What role does ambition play in Macbeth for Macbeth, Malcolm, and Macduff?
Macbeth is the most ambitious of the three characters in question, and he recognizes that his ambition is a fault. In act 1, scene 7, he muses on whether to kill Duncan and sees clearly that he has no motivation to do so except "vaulting ambition." This ambition is a...
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negative trait, because it is purely selfish. He does not want to improve his country or the lot of its people. Duncan is an excellent king, and there is no reason to replace him.Macbeth is merely being greedy.
This motive contrasts sharply with Macduff's ambition for his country. In act 4, scene 3, he is trying to persuade Malcolm to take the throne from Macbeth when Malcolm tells him that he, Malcolm, is even more tyrannical and vicious than Macbeth. He does this to test Macduff, who passes the test by falling promptly into despair. It is clear that Macduff's ambition is a noble one. He loves his country and wants it to be well governed, by whoever is best fitted for the task. As soon as he has killed Macbeth, he promptly hails Malcolm as king.
Malcolm seems curiously lacking in any ambition. He, like Macbeth, is childless, but he does not appear to care that he is merely holding the kingdom in trust for the line of Banquo to inherit. It may be that Malcolm's rather cold, unemotional style of government is just what Scotland needs after the ferocious ambition of Macbeth.