Final answer:
Shakespeare's work often reflects the potential negative consequences of human nature and over ambition, illustrating how an excessive desire for power can lead to one's own downfall, as seen in characters like Macbeth and Hamlet.
Step-by-step explanation:
William Shakespeare's exploration of human nature and over ambition often illustrates the darker aspects of humanity and the consequences of excessive desire for power.
In his plays, Shakespeare delves into the concept that ambition can lead to one's downfall, as observed in the character of Macbeth, whose thirst for power ultimately leads to his destruction. The line from Macbeth, 'Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up Thine own life's means!' exemplifies this theme of self-destructive ambition.
Similarly, in Hamlet, the overreach of characters like Claudius, and Hamlet's own struggle with action and thought, highlight the complexities of human desire and emotion. Shakespeare's works often held a mirror to society; one where ambition could lead to moral and ethical decay, revealing a timeless message about the perils of overreaching in pursuit of power.