ipl-logo

Is Macbeth Responsible For His Own Downfall

907 Words4 Pages
Despite the influences of Lady Macbeth and the three Weird Sisters, Macbeth is mostly responsible for his own downfall. He is the one who makes the decisions throughout the entire play even though he is influenced by others. He also uses the prophecies in a negative way and loses his relationship with his wife by leaving her out of decisions later on in the play. Throughout the play Macbeth overthrows his guilt and continues to kill people to protect his crown. His confidence and desire for power fuels his ambition to become king.
At the start of the play, Macbeth faces a dilemma in which he will either let faith guide him to the crown or kill King Duncan and receive it immediately. Macbeth 's ambition influences his decision to murder King Duncan and receive the crown. Macbeth says, “If chance will make me king, why, chance may crown me/Without my stir”(1.3.157-159). At first, Macbeth believes that fate will make him king and he will not have to do anything. However, his ambition leads him to decide to kill Duncan and ????? to protect the crown. In order to keep the crown, he sent people to kill Banquo and his son so Banquo 's descendants will no longer become king. His fear of people taking his power and crown fueled his ambition to kill the people who used to be closet to him.

However, throughout the play, Macbeth is greatly influenced by other characters such as Lady Macbeth and the Weird Sisters. Lady Macbeth effects Macbeth 's decision in the murder of King Duncan.

More about Is Macbeth Responsible For His Own Downfall

Open Document