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I recently just read the book ‘The Fourth Estate’ during my recent getaway vacation. The book is about two men and their endless ambition to become the owner of the biggest media empire known to mankind. Throughout the book the two struggle to survive and expand their corporations influence, and quickly become fierce rivals on the global scale.

The two, stuck in utter competition almost lose their entire empires at the book’s climax. They both, so determined to achieve over the other, make impossible deals (such as buying another large corporation with funds that they never had) that end up bringing both men’s lagacy’s to their knees. They are both conflicted over defaulting their companies, over a tediously small loan that cannot be repaid. One man, who cannot bring himself out of debt, kills himself by jumping of his yacht and drowning, while his counterpart just about does the same, but is saved by the skin of his teeth, and in a dramatic twist, ends up merging with his lifelong rival’s company.

The effect of the book is dizzying. These are two truely awesome protaganists, who any average reader, would naturally envy their perseverance and success. Yet the book never fails to remind the reader that the corporation is the only things they live for. Their conglomeracies are the only things they ever truely live for (as well as defeating their opposing rival). Without their beloved companies, they are left without definition and void of any rational meaning. (Which is why Armstrong commits suicide just before his business files for bankruptcy)

One particular anecdote tells of Townsend’s first fiance.
Townsend drives away from his own wedding, when he discovers that his personal driver was forced into divorce from a marriage of over 11 years because of his employer’s endless hours. Realizing that such a marriage wouldn’t be right, and fearing what his life might become, he flees the chaple 5 minutes before the wedding ceremony takes place.

I compare the book to MacBeth, because of its usage of raw ambition as the ruiner/creator of the protaganist’s lives. It shows two utterly remarkably great men using their drive to succeed, and it ultimately becomes the double-edged sword that stabs them through the gut.

So how does the book correlate to your post?

Ambition is great. It easily gets out of hand if not kept in frequent check.
I would describe myself as ambitious, so this is a subject of great concern.

I think there are few things as poetic as the ultimate rise to power, and the vicious fall of those who climb too high. I think that ambition is the key quality of those who wish to do great things in their life, whether it be a global media conglomaracy(?sp) or a goodwill/ charitable foundation.

However, ambition must be separated from petty competitiveness.

So I shall leave you all with a quote from one of my favourite movies, Blade Runner…

“The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long - and you have burned so very, very brightly, Roy.”

NOW THAT’S CLASSY