Power Ambition and Honor - 810 Words

John Armour Hindman 4th 5/13/10 Power Ambition and Honor The fact is power corrupts, unless one knows how to use it. Everyone has ambition; it is the desire for achievement and the willingness to strive for its attainment. (1) Ambition can give us great things; strength, admiration and respect, but ambition as well as power has the ability to corrupt. Finally, honor, a title given to people who have completed a noble act. But some honorable, powerful and ambitious people go too far and forget about their morals, overrun with self desire. William Shakespeare was a famous playwright who wrote twelve tragedies in his time, two of which are very similar, Julius Caesar and Macbeth. Julius Caesar, a noble, honorable, and trusted man†¦show more content†¦This is proven when Caesar is shocked to see Brutus in the conspiracy against him as he says â€Å"Et, tu Brute? Then fall Caesar!†(Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 1) as Brutus has always been loyal to Caesar. As well as the fact that Brutus selflessly killed his best friend for the g ood of Rome. Macbeth, as well, was an honorable man at the beginning of the play as he was a trusted and loyal thane. This is shown as the king trusts him to come visit him as well as make him not only the thane of Glamis, but the thane of Cawdor, after he has lead a winning battle for the king. This proves that both men are on honorable through the noble acts they have completed The Ambition of both men in the two plays could not have been more different. Brutus did not want power for himself but to keep power away from Caesar. â€Å"It must be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general.† (Julius Caesar, act II Scene I) Brutus only reason for the murder of Caesar was for the good of the Roman people, not for his own self gain. Macbeth was the opposite, he strived for power at every chance he got, killing anyone who got in his way. First, Macbeth killed Duncan to become king, then Banquo and his son to make sure that they could not become king. Finally, Macbeth killed Macduff’s family while aiming for Macduff, showing that he had let his ambitions completely control him to theShow MoreRelatedAmbition: The Destruction of Shakespeare’s Macbeth Essay1182 Words   |  5 Pagesof this tragedy are power and betrayal. Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare explores aspects of the human conscience. He p ays particular attention to our sense of right and wrong, innocence and guilt. Once Macbeth has a taste of power he is continually driven by his desire for it. His fear of having his power taken away from him drives him to continue to act ruthlessly in order to eliminate all threats of being found out for his treasonous deeds and to maintain his position of power. Macbeth has manyRead MoreAmbition In Hamlet Essay1048 Words   |  5 Pagesdisplaying remarkable honour and ambition. 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