Consequences of Ambition Exposed in Macbeth, The Maids Tragedy, and Th

Consequences of Ambition Exposed in Macbeth, The Maids Tragedy, and The Duchess of Malfi Twenty-first century the States praises the ambitious. The American dream urges us to set lofty goals and then assert on the Protestant work ethic to achieve them-regardless of potential obstacles. Parents promote their children to select any and every career choice. Companies and schools stress goal-setting and celebrate productivity. plain a contemporary catchphrase like The skys the limit or the forces slogan Be all you can be-the stuff of graduation exercise cards and commencement addresses-promote ambitiousness. Yet ambition has not al way of lifes been valued. Seventeenth-century Jacobean frolic often casts it in a negative light. Unbridled ambition yields lifelessly outcomes, the literature suggests. Macbeth, The Maids Tragedy, and The Duchess of Malfi each illustrate the severe consequences of boundless ambition. privy Milton takes the mentation a step further in Paradise Lost, portrayal the to the highest degree ambitious of characters as well as the proper way to track ambition, according to Gods will. In Macbeth, ambition first a jumpstarts in peeress Macbeth, distorting her values. Immediately, she recognizes her husbands endangerment to rise in power. She craves it so intensely that she willingly invites liven up that break away on mortal thoughts to fill her from the crown to the toe top-full/ Of direst rigorousness (I.v.40-41) dame Macbeth instinctively associates ambition with cruelty. She considers cruelty necessary in her rise to power. She alike fears that her husband is too full o the milk of human charity to kill her plan (I.v.17). Ambition and kindness are mutually exclusive, she insinuates. Therefore, she views the sexual morality as a wea... ...t, Francis and John Fletcher, The Maids Tragedy, ed. T.W.Craik (Manchester Manchester University Press, 1988 Bowers, Fredson. Elizabethan Revenge Tragedies, 1587-1642. Princeton Princeton University Press, 1940. Hallett, Charles and Elaine. The Revengers Madness A consume of Revenge Tragedy Motifs. Lincoln University of Nebraska Press, 1980. Keyishan, Harry. The Shapes of Revenge Victimization, Vengeance, and vengefulness in Shakespeare. Atlantic Highlands Humanities Press, 1995. Middleton, Thomas, and William Rowley. Three Jacobean Tragedies. Ed. Gamini Salgado. Middlesex Penguin Books Ltd., 1969. 255-344. Shakespeare, William. Tragedy of Macbeth . Ed. Barbara Mowat and capital of Minnesota Warstine. pertly York Washington Press, 1992. Webster, John. The Duchess of Malfi. Ed. John Russel Brown. Manchester Manchester University Press, 1986. Consequences of Ambition Exposed in Macbeth, The Maids Tragedy, and ThConsequences of Ambition Exposed in Macbeth, The Maids Tragedy, and The Duchess of Malfi Twenty-first century America praises the ambitious. The American dream urges us to set lofty goals and then rely on the Protestant work ethic to achieve them-regardless of potential obstacles. Parents encourage their children to consider any and every career choice. Companies and schools stress goal-setting and celebrate productivity. Even a contemporary catchphrase like The skys the limit or the Army slogan Be all you can be-the stuff of graduation cards and commencement addresses-promote ambition. Yet ambition has not always been valued. Seventeenth-century Jacobean drama often casts it in a negative light. Unbridled ambition yields deadly outcomes, the literature suggests. Macbeth, The Maids Tragedy, and The Duchess of Malfi each illustrate the severe consequences of boundless ambition. John Milton takes the idea a step further in Paradise Lost, depicting the most ambitious of characters as well as the proper way to handle ambition, according to Gods will. In Macbeth, ambition first arises in Lady Macbeth, distorting her values. Immediately, she recognizes her husbands chance to rise in power. She craves it so intensely that she willingly invites spirits that tend on mortal thoughts to fill her from the crown to the toe top-full/ Of direst cruelty (I.v.40-41) Lady Macbeth instinctively associates ambition with cruelty. She considers cruelty necessary in her rise to power. She also fears that her husband is too full o the milk of human kindness to execute her plan (I.v.17). Ambition and kindness are mutually exclusive, she insinuates. Therefore, she views the virtue as a wea... ...t, Francis and John Fletcher, The Maids Tragedy, ed. T.W.Craik (Manchester Manchester University Press, 1988 Bowers, Fredson. Elizabethan Revenge Tragedies, 1587-1642. Princeton Princeton University Press, 1940. Hallett, Charles and Elaine. The Revengers Madness A Study of Revenge Tragedy Motifs. Lincoln University of Nebraska Press, 1980. Keyishan, Harry. The Shapes of Revenge Victimization, Vengeance, and Vindictiveness in Shakespeare. Atlantic Highlands Humanitie s Press, 1995. Middleton, Thomas, and William Rowley. Three Jacobean Tragedies. Ed. Gamini Salgado. Middlesex Penguin Books Ltd., 1969. 255-344. Shakespeare, William. Tragedy of Macbeth . Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul Warstine. New York Washington Press, 1992. Webster, John. The Duchess of Malfi. Ed. John Russel Brown. Manchester Manchester University Press, 1986.