AmbitionAs far as physics is concerned, when a building is built too high and lacks sturdy foundations, it is doomed to collapse. Such behavior corresponds to humans and their ambition. In the play “Macbeth,” Shakespeare establishes the universal theme that too much ambition can lead to great downfall. He successfully achieves this by using the motif of Macbeth's decline from honorable to evil. Shakespeare links this element to Macbeth through the actions of others, and like a parasite it evolves and consumes Macbeth. The master poet uses this motif as a scapegoat and successfully displays Macbeth's tragic lack of ambition. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Shakespeare manipulates the characters around Macbeth to fan the flames of his ambition. When Macbeth and Banquo intrude on the symposium of the three witches, the witches tell of the glories with which Macbeth will be blessed. They say: “All hail, Macbeth, all hail, Thane of Cawdor!…” (I.iii). Macbeth is taken aback by this comment. He questions the legitimacy of witches and ignores them. Following this revelation, Ross confronts Macbeth and says: “he told me of him to call thee thane of Cawdor…” (I.iii). Macbeth becomes ambivalent. He is perplexed by the witches' accurate prophecy and honored that the king recognizes his achievements. This introduces the first stage of Shakespeare's motif when Macbeth is in his humble and honorable stage without the slightest trace of corruption. Macbeth soon progresses into a more corrupt person. Like a cancer progressing to a more serious and damaging state, Shakespeare's motif reaches its peak. The great Macbeth begins his deterioration when he kills King Duncan and says, “I have done the deed.” Didn't you hear a noise? (II.ii). From this line, we can say that Macbeth is still naive and pure. When he asks his wife about a noise, it shows that he is still of sound mind. The “noise,” in fact, is his conscience filled with anxiety for having committed a sin that conflicts with his morals and duties. However, this simple murder constitutes a kind of “entrance” sin. This builds Macbeth's tolerance for the crimes he commits and eventually turns him into a notorious demon. With repeated acts of sin, Macbeth's moral compass points in the wrong direction. Macbeth personally says, “I have gone so far into the blood that, if I waded no more, the return would be as tedious as going away” (III.iv). This monumental quote explains Macbeth's thought that since he has committed so many crimes, it would make no difference to repent or continue his crime spree. At this point, Macbeth's hands are stained with the blood of others. He becomes an evil scum of the earth, which successfully completes Shakespeare's motif. Macbeth's fall from his once honorable stature is Shakespeare's way of describing the tragic flaw of ambition. The second apparition tells Macbeth: “No woman born will harm Macbeth.” (IV.i) Macbeth misinterprets this and believes himself to be practically invincible. With the confidence of a god, Macbeth's ambition soars exponentially. He then fights against Malcolm, supported by the English army. In the end, Macbeth kills young Siward without hesitation and is ultimately killed later. This scene allows Shakespeare to show the reader how corrupt Macbeth had become. His relentless ambition converted him into a darker person and this ultimately became the cause of his demise. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get an article.