Hello everyone, I have to write a paper based on this quote
"Virtue is chok’d with foul ambition"
-Henry VI
The problem is I don't quite understand the quote itself =/
Please try to explain it to me =]
Thanks in advance!
2007-08-20 10:06:26 · 2 answers · asked by Me 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
I still don't understand it
2007-08-20 11:04:36 · update #1
Many supposed acts of virtue are only done due to ulterior motives rooted in ambition.
Ambition can have a negative connotation, perhaps did so even more during the time of Shakespeare. The word ambition comes from Middle English "ambicioun", excessive desire for honor, power, or wealth†.
Just think of examples where people perform virtuous acts on the pretext of wanting to do something virtuous, but in reality for selfish ulterior motives.
* Politicians fighting for a cause they could not care less about, but will take it up if it helps to get them elected.
* People you have known for a long time but never gave a damn about you, yet suddenly they begin to act nicely. Later you discover they acted kindly in order to get something from you they needed.
2007-08-21 16:14:39 · answer #1 · answered by Gin Martini 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is a reference from the google books search engine for you "The Law in Shakespeare" by Cushman Kellogg Davis. It explains the words surrounding this one line written by William Shakespeare: King Henry VI, Part 2: ACT III. SCENE I. I hope it helps you.
2007-08-20 17:41:44 · answer #2 · answered by Beach Saint 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋