Selfishness plays a vital role in the downfall of characters in literature. In William Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, selfishness roots itself within the structure of the play and onto Macbeth. Macbeth is a Scottish general and after he had won a victorious battle, he receives a prophecy from three witches whom stated that Macbeth will become the King of Scotland. Macbeth becomes consumed with selfish ambition, and he immediately plots to murder King Duncan while he spent a night at Macbeth's manor. The morning after, Macbeth takes the throne for himself. This event leads Macbeth into a vexation which causes his selfishness to stem and grow. Macbeth selfishly kills his competitors and those who oppose of him. Macbeth's selfishness of keeping the throne ultimately lead him to his death. Shakespeare's Macbeth, exceptionally portrays how Macbeth's excessive selfishness led to his tragic downfall. The destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints. …show more content…
Macbeth deeply desires power and status, so he pursued in his selfishness and schemed together with his wife, Lady Macbeth, to slay King Duncan. This action allows Macbeth to ascend to the throne with loyal subjects who had viewed him as worthy. On the other hand, there are a couple speculators to Macbeth's miraculous jump in power. The speculators are Banquo and Macduff. Banquo had speculated that Macbeth was behind the death of King Duncan and realized that all of Macbeth's prophecies had come true. Macduff is suspicious of the immediate killing of the accused guards who supposedly murdered King Duncan, but Macbeth explains that his fury at Duncan's death was so powerful that he could not restrain himself. Macduff strongly suspects Macbeth of regicide, and he eventually kills Macbeth in the final