The Shakespearean play Macbeth is one of the most famous works of English literature ever written. It is also Shakespeare's shortest and bloodiest tragedy. The ruthlessness of the plot can be directly attributed to the overflowing ambition of the characters in the play. The theme of ambition is the driving force of the play because it has the greatest effect on the story itself. The impact of ambition is shown through the actions of Lady Macbeth, Macduff and mainly the main character, Macbeth. Although Macbeth's terrible tyranny is largely attributed to his own ambition, it actually begins with Lady Macbeth's wicked hopes for power. When Macbeth first hears his brilliant prophecy from the three witches, he immediately tells his wife about it. As the ironically more dominant person in their relationship, she says, “You are Glamis and Cawdor; and you will be/What was promised to you. Yet I fear your nature;/It is too full of the milk of human kindness/To reach the nearest path: you would be great,/You are not without ambition, but without/Illness should accompany it” ( 1.5.2-7). Here, Lady Macbeth recognizes that Macbeth is ambitious; however, he lacks the courage to act to achieve his goals. Her thoughts immediately turn to murder as she incites Macbeth to strike quickly and voraciously. Macbeth is not so cruel by nature, therefore these principles must be instilled in him by his wife. When the opportunity arises for Macbeth to usurp the throne, Lady Macbeth outlines the entire plan to seize the throne. LADY MACBETH: But test your courage and we will not fail. When Duncan sleeps (where his day's hard journey will rather invite him), his two chamberlains Will I with ...... middle of paper ...... essential characters of the play, the theme of ambition is clearly the dominant theme of the story. Lady Macbeth's goal sets off a monstrous fire at her husband's house which causes the death of many people. Just as importantly, Macduff's ambition to kill Macbeth gives him the strength to kill him physically and end the tyranny. Ultimately, Macbeth only fantasizes about the crown, but hearing his prophecy strengthens his ambition and allows him to do whatever it takes to become the most powerful man in Scotland. Although the theme of the cruelty of men against women plays an important role in the plot of Macbeth, it is simply not illustrated with the same degree of influence as ambition in the end. Without the three distinct aspirations of these characters, the play would not exist. It is this dependence that makes ambition the dominant theme of Shakespeare's Macbeth..