Macbeth's Representation of Ambition
             From top to bottom of the ladder, greed is aroused without knowing where to find ultimate foothold. Nothing can calm it, since its goal is far beyond all it can attain. Reality seems valueless by comparison with the dreams of fevered imaginations; reality is therefor abandoned. "Many have dreamed up republics and principalities that have never in truth been known to exist; the gulf between how one should live and how one does live is so wide that a man who neglects what is actually done for what should be done learns the way to self destruction rather than self-preservation." Italian political philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) states that greed leads men to their downfall, a concept which is paralleled with Shakespeare's play, Macbeth. This play is the representation of human society in which Macbeth represents man. The play opens with 3 witches who honor Macbeth with three titles: "Thane of Glamis" (his present title), "Thane of Cawdor" (his son to be announced title) and the prophecy that he will be "king hereafter." Macbeth who is roused by his vaulting ambitions, lust for power, tempted by these titles, murders his rivals to the throne with his wife. As a result of his ruthless quest for power leads him to his fate. Erich Fromm (1900-1980), a psychologist once stated "greed is a bottomless pit which haunts man in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction. He who comes along greed is condemned to this bottomless pit." Shakespeare demonstrates that greed that harms others, destroys the holder: mentally and morally, and eventually leads to ones ultimate destruction.
             When man is driven by greed to achieving their goal, they are stripped away of their morals and ethics. Macbeth is fighting a war, a deadly game where man takes advantage of others to win and claim the title of king. "if it were done when 'tis done, then &apo...