Ambition is a force that can either be used for good or evil; it can either corrupt or reveal integrity. In Shakespeare's tragic play 'Macbeth', we can see the theme of ambition through Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's abundance of it that spirals out of control and ends up taking their lives then Banquo's lack of ambition that also causes him to be murdered. Shakespeare use these characters to warn his Jacobean audience of the corruptive nature of unbridled ambition and promotes Christian values of honour, morality and justice Macbeth, as the eponymous character of the play, is presented by Shakespeare as someone who, overtime, becomes corrupted by his own hamartia and ends up letting it take control of him. In Act 1 Scene 3, we can see his ambition be ignited as after the witches told him that he 'shall be king hereafter', he commanded them to 'stay' and 'tell [him] more'. The use of the imperative reveals that Macbeth's ambition is beginning to take over as he believes that he can control the supernatural. In Act 1 Scene 7, Macbeth admits he has 'no spur to prick the sides of [his] intent, but vaulting ambition'. This phrase highlights his internal conflict, as 'vaulting ambition' not only drives him to murder but also foreshadows his inevitable downfall, illustrating the destructive nature of unchecked ambition. The use of this personifying phrase reveals that Macbeth understands that his ambition will eventually cause his downfall yet he ignores this and not only does he let his ambition override, he also lets it clearly begin to corrupt his conscience. In Act 3, Macbeth informs us that he is 'in blood stepped in so far', revealing the violent, ruthless and bloody extent of his actions due to his ambition, that is has caused him to kill, but he cannot stop or else his efforts would be useless. In Act 5, he tells us that 'life's but a walking shadow ... a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing'. The use of personification in Macbeth's anagnorisis reveals how all his ambition was essentially useless and that even though he has done so much - he has killed, usurped the throne and lost his wife - it was all for 'nothing'. Shakespeare uses Macbeth to warn his Jacobean audience on the corruptive and infectious nature of letting unchecked ambition spiral out of control. Even though Banquo also heard the witches prophecies, Shakespeare presents him as a loyal, just man who consequently dies to these values. After seeing how Macbeth has reacted to the witches prophecies in Act 1 Scene 3, he notices how 'rapt' his 'partner' has become; the use of the verb 'rapt' reveals how overcome with ambition and lust for power Macbeth became due the witches as a catalyst yet due to Banquo being the one to point this out, his lack of ambition is also exposed. Banquo serves as a moral compass in contrast to Macbeth, as he hears the witches' prophecies yet chooses not to act on them, illustrating how his lack of ambition highlights the moral decay that ambition can bring, especially in Macbeth's character. However, he doesn't congratulate him, he questions whether the 'devil speak true' and calls him out as he believes that Macbeth 'played most foully for it'. The use of the adverb 'most' revealed that Macbeth's usurpation of the throne was the highest level of regal and supernatural betrayal as he directly went against the Great Chain of Being and the Divine Rights of Kings. Shakespeare promotes Christian values of being just and morally aware through Banquo and the honourable life he lived due to his lack of ambition and skepticism of the witches, as he reprimanded Macbeth's ways after the prophecies. Through the character of Lady Macbeth, who can arguably be seen as the fourth witch, Macbeth's uncertainty becomes desultory ambition. We can also see her ambition that is supposedly being repressed due to her gender. In the extract, she describes Macbeth as 'too full o'th'milk of human kindness' and without ambition' essentially emasculating him.Lady Macbeth's metaphor of Macbeth being 'too full o'th'milk of human kindness' not only emasculates him but also reveals her own ambition, as she seeks to challenge traditional gender roles and assert her power over him, reflecting the corruptive nature of ambition. Here, she uses it to describe Macbeth, ironically, as a compassionate and weak person which portrays herself as a heartless woman who has reversed gender roles which is unconventional of a woman in Jacobean England to hold any control over her husband, yet she does over Macbeth. Near the end of her speech, she wishes to 'pour [her] spirits in [his] ear' as 'fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have crowned [Macbeth] withall'. She uses the former phrase to reveal her desire through 'hie thee hither' (which can translate to come quickly) as to convince Macbeth to commit regicide as she believes of herself to be powerful enough to control his conscience with her overruling ambition. The latter phrase reveals her belief that Macbeth is again, too weak as he wants to leave his kingship in the hands of fate or the witches - this could imply that Macbeth will let his wife take matters into her own hands as she is arguably the 4th witch. Shakespeare cautions his audiences on the corruptive nature and effect of ambition and also especially when the ambition isnt true ambition, but pointless and ignited by others