Ambition
Alger, Horatioauthor of a series of rags-to-riches stories. [Am. Lit.: Ragged Dick]
sacrifices her principles and her chance for love in schemes to climb the social ladder. [Am. Lit.: The House of Mirth in Hart, 385]
(de Rubempré) young writer determined to achieve fame and wealth. [Fr. Lit.: Balzac Lost Illusions in Magill II, 595]
murders to gain throne; plots to keep it. [Br. Lit.: Hamlet]
ambitious for her son Arthur. [Br. Lit.: King John]
makes a pact with the devil to further his own ambitions. [Br. Lit.: The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus]
talented young violinist gives up musical career for the sake of wealth and fame as a boxer. [Am. Lit.: Odets Golden Boy in Magill III, 422]
traditional symbol of ambition. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 174]
aspiring, self-assertive king of mediocre character. [Br. Lit.: King John]
aspires to political power. [Br. Lit.: Macbeth]
stops at nothing to gain political power for husband. [Br. Lit.: Macbeth]
traditional symbol of ambition. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 175]
hero of a Horatio Alger rags-to-riches story. [Am. Lit.: Ragged Dick]
sleeps with the rich to get ahead in world. [Br. Lit.: Roxana, The Fortunate Mistress]
chief minister of Emperor Tiberius uses seduction, conspiracy, and poisoning to gain the throne. [Br. Drama: Benét, 912]
vainly strives to advance himself in objectionable ways. [Br. Lit.: Trollope Barchester Towers in Magill I, 55]
from poor origins, tries to gain aristocratic status. [Am. Lit.: Faulkner Absalom, Absalom in Magill I, 5]
Scythian bandit becomes king of Persia and ruler of Turkey and Babylon. [Br. Drama: Tamburlaine the Great in Magill I, 950]
a dynamic but vicious opportunist attains success. [Am. Lit.: What Makes Sammy Run]
Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.