Fall Of Ambition In Macbeth

The strive and ambition for power can seem to become true perfection, but people must become more careful about what they wish for because that power might exactly be what causes their downfall. This is true in William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth by a man by the name of Macbeth. Macbeth is a Scottish general and Thane of Glamis and is known for being a noble Thane and a brave, and powerful soldier. Macbeth being a high-ranking man was not virtuous. He was easily tempted into murder to fulfill his ambitious crave to claim the throne. Once he did, he became King of Scotland. He was never satisfied and comfortable in his role as a murderer and king. He knows from right and wrong but chooses the dark path without being able to prove it

His ambition causes him to choose the wrong choices and affects the outcome of his life. In the beginning of the story, the witches tell Macbeth that his fate is to become king. Macbeth believes that fate will just simply make it true and that he will not have to do anything. However, his ambitious nature makes him ponder the thought of being king in his own way. He decides his final decision by the push of Lady Macbeth. He tells her, “I am settled, and bend up/ Each corporal agent to this terrible feat” (I.7.79-80). Macbeth end ups murdering the king due to Lady Macbeth pushing his flaw even more. Banquo’s fate, on the other hand, was that his descendants were to become kings. Macbeth's flaw makes him become paranoid about Banquo’s children being king because he wants the throne for his own descendants and not his. This leads to the murder of Banquo and causing Macbeth to go down the wrong path and spiral out of

He goes from being highly regarded and honored to being despised. This big change takes a toll on him emotionally and psychologically. He was seen as a powerful captain with highly skilled battle tactics and moves. King Duncan praised him for defeating the King of Norway. To Macbeth’s surprise, he was named the new Thane of Cawdor because of his skills and bravery and his great ambition. Along came the witches and prophesied that Macbeth will be king of Scotland. The good trait of ambition that gave him a title of the new Thane also gave him the title of king but through the action of murder. It was not long lasting though, and his flaw of ambition that got him those high-class titles also ended him with defeat and death. Macbeth through all this knows that he has gone too far and that he can not escape his problems. Macbeth expresses this by stating,“ I am in blood/ Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more,/ Returning were as tedious as go o’er./ Strange things I have in head, that will to hand,/ Which must be acted ere they may be scanned” (III.4. 136-140). Macbeth's image is of somebody standing in a river of blood. He has stepped into the river so far that, even if he continues no further forward, the distance to the side he faces is just as far as the distance should he turn back to the side he climbed in. In other words, it would be as difficult, as