Ambition and the Aftermath

Power-hungry politicians, scheming masterminds and pursuers of greatness – Shakespeare’s characters are no strangers to ambition.

But what happens once they achieve their goal? Shakespeare seems just as interested in the aftermath as the pursuit, giving his characters plenty of space to reflect on the ultimate question: was it all worth it?

Does ambition always lead to ruin, or can it be a force for good? Join host Head of Education Joanna Erskine and a panel of experts for this riveting conversation series about ambition in Shakespeare’s plays and in our contemporary world.