Who Is Responsible For Macbeth's Downfall

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Macbeth was a valued general, dedicated husband, and a loyal subject of the king. But that all changed when he started to want more. The play “The Tragedy of Macbeth” by William Shakespeare is full of deaths. But why was Macbeth responsible for his own downfall? That is because Macbeth’s downfall was caused by his desire to become king which changed his perspective of right from wrong. This resulted in Macbeth’s power hunger, his greed and his ambition which are all factors that caused him his own life. Power can change people in a way that is incomprehensible. In the play the greatest title of power is king. Macbeth allows himself to be manipulated by his wife in order to make his intentions seem less criminal. “I am settled, and bend…show more content…
What first fuelled his ambition was one of the first prophecies given to him by the witches. “All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter!” (I, ii, 50). This prophecy was given to Macbeth while he was still pure, but this prophecy sparked the hidden desire within Macbeth. When the other prophecy of him becoming the next thane of Cawdor came true, Macbeth had no reason to not believe the witches and their prophecies. The problem was that Macbeth took matters into his own hands for the king prophecy to come true. This prophecy gave Macbeth motivation and false hope. The only way to become king was if he killed the current king, King Duncan. The prophecy tested his morality. It played with the idea that killing someone for your own desires is ok. Since it was what the witches told him, Macbeth’s thought that killing Duncan was his destine and that it was bound to happen. As soon as the witches seemed trustworthy Macbeth jumped at the chance to dignify his intentions, which were to kill the current king so he could become king. Macbeth still had some moral codes that seemed to be stopping him from committing this crime. But they were all washed away thanks to the help of his wife Lady Macbeth. She is the second source that fuelled his ambition and that is because they shared the same dream. Lady Macbeth wanted to become queen just as much as Macbeth wanted to be king. She is the driving force that…show more content…
It makes him forget the difference between right and wrong. Macbeths over confidence from the witches’ prophecies causes him to lose his reasoning. They add to his ego and false hope. “Seize upon fife: give to edge o’ the sword/ His wife, his babes and all unfortunate souls/ That trace him in his line.” (IV, i, 151-153). This is an example of Macbeth being over confident, foolish and greedy. He kills all of Macduff’s family because he suspects Macduff is against him. But Macbeth uses the excuse that MacDuff did not attend his dinner party as a reason for him to be punished. Instead of thinking reasonably his greed takes over his mentality, so he hires murderers to kill Macduff’s entire family. Any sane person would have found an alternative, Macbeth could have talked to Macduff face to face. He could have tried to convince Macduff to join his side. Instead Macbeth choses to flaunt his power and display his greed by taking the life’s of innocent people. This was foolish because it did not accomplish anything and it added to Macduff’s hatred towards Macbeth. Another example of greed changing Macbeth’s perspective, is when he allows the witches prophecies to cloud reality. “Macbeth shall never be vanquish’d be until/ Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill/ Shall come against him.”(IV, i, 92-94). Macbeth honestly believed that he would not get hurt unless the woods of Birnam walked over to Dunsinane. He believed that he will have
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