Ambition (Visions- Motif)

Ambition:

“ The castle of Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife, give to the edge o’ the sword his wife, his babes and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line” -Macbeth (Act 4, Scene 1, p.66, line 150-153)

After Lennox announced that Macduff fled to England, Macbeth took this as a possible threat to his reign. He rethought about what the apparition said about bewaring Macbeth, and decided to go kill Macduff along with everyone he knew. He didn’t want to take any chances of not being King.

‘‘ Of horrid hell,can come a devil more damned in evils that tops Macbeth’’(Act 4, Scene 3, p.73, line 55) -Macduff

In this quote, Macduff shows ambition as he is trying really hard to show Malcolm that he is the rightful heir to throne. During the entire passage in the book, Macduff tries to convince Malcolm to go fight for the country.

“(...) front to front, bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself; within my sword’s length set him. If he ‘scape, heaven forgive him too!” (Act 4, Scene 3, p. 80, line 232) -Macduff

Macduff is talking about how wishes to go to Scotland and give his revenge to Macbeth for what he has done to his family.

‘‘Macbeth is ripe for shaking, and the pow’rs above put on their instruments’’- Malcolm (Act 4, Scene 3, p.80, line 237-239)

Malcolm announces that he is ready to attack Macbeth to regain his country and to have his country back to normal without all the evil put upon Scotland by Macbeth.

Visions:

Apparition 1= An armed head

“(...) Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife. (...).” (Act 4, Scene 1, p. 63, line 71-72)

An armed head is telling Macbeth to beware of Macduff in the future.

Apparition 2= A bloody child

‘’(...)Be bloody, bold, and resolute! Laugh to scorn. The pow’r of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.’’ (Act 4, Scene 1, p.63, line 78)

A young child tells Macbeth that he is strong and that no one on earth will hurt him.

Apparition 3= A child crowned with a tree in his hand

“(...) Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.” (Act 4, Scene 1, p.64, line 92-95)

Macbeth will never be vanquished until a forest starts moving which he thinks is impossible.

Apparition 4= A show of eight Kings and Banquo. last (king) with a glass in his hand

‘’Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo down! (...)’’ (Act 4, Scene 1, p.65, line 111)

We see that Banquo (foreshadowing) being with eight other kings. Macbeth feels a rise of jealousy in this.