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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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