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Explain How Unchecked Ambition Is Responsible For Macbeth's Downfall

958 Words4 Pages

The Macbeth family, where lines of betrayal and loyalty start to blur, where this loving, happy couple face murder, death, guilt, and most importantly power. In this play called Macbeth by William Shakespeare, he shows the reader how power can dangerously change a mindset. This play is about a couple whose life quickly gets turned upside down after they learn that they will be Queen and King of Scotland, but to do so, they will have to do some brutal things. This play involves the mental side of power and guilt—murder, and suicide. Shakespeare does a great job of showing the audience how unchecked ambition and desire can lead a person to do crazy things. In the play, Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth to kill the King but towards the end, the …show more content…

This means that Lady Macbeth was close to her father, and the sight of her father makes her feel hesitant and guilty. She decides that it would be too much for her, so she urges Macbeth to do the killing. Overall, the readers get to understand how Macbeth persuades Macbeth to take power by force because she uses manipulation and guilt-tripping. Furthermore, towards the end of the play, Macbeth's actions are to blame for his downfall. Macbeth is responsible for his downfall because he gained this intense desire to do whatever he needs to do to be King and he doesn't stop or let anyone get in his way. For instance, Macbeth gets very angry with Macduff after finding out that Macduff is fighting against him. Macduff is fighting against Macbeth because Macbeth kills anyone who stands in his way so Macduff wants to end Macbeth's life so he doesn't keep on killing innocent people. This makes Macbeth mad and believes that Macduff should be punished for it. Macbeth mischievously announced, “The castle of Macduff I will surprise,/ Seize upon fife, give to th edge o’ th’ sword/ His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls/ That trace him to his line” …show more content…

This shows the reader that Macbeth is taking everything too far and is now killing innocent lives because he wants to. Macbeth is making this choice by himself and he does not seem to have any care for the consequences that he could face or any care for how other people will feel or be affected by his actions. Similarly, another way that Macbeth's actions are to blame for his downfall is because he makes the choice to confront Macduff about his loyalty to King Duncan's lineage and him supporting Malcolm, he also chooses to fight him. To illustrate Macbeth's paranoia about Macduff and Malcom trying to take down Macbeth, get the best of him. They met up with each other at Dunsinane Castle in Scotland. Macbeth confronted Macduff for betraying him and plotting against him, knowing that it would lead to a fight and his downfall. Macbeth yells at Macduff “Lay on, Macduff,/ And be damned be him that first cries ‘Hold! Enough!’ (5.8.33-34). Macbeth says this to Macduff because he decided that he doesn't want to go down without a good fight and if he dies he wants to die honorably. Macbeth already knows that Macduff is the only person who can kill him because he wasn't born to a

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