Lady Macbeth (Act 1; Scene V): Glamisthou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ the milk…

Lady Macbeth (Act 1; Scene V):Glamisthou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be 

What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature; 

It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness 

To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great; 

Art not without ambition, but without 

The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly, 

That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, 

And yet wouldst wrongly win: 

thou’ldst have, great Glamis, 

That which cries ‘Thus thou must do, if thou have it; 

And that which rather thou dost fear to do 

Than wishest should be undone.’ Hie thee hither, 

That I may pour my spirits in thine ear; 

And chastise with the valour of my tongue 

All that impedes thee from the golden round, 

Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem 

To have thee crown’d withal.

Macbeth (Act 1; Scene VII):

He’s here in double trust; 

First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, 

Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, 

Who should against his murderer shut the door, 

Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan 

Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been 

So clear in his great office, that his virtues 

Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against 

The deep damnation of his taking-off; 

And pity, like a naked new-born babe, 

Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubim, horsed 

Upon the sightless couriers of the air, 

Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, 

That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur 

To prick the sides of my intent, but only 

Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself 

And falls on the other.

Use the excerpts from Macbeth to complete the following task:

Write an essay of at least three paragraphs, supporting the assertion that the character of Lady Macbeth is passionately ambitious while the character of Macbeth is more cautious. Be sure to include evidence from the text to support your answer. Remember to clearly state your main point and use correct citation in your response.