The human condition has been explored in literature for centuries, often through stories of tragedy and triumph. Two classic works studied for their representation of the human condition are William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and the Old English epic Beowulf. Through these two works, one can learn much about ambition, happiness, anger, revenge, jealousy, and more—all aspects of the human condition. Both stories have goal-oriented main characters demonstrating that ambition must be balanced with caution and that unrestrained ambition can result in destruction.
While Macbeth and Beowulf are vastly different works, they explore the consequences of ambition and how ambition can lead to ruin. Macbeth and Beowulf both feature ambitious protagonists who are ultimately undone by their ambitions. The main character in Macbeth, motivated by his desire to rule Scotland after being inspired by the prophecies of the three witches, is the title character (Shakespeare). Macbeth is willing to do anything to achieve his goal, and he murders King Duncan in a bid for the throne. His ambition is ultimately his downfall, as he is haunted by guilt and paranoia and is eventually slain. In Beowulf, the protagonist is a hero driven by his ambition to be a great warrior and protect his people and homeland (Heaney). Beowulf is willing to fight any monster to prove himself, and his ambition leads him to battle the dragon (Heaney). He eventually defeats the dragon but dies, proving the ultimate cost of ambition.
The consequences of each character’s ambition are severe in this case. In Macbeth, the consequences of ambition are seen through the pain and suffering of Macbeth, his wife, and the people of Scotland. Macbeth is tormented by guilt, and his wife is driven to suicide (Shakespeare). The people of Scotland are driven into war and chaos. The consequences of ambition are seen in Beowulf’s death and the destruction of his homeland. Beowulf dies a noble death, but his people are left without a leader, and their homeland is in ruins (Heaney). The outcomes of ambition in both works demonstrate the ultimate lesson of the human condition—that ambition must be tempered with caution and can lead to ruin if left unchecked. Macbeth and Beowulf feature ambitious protagonists who ultimately pay the ultimate price for their ambition, and this serves as a cautionary tale to readers. Ambition can be a powerful motivator, but it is important to remember that it can lead to ruin if not kept in check.
In conclusion, Macbeth and Beowulf are two works that explore the human condition in vastly different ways. Both works feature ambitious protagonists who suffer the consequences of their ambition, and this serves as a lesson to readers about the power—and danger—of ambition. The ultimate lesson from these works is that ambition must be tempered with caution and that unchecked ambition can lead to ruin. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and the old English epic Beowulf are two famous pieces analyzed for their depictions of the human condition. These pieces examine the effects of ambition and how it can bring about devastation. The primary character of Macbeth is motivated by his desire to become King of Scotland, which finally brings him to his doom after the prophecies of the three witches push him to do so. The protagonist in Beowulf learns the ultimate lesson about ambition when his ambition results in his death and the devastation of his homeland. Both books warn readers that while ambition can be a strong motivator if it is not kept in check, it can also result in devastation.
Works Cited
Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf. Faber & Faber, 2000.
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Wordsworth Classics, 1992.