The Downfall of Macbeth Macbeth's downfall is a very debated subject, with most scholars arguing causes among a variety of reasons such as, his ambition, greed, vanity, weakness in moral fiber, etc. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the three witches, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, King Duncan, and a host of other characters, play a game of fate to see who will die and who will live. The play starts with the three witches informing Macbeth of a prophecy claiming that he will be king of Scotland. Lady Macbeth, upon hearing of this prophecy, manipulates Macbeth into killing King Duncan to expedite this process. Macbeth then rules like a tyrant, killing innocent people and friends. More people desert him or go against him as he slowly spirals into …show more content…
Macbeth knew that he was committing crimes, but did it anyway for personal gain. According to Maria Cusimano, “Macbeth indulges in the temptation to continue sinning in an attempt to feel the satisfaction he craves,” (30). Maria summed up his negative qualities as sin and explained that, “Sin, disrupts human relationships, distorts the ability to reason, creates a Hell on earth, and prohibits life, instead resulting in only death,” (31). Macbeth, throughout the play acted selfishly and greedily; He disregarded the lives of others to further his ambitions. In act 2, scene 2, Macbeth demonstrated his selfish ambition by killing King Duncan to become king and gain more power. Another example of Macbeth’s hungry ambition is in act 3, scene 3 when he sent murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance so that his lineage would remain in power. Macbeth ruled his kingdom with oppressive tyranny making foes and adversaries out of friends and allies. His tyrannical rule resulted in a revolution that led to the collapse of his regime and ultimately his …show more content…
Macbeth’s will was weak as he was easily manipulated by the three witches. According to R. V. Young, “Macbeth is tempted by the three witches, who are undoubtedly agents of the devil; but Shakespeare makes it perfectly clear that the ambitious thane was capable of resistance,” (47). Macbeth was also easily influenced and swayed by his wife, Lady Macbeth, into killing the king. “Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem’st the ornament of life and live a coward in thine own esteem, letting ‘I dare not’ wait upon ‘I would,’ like the poor cat i’ th’ adage?” (Shakespeare 1.7.45-49). As stated previously, sin and murder only create more death and misery. Macbeth not only killed King Duncan, but murdered Banquo as well. His crimes only increased as the story progressed. Macbeth’s vanity weakened his moral fiber and will, which made him susceptible to committing
Macbeth is a greedy person like us all but he unlike most of us is willing to cross anyline to get what he wants. Macbeth was willing to kill someone he considered a dear friend to gain more power as well as killing Duncan's servants to frame them. His greed out-weighed his loyalty for his king and friend showing how much he’s willing to do to accomplish his selfish goal. Macbeth is so greedy that he’d turn against his own best friend to keep his position as king.
To start, Macbeth shows greed many times throughout the play, he kills just so he can get what he wants. The text states, “ Both of you know Banquo was your enemy” ( Shakespeare 3.1.113b-114a). This quote from the play shows how Macbeth lied to the murderers so that they would kill Banquo. Macbeth wanted Banquo killed because he thought that he would be a threat towards Macbeth becoming king. To add, Macbeth killed Duncan out of greed solely because he wanted to be king.
Macbeth, three witches tell Macbeth that he will be King of Scotland which prompts Macbeth to devise a plan to kill the reigning King Duncan and claim the throne for himself. In act 1 scene 7, Macbeth hesitates with continuing the planned murder of Duncan, but Lady Macbeth successfully persuades him to carry it out. Shakespeare argues that ambition causes people to become greedy which leads them to commit evil acts. Lady Macbeth's determination to continue with the murder of King Duncan
Macbeth's unrelenting desire for power leads him to commit evil acts, including murder. The story states, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other." (Macbeth, Shakespear) This quote highlights how Macbeth's ambition is the driving force behind his actions. He becomes so consumed with the desire for power that he is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it.
His greed leads him to commit sins such as murdering the well-liked King. All in all, Macbeth’s ambitious actions drive him to destruction through his
Admittedly, some readers believe that Macbeth is to blame for his downfall by the virtue of being foolish, however, Lady Macbeth is shown to be a manipulative woman who can easily persuade Macbeth. While it may be true that Macbeth is foolish enough to believe that assassinating the King “may become a man” (1.7.51), yet he is not assured that the murder will not contribute to anything satisfying. Before accepting Lady Macbeth’s plan, Macbeth contemplates the reasons why it is terrible to murder King Duncan. Lady Macbeth then persuades her husband by questioning “[his] love” (1.7.43) towards her and questions if “[he is] afeard” (1.7.43), which led him to approve Lady Macbeth’s offer. Lady Macbeth even jeers her husband’s masculinity by stating,
Even if he was pressured into killing Duncan he did it anyway. After he has committed the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is plagued by guilt and remorse. This suggests that he recognizes the gravity of his actions and is
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a testimony to the difference between greed and ambition, good and evil, and right and wrong. The story shows that when one becomes obsessed with power, they will often resort to methods of manipulation and retaliation to achieve their desired outcome. In the case of Macbeth, he is approached by the Three Witches who inform him that he will one day become Thane of Cawdor and the King of Scotland. Additionally, they inform Macbeth’s comrade Banquo that his sons will one day be kings.
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth shows how greed and paranoia affect one’s actions. Macbeth, a war hero who seeks prestige and power, loses control of himself, and commits heinous acts of violence and corruption. With his actions being enabled by the three witches who prophesy his ascension to the throne of Scotland, Macbeth becomes overwhelmed with pride, and acts rashly with the belief that he is infallible. He aggressively pursues any threat to his rule by ruthlessly killing any of suspicious individual, even his ally Banquo, whose descendants are foretold to succeed Macbeth’s rule of Scotland.
Macbeth’s Downfall Macbeth by William Shakespear is a story about a man named Macbeth whose prophecies are told to him and his life changes. Macbeth was a general in the army, he and his best friend Banquo pass by witches and they tell them their future, they did not believe the witches until one of the prophecies came true. Macbeth becomes irrational and starts killing people so that the prophecies come true. The witches' prophecies only steered Macbeth into a direction, but Macbeth is the only person who can decide his own future.
Macbeth started off as a valiant and courageous soldier, who would do anything for the king. By the end of the play, Macbeth was a tyrant and a horrible leader who killed those who trusted him to maintain the throne. It takes many factors to take a strong man and transform him into an evil monster. Macbeth’s downfall was caused by the deception and temptation of the witches and their prophecies, Lady Macbeth’s greed and aspirations for her husband to be king, and Macbeth’s own greed, jealousy and ambition.
"Macbeth has an inner fight between good and evil, when he knows what he is doing is wrong and hesitates to kill Duncan but in that fight the ambition was stronger than defeating the conscious of good, making him act impulsively killing Duncan rather than waiting and seeing the prophesy through. “In his emotional peroration he appeared to be entirely intent upon moving his will, and if his eloquence does not make a simple sense it makes a complicated sense” (Stein 1951). However, others may argue if he were not evil why, would he do it in the first place? Well, the war among good and evil was clear to him, but in a moment of ambition and insanity, anyone can make a mistakes. “Macbeth’s tragic actions is not willed by destiny, but is the result
His own army then starts turning against him and Lady Macbeth commits suicide. Numerous people outraged and decapitate Macbeth in the last
Macbeth soon lost a sense of his morals and began to murder more people in order to secure his spot on the throne. In his play The Tragedy of Macbeth,
Macbeth is also blinded by his ambition and that allows his wife to convince him to kill the King but that primes him to his own ultimate