Read about all of the main Macbeth themes with our concise Macbeth theme guide. The Macbeth themes covered include ambition and guilt.
Macbeth's Ambition
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In Macbeth, ambition is presented as a dangerous quality. It causes the downfall of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and triggers a series of deaths in Macbeth. Ambition is therefore the driving force of the play.
Macbeth's Guilt
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In Macbeth, guilt is an important theme because it softens Macbeth’s ambition and callousness. His brutality is balanced by his guilt – a quality that enables the audience to identify with Macbeth throughout the play despite his tyranny.
