Abstract
This paper describes the general overall differences in the ways in which Japanese and American society vary in their acceptance of personal ambition. The writer provides a definition of the concept of personal ambition and examines why it is easier to define this concept in the context of Japanese society than American society. It examines the relativity of this concept to these societies.

From the Paper
"The question of how ambition as a personality is expressed in two different cultures "for example, in the United States and in Japan" is a complex one for a number of reasons. The first is that any cultural entity as large as Japan or especially the United States is bound to have a tremendous amount of intracultural variation amongst people, so much so that the concept of the existence of a single dominant style of expressing a trait such as ambition must be called into question. This is especially true for a culture as diverse as is the United States; it is relatively easier to describe the expression of such a trait in a more homogeneous society like Japan or perhaps it only seems so from the perspective of the United States, for surely it is true that cultures always look simpler when seen from afar."

Tags:society, homogeneous, success

Abstract
The paper demonstrates how it is the ambition of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth that drives the play forward. The paper further shows how the ambition of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is often accompanied, or even illustrated by, the image of blood.

From the Paper
"Macbeth is first mentioned by the witches in the very first scene of the play, when the witches decide to head to "the heath. / There to meet with Macbeth" (Act I, sc. 1, 6-7). Not that it is too surprising, but the witches let the reader know that Macbeth survives the battle. More details are told in the following scene, when the Sergeant says Macbeth fought while "disdaining fortune" (I, 2, 17). Both of these mentions of Macbeth are evidence of his fame, among the mortals and the weird sisters. The reader, therefore, already has an image of Macbeth as a person that seeks--and achieves--glory despite risk, and the battle description is also quite bloody. In addition, Macbeth's own sword "smoked with bloody execution," making the deaths he caused sound almost official and yet also violent, foreshadowing his rise to real official power (I, 1, 18). Even this early in the play, the image of blood and the theme of ambition are united in this character. The Sergeant that delivers the description of Macbeth's valor does so even as he is bleeding nearly to death from his own wounds, and this is perhaps the clearest early example of the bloody cost at which Macbeth must earn his glory and power."

Tags:blood, evil, witches, murder

Abstract
The paper examines the ambitions of Claudius in Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and the personal ambitions of Montaigne, as seen in his "Essays". The paper discusses the contrast between Montaigne's lack of ambition, and Claudius' overpowering ambition.

From the Paper
"In William Shakespeare's "Hamlet", the character of Claudius, Hamlet's uncle, is a man utterly consumed by ambition. Indeed, the fact that he would murder his own brother so that he might become king indicates a ruthlessness and determination that is almost beyond comprehension. His ambitions include a desire for increased political power, winning the love of Gertrude his brother's widow, and protecting Denmark's territories. Throughout the play, Claudius consistently proves that he is willing to do whatever it takes to satisfy his ambitions, and as a result he..."

Tags:shakespeare, hamlet, claudius, montaigne, essays, ambition, political, sexual, romantic, military

Abstract
"Macbeth", possibly one of Shakespeare's most well-known plays, is most well-known for its striking portrayal of a decorated Scottish general and his wife and their quest for absolute power. This paper focuses on the topic of evil combined with unrestrained ambition in Shakespeare's "Macbeth". It considers possible explanations for Macbeth's murders and analyzes the text to determine why Macbeth turned to evil.

From the Paper
"MacBeth, possibly one of Shakespeare's most well known plays, is most well known for its striking portrayal of a decorated Scottish general and his wife and their quest for absolute power. Shakespeare's shortest tragedy is also known for its study of human nature, namely, the conflict between the forces of good and evil in the human psyche. Like all tragic heroes, Lord MacBeth has a fatal flaw: ambition. This flaw consumes him throughout the course of the play leading to his inevitable downfall at its conclusion. However, MacBeth is not simply Shakespeare's study of ambition; its focus is much more precise. MacBeth is a study of the evil to which ambition leads when unrestrained by morals."

Tags:ambition, evil, macbeth, shakespeare

Abstract
This paper looks at Thomas More's "Utopia" and Machiavelli's "The Prince". It begins by discussing the different ideas of political ambition and glory. It then compares and contrasts both, with critical insight.

From the Paper
"What is the goal of a leader? Some believe it is political glory and ambition; others do not. In Thomas More's Utopia, an ideal society is one in which the citizens are free from personal want of possessions. They do not become envious of another's belongings because they share all their belongings. There is a uniform of dress, required labor in agriculture, and training in general defense. The leaders of the society work for the common good of all the citizens and are respected for doing so. The citizens of this society are well educated. The youth respect their elders. More describes the society through a character named Raphael Hythloday. Hythloday believes this is an ideal society from which the leaders of Europe can learn. The Prince, a letter from Niccolo Machiavelli to a new prince in Italy, describes all the necessary tools of a leader that are needed to obtain new states and govern the new states effectively. Both More and Machiavelli write about political ambition and glory. Their ideas of ambition and glory reflect the general ideas presented in Utopia and The Prince."

Tags:individual, society

Abstract
The paper discusses Lady Macbeth as a dominant, confident and strong-willed woman who manipulates her husband with no regret. The paper shows how her character drives the play, and points out that her demise at the end of the play is cathartic to the play and to the audience.

From the Paper
"Shakespeare reveals the importance of Lady Macbeth's character early in the play. We know what kind of person she is by her reaction to his letter. Her position in the play makes her character much stronger than his and it is their love that allows her to have such control over him. He does not suspect that she would convince him to do something wrong or evil. She is all too aware of his nature and admits that she fears that it might be "too full o' the milk of human kindness" (I.iv.18). She knows that her husband is ambitious but he does not have "The illness should attend it" (I.iv.21). Here we see that lady Macbeth is very aware of her husband's personality. She knows that he is prone to do the right thing and might just need a little push from him in order to attain the throne. In fact, we might wonder if Macbeth would ever have thought of murder on his own."

Tags:Macbeth, manipulation, ambition, dominance, murder

Abstract
This paper makes an attempt to better understand the profiles of three personalities who made a marked impact on the world during their time of preeminence. Illustrated here are the three renowned dictators, who shared the same dream of conquering the entire world so that they could integrate it as one nation, irrespective of barriers such as religion, culture, and geography. A critical examination is made of the personalities of Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Adolf Hitler.

From the Paper
"History has often seen many a famous personality who has influenced the ways of the world leaving behind legacies that would ponder upon forever. Their acts no matter how trivial and insignificant have shaped the course of history and changed the destiny of many countries. They have in some manner or the other transformed the livelihood of their subjects and been a strong sense of inspiration combined with an unparalleled persona representing absolute power and total supremacy. Their identities are second to none and their campaigns building blocks of history. In their total might and valour, they were a force to reckon with. Often gifted with a magnificent charisma and an aura that has no equivalent, they reigned supreme and earned a rightful place in history."

Tags:dictator, nazi, rome, greece, reich

Abstract
This paper points out that, during that time period, women did not have a great influence over men. It argues that Macbeth was a strong, powerful man who would never let a woman or anyone else influence his decisions in a negative way. He was not a victim of any other character's influence, but of his own character.

From the Paper
"Character or fate. Which of these two forces (external or internal) led to the downward fall of a great military hero and worthy Thane, Macbeth, turned evil and murderous when led astray by the prophecies of three old witches. Some people argue that Macbeth is the victim of fate, while others argue that his character decides his downfall. The argument for fate is strongly led by the actions of others, with Lady Macbeth being the prime influence on Macbeth. While the opposition is led by Macbeth^s troubled conscience, his own internal conflict and his hamartia. It is clearly visible that Macbeth^s own character is at fault for his tragic downfall."

Tags:influence, lady, murder, tragic, hero

Abstract
This paper discusses the story of an ambitious young man, Duddy Kravitz, who is determined to become a success. The author points out that Duddy takes on his father for a role model, because, like his father, he engages in dishonesty as a tactic to rise to the top. The paper concludes that, because of this, his achievements become the ingredients of his self-destruction.

From the Paper
"Blind Ambition"
Blind Ambition by John Dean was published in 1976, and it is perhaps the most reliable of the memoirs that came out of the Watergate scandal, which led to President Richard Nixon's resignation from his office in 1974.


To summarize Dean's story is to move across the panorama of Watergate to examine the mindset of top government officials, who were so ambitious that they were "blind" to the laws of the Constitution. Dean opens his account when he flies to San Clemente in July, 1970 to be interviewed by Nixon and his chief of staff H.R. Haldeman as the potential successor to John Ehrlichman as counsel to the President.


The story ends in December, 1974, after President Nixon had resigned in disgrace, the only president ever to have done so in..."