The Use of Sickness as a Metaphor pf Ambition in Macbeth, a Play by William Shakespeare

In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, Macbeth is given a prophecy by three witches saying that he will become king. With high ambitions, Macbeth murders his king and becomes king himself. As king, Macbeth rules with tyranny and Scotland falls to a “sickness”. Throughout the play, Shakespeare uses sickness as a metaphor for Macbeth’s ambition.

Evidence of Macbeth’s sickness shows when the three witches prophesize that Macbeth will be thane of Cawdor and king. Banquo laughs at the prophecy when the witches tell him that his sons will be kings. Macbeth reacts differently; he was afraid because he was already thinking about the idea of being king.

Macbeth’s sickness of ambition also shows when Malcolm is named the successor to the throne. Macbeth says “The prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, for in my way it lies. stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, to see” (1.4. 50-55). He shows his violent tendencies by saying that he wants to be king even though Malcolm is in his way. He says that in order to be king, he has to do something terrible which he will do.

Macbeth’s ambition leads him into murdering his king Duncan in order to be king himself. Macbeth’s illness is released when he murders Duncan and his guilt and fear causes him to become more ambitious. In order to secure his position as king, he is willing to murder anybody who will threaten his position. His sickness of ambition spreads onto the country of Scotland where Macbeth rules with tyranny and the country “weeps, bleeds, and each new day a gash is added to her wounds” (4.3. 41-42).

Shakespeare compares Macbeth and Scotland’s sickness to King Edward and England’s health. Macbeth’s overly ambitious nature made him a tyrant and as a result, Scotland falls to a disease. Contrasted to Macbeth, King Edward of England has the virtues of a good king. He is blessed with the power of healing and he uses it to heal the sick people of his country. Macbeth seems to realize that he is the cause of Scotland’s disease when he says “I have lived long enough. My way of life is fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf” (5.3. 24-25). By saying that he is tired of living, he is saying that he is tired of the sickness he caused in Scotland.

Shakespeare uses sickness as a metaphor for Macbeth’s ambition. Evidence of Macbeth’s ambition appears early in the play when Macbeth reacts to the witches prophecy with fear, revealing that he was already thinking about the idea of being king. His sickness was released a spreads to Scotland when he murders Duncan, becomes king, and rules with tyranny as a result of his guilt and fear. Towards the end of the play, he recognizes that he himself is the illness that plagues Scotland and says he is tired of living with the sickness he had imposed on Scotland.

Calculate the price
Make an order in advance and get the best price
Pages (550 words)
$0.00
*Price with a welcome 15% discount applied.
Pro tip: If you want to save more money and pay the lowest price, you need to set a more extended deadline.
We know how difficult it is to be a student these days. That's why our prices are one of the most affordable on the market, and there are no hidden fees.

Instead, we offer bonuses, discounts, and free services to make your experience outstanding.
How it works
Receive a 100% original paper that will pass Turnitin from a top essay writing service
step 1
Upload your instructions
Fill out the order form and provide paper details. You can even attach screenshots or add additional instructions later. If something is not clear or missing, the writer will contact you for clarification.
Pro service tips
How to get the most out of your experience with MyhomeworkGeeks
One writer throughout the entire course
If you like the writer, you can hire them again. Just copy & paste their ID on the order form ("Preferred Writer's ID" field). This way, your vocabulary will be uniform, and the writer will be aware of your needs.
The same paper from different writers
You can order essay or any other work from two different writers to choose the best one or give another version to a friend. This can be done through the add-on "Same paper from another writer."
Copy of sources used by the writer
Our college essay writers work with ScienceDirect and other databases. They can send you articles or materials used in PDF or through screenshots. Just tick the "Copy of sources" field on the order form.
Testimonials
See why 20k+ students have chosen us as their sole writing assistance provider
Check out the latest reviews and opinions submitted by real customers worldwide and make an informed decision.
Data 564
excellent work
Customer 452773, April 11th, 2024
Business and administrative studies
excellent work
Customer 452773, March 9th, 2023
Business and administrative studies
Excellent job
Customer 452773, March 9th, 2023
business
Thank you for your hard work and help.
Customer 452773, February 13th, 2023
Humanities
Thank youuuu
Customer 452729, May 30th, 2021
Business and administrative studies
looks good thank you
Customer 452773, March 3rd, 2023
Business and administrative studies
excellent job
Customer 452773, March 12th, 2023
Business and administrative studies
excellent job thank you Your Score 166.25/ 175- A 1. Current Culture 15% of total grade 18.37 Criterion "1. Current Culture" has textual feedback Criterion Feedback I see interesting points, though, in general they are not about the culture.
Customer 452773, June 4th, 2023
FIN571
excellent
Customer 452773, March 15th, 2024
Marketing
excecllent
Customer 452773, October 22nd, 2024
Business and administrative studies
perfect
Customer 452773, February 23rd, 2023
Human Resources Management (HRM)
excellent
Customer 452773, July 11th, 2023
11,595
Customer reviews in total
96%
Current satisfaction rate
3 pages
Average paper length
37%
Customers referred by a friend
OUR GIFT TO YOU
15% OFF your first order
Use a coupon FIRST15 and enjoy expert help with any task at the most affordable price.
Claim my 15% OFF Order in Chat
Close

Sometimes it is hard to do all the work on your own

Let us help you get a good grade on your paper. Get professional help and free up your time for more important courses. Let us handle your;

  • Dissertations and Thesis
  • Essays
  • All Assignments

  • Research papers
  • Terms Papers
  • Online Classes