Examples Of The Deadly Sins In Macbeth

Gavin Rice

Mrs. Cartwright

English 20-1

April 3rd, 2023

The Deadly Sins of Macbeth’s Downfall

Sin: An offense of thought, word, or act of immortality or harmfulness, ultimately bringing about one’s doom.

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a play about sin and its deadly consequences, narrating the tale of a tragic fall from grace due to the unrighteous actions that have been committed. Set in medieval Scotland, the story follows the noble Macbeth, an easily manipulated general who fights for the good of the country and the success of his ruler and friend, King Duncan. Seeded by the words of a prophecy, the idea of self-achievement becomes a priority to him in an evil turning of his morals, fueling multiple misdeeds that secure him as the new

Macbeth’s envy towards others throughout the story is one of the main sins that lead to his eventual downfall in this tragedy. A driving example of this in the story is Macbeth’s desire for the Scottish throne and royal family to fulfill the prophecies set for him. After the three witches predict his future kingship: “All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter” (1.3.53), the once loyal Macbeth sets his ambitions on a higher position than that he is in as his inner jealousy of King Duncan and his royal sons grows. “The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o’er-leap” (1.4.55-56). However, once he gains the throne by committing treason and obtains all that he once wished for, Macbeth still holds envy towards others, wishing that he held positions of others rather than his own. Taking King Duncan’s position through murder plants another seed of envy in him, as he begins to feel insecurity over the situation he has unrightfully placed himself in and realizes what could be done against him rather than the previous ruler now. “In restless ecstasy, Duncan is in his grave, after life’s fitful fever he sleeps well, treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison, malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing, can touch him further! (3.2.24-28). Additionally, Macbeth has jealousy of Banquo once holding royalty, feeling his position is empty and of lesser

Pride is a double-edged sword that is held by all, capable of bringing about success and strength in an individual, but can opposedly bring about overconfidence and destruction. One of Macbeth’s major flaws is that he holds excessive pride in himself for his dignity and past successes. Not knowing the issues that it is building, Macbeth’s sin of hubris stays strong throughout the story until his last moments in battle, being a main reason for his downfall. The first instance of this in the story is in Macbeth’s overpraised and honored character at the beginning. His once-healthy pride grows dark as he learns from the witches that he is to become the future king and be held above all others, believing that he is unquestionably the most worthy to be the ruler of Scotland due to his pride. “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me” (1.3.154-155). After taking the throne through murder to gain undeserved kingship, Macbeth again displays his arrogant dignity in killing his friend. In Banquo’s obvious superiority to Macbeth both morally and mentally, Macbeth orders to have him killed in fear of his greatness and honor possibly being overshadowed by another. “Whose being I do fear, and under him my genius is rebuked, as it is said” (3.1.59-60). Later in the story, as Macbeth is nearing his doom for his traitorous actions, Macbeth’s dignity of himself is the final act that leads