Henry VI Part 2 Ambition Quotes

Salisbury is talking about Buckingham and Somerset (who have ambition) and Suffolk and Cardinal Beaufort (who have pride), but you could almost put any character's name in there and make it work. That's because all the nobles want titles and power for themselves, and they don't really care much about Henry himself. They all compete for the position of regent, and they all want to get rid of the Protector so they can have more power.

From this remark to his wife, it seems that Gloucester has some issues with ambition: he says it's like a cancer that corrupts things. Well, he has a point, and we do know how dangerous Eleanor's dreams of becoming queen turn out to be, but we can't help but wonder why Gloucester isn't ambitious himself. Is it just not part of his character, or is he not ambitious because he's already at the top? After all, as he himself says, he's the second most powerful dude in the land, and he's in control of the most powerful dude. It doesn't get a whole lot better than that, right?

We only see Hume briefly, but it's long enough to know that he's one determined dude. He double-crosses Eleanor by tipping Suffolk and Beaufort off to her latest dalliance in witchcraft. He might be a servant, but he's got ambitions just like the nobles, and his dreams are gold-plated.