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Essay On Macbeth's Downfall

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The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare.It was written sometime between 1599 and 1606, and was first performed in 1611. The play is about a warrior named Macbeth, and the crimes he commits to become a king, and his eventual downfall. Macbeth’s downfall is caused by the crimes he commits, as well as the lack of compassion that he feels towards his people. One of the most important factors that led to the downfall of Macbeth were the crimes that he committed to become the king, and eventual tyrant. The first time he kills in the play is in Act Two Scene One, where he kills the current king, Duncan. At first, he is reluctant to murder someone who was both undeserving, but was also kind and generous to him and his wife, Lady Macbeth, as shown in this quote: “We will proceed no further in this business./ He hath honored me …show more content…

Behold! Look! Lo! How say you?/ Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too./ If charnel houses and our graves must send/ Those that we bury back, our monuments/ Shall be the maws of kites.” (Shakespeare, Act 3 Scene 4 ). Macbeth’s breakdown can be explained well by J. Lyndon Shanley in this quote from Macbeth: The Tragedy of Evil: “No sooner does he gain what he wanted than he is beset by fears worse than those he overrode in murdering Duncan. His horror of murder is lost in the fear of discovery and revenge, and the fear of losing what he has sacrificed so much to gain.” (Shanley 1) Macbeth is responsible for countless more murders throughout the play, such as Lady Macduff and her son, as well as Young Siward. However, the crimes that Macbeth commits are not the only factor a play in his eventual downfall. How little Macbeth cares about his people and followers are another integral part in his fall from greatness. Soon after he is crowned king, A noticeable change can be noticed in Macbeth’s personality. He has become less truthful, as shown when he’s accusing Donalbain and Malcolm of killing

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