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How Does Ambition Lead To Macbeth's Downfall

442 Words2 Pages

Emily Wellington

Chris Sommar

ENG2D1-05

Is a story featuring the main character Macbeth hence the title, his story comprises murder and ambition — starting with the murder of Duncan committed by Macbeth with Lady Macbeth's guiding hand, which escalated to the murder of his best friend Banquo and the killings of Macduff's family to keep his declaration to the throne leading to his ultimate demise at the battle of Dunsinane slain by Macduff's and the English militaries, this discussion is on the points where ambition in Macbeth lead to the downfall of Macbeth.

The first point that ambition is clear within the story is Macbeth when Macbeth, specifically when Lady Macbeth learns of what the weird sisters had informed Macbeth even accurately foreseeing his new name Thane of Cawdor not meant as a prophecy maybe but more like a hook to snare him, which they prevail, and they declare 'all hail Macbeth, that shalt be king' hearing of this Lady Macbeth provokes Macbeth to kill Duncan (the king within first few acts) to get closer to the throne not knowing that Malcolm and Donalbain (the king's sons) would flee, leaving Macbeth the only one able to fill the role as king. This is the first instance of what ambition does to lead to disaster. The murder of a king was a personal crime against God. …show more content…

This occurs when Macbeth remembers of the prophecy Banquo had received when the witches first materialized “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo” spoken by the third witch — Macbeth feels intimidated by this and employs two assassins later on another who joins them to kill Banquo and his son Fleance, Banquo is killed, but Fleance flees this, of course, outrages Macbeth when he discovers Fleance had not been killed, despite Fleance being so young he still risks Macbeth's crown and authority without his own

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After that, Duncan’s son flees on the fear that he’ll be next and Macbeth is crowned king. But then he starts to worry, that his friend Banquo might put the pieces together, and know for sure that Macbeth is the true killer. Macbeth being uneasy, decides to kill his best friend Banquo and Banquo’s son Fleance. That way, no-one will know of the witches and the next king inline is killed as well. Macbeth sees it as two birds with one stone, and he hires a band of killers to ambush Banquo while he’s attending Macbeth’s feast.

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Macbeth needs to follow through with this plan because Fleance and Banquo could get in the way of Macbeth becoming King. The three witches had also foretold Banquo’s descendants to become king. Macbeth sends men to follow through with this plan. They succeed to kill Banquo, but Fleance escapes. After being responsible for the deaths of two people, Duncan and Banquo, Macbeth is in a state where he feels the need to keep murdering people that could possibly get in his way of becoming king.

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Most people don’t want to admit to failure or defeat because it’s an unexpected occurrence and embarrassing. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare Macbeth kills king Duncan to become king and anyone who will get in the way of him staying as such. Which led to his downfall because of his ambition. Macbeth's power over Scotland failed because of his ambition to be king, his determination to stay as such, and being easily persuaded. First, ambition led to Macbeth's downfall because he had so much that it led to irrational and severe actions.

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