginning and ending with a traitor being beheaded.
Analyse the use of symbolism throughout the text, such as light/dark, birds, hands, blood, and children
Consider how your analysis fits with broader patterns and themes in the play, like the theme of appearances and reality

Remember, don’t just quote and list techniques: analyse how the authorial choices reveal a deeper message about character or theme.

4. Pick Short, Impactful Quotations

Use brief quotes, ideally 1 to 3 words, embedded correctly into your sentences to maintain flow. Some examples:

Macbeth’s “vaulting ambition” highlights his tragic flaw.
By the end of the play, Malcolm takes the throne as its rightful heir and “plants” a new peace.
Macbeth’s punishment for his “vaulting ambition” also follows the typical structure of a tragic fall, with Macbeth beginning as a high-status character, “brave Macbeth”, and ending as a disgraced “butcher” and a “tyrant”.

Choosing concise quotes makes your analysis sharper and your writing more fluent.

5. Show Personal Opinion and Critical Insight

A top-grade essay expresses your personal interpretation of the text. Consider questions like:

Does Macbeth’s ambition make him sympathetic or villainous?
How does Shakespeare’s portrayal of Lady Macbeth deepen the tragedy?

Your opinion should be backed by evidence from the text, showing critical engagement.

6. Conclude by Forming a Final Answer to the Question

End with a conclusion that sums up your main points and reflects on the significance of Macbeth’s actions or themes.

Don’t just list techniques you’ve analysed or completely repeat your argument. Instead, you should be aiming to draw a final answer to your exam question. Consider Shakespeare’s intentions and the audience’s reaction, both a Jacobean audience and a modern audience.

What lessons can we learn from the theme of ambition? What is Shakespeare warning his audience?

Answer the “so what?” Why is this theme important? And what is Shakespeare expressing through this theme?

Annotated Essay – Grade 9 Macbeth Essay on Ambition

Macbeth – Essay – Ambition – Annotated Download