Ambition

Definition

Ambition refers to a strong desire to achieve success, power, or a particular goal, often driving individuals to take action towards their aspirations. In storytelling, ambition acts as a crucial motivator for characters, influencing their decisions and interactions with others. It often creates conflict as characters pursue their ambitions, facing obstacles that can lead to personal growth or moral dilemmas.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Ambition can be a double-edged sword; while it can lead to great accomplishments, it may also result in negative consequences such as unethical decisions or damaged relationships.
2. In character development, ambition often serves as a key driver of plot progression, propelling characters into action and influencing their arcs.
3. Ambition is frequently depicted in literature and film as a source of conflict, whether it's a character striving for power against rivals or grappling with personal desires versus moral obligations.
4. Characters' ambitions can evolve over time; what they desire at the beginning of a story may change based on their experiences and challenges faced along the way.
5. Ambition can also reflect broader themes in stories, such as the pursuit of the American Dream or the struggle for social justice, making it relevant beyond individual characters.

Review Questions

• How does ambition serve as a driving force for character development in narratives?
  • Ambition acts as a powerful motivator that propels characters toward their goals, shaping their actions and decisions throughout the narrative. As characters pursue their ambitions, they encounter various challenges and conflicts that test their resolve and moral compass. This journey allows for significant growth and transformation, revealing deeper layers of their personality and often leading to crucial turning points in the story.
• In what ways does ambition create conflict within a story, and how do characters navigate these challenges?
  • Ambition can generate both internal and external conflicts as characters strive to achieve their desires. For instance, a character might face an internal struggle when their ambition clashes with personal ethics or relationships. Externally, characters may contend with rivals or societal obstacles that hinder their progress. The resolution of these conflicts often reveals key insights about the nature of ambition and its consequences.
• Evaluate the role of ambition in shaping thematic elements within a narrative. How does it impact the overall message of the story?
  • Ambition plays a critical role in shaping thematic elements by highlighting the complexities of desire and success. Through characters' pursuits, stories often explore themes like morality, sacrifice, and the costs of ambition. By examining how ambition influences characters' choices and relationships, narratives can convey powerful messages about human nature, societal values, and the balance between aspiration and ethical considerations. This layered exploration prompts readers to reflect on their own ambitions and the broader implications of striving for goals.

Related terms

motivation: The inner drive that prompts individuals to take action towards achieving their goals or fulfilling their needs.

conflict: A struggle between opposing forces, which can be internal (within a character) or external (between characters or forces), often driven by differing ambitions.

goal: A specific target or desired outcome that an individual aims to achieve, often shaped by their ambitions.