Ambition in Macbeth In Macbeth, a play set in Scotland, William Shakespeare wrote a tragedy of a man’s ambition. In the play, Macbeth is described as a man who has ambitions of becoming king. After the first part of the prophecy by the witches whom he has met returning from battle comes true, he begins to think the second part may also come true, “supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good.” The witches have predicted that Macbeth would first become Thane of Cawdor and then king of Scotland. Encouraged by his wife, Lady Macbeth, he murders King Duncan who stays as a guest i