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Macbeth's Greatest Downfall

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Macbeth’s Greatest Downfall
It is a very common misconception in today’s society that ambition in it’s entirety is only ever a positive thing. From a young age we are taught that we are to aspire for greatness in everything we do, as it is only then that we will succeed. However, what often times goes unseen is how ambition can turn from a simple drive to succeed into a vengeful desire fuelled hunger towards gaining further power. Macbeth’s greatest downfall within Shakespeare's famous play is not a tragic flaw, and he himself is not a tragic hero. It’s not an influence from a greater power either, but rather it is his vaulting ambition and greed that cause him to fail at the end of the play. He allows himself to be influenced by the three …show more content…

This disappoints Macbeth and he says, “The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step/On which I must fall down, or else over leap” which indicates that he believes what the witches had told and doesn’t want any obstacles in the way of he himself becoming King (I:iv:56-57). Lady Macbeth, who is also driven by determination, encourages Macbeth to kill Duncan through means of denigration, as well as by challenging his manhood, “What beast was it then/ That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it then, you were a man” (I:vii:52-54). They finally come to the consensus that Duncan must be murdered, and after concurring on a plot to do so, Macbeth performs the deed. He is extremely remorseful after killing Duncan, and seems to wish that he had not done it. “Will all great Neptune’s ocean’s wash this blood/ Clean from my hands?” (II:ii:72-73). However, after killing Duncan and becoming King, Macbeth does not stop. His ambition drives him to ruthlessly order Banquo to be murdered, as well as Macduff’s entire family. He feels little to nothing after he orders the second and third murders to be complete, as his only focus is fulfilling what the witches prophesied for him, which is a great error in his judgement

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In the story "Macbeth" by Shakespeare, Macbeth is a character that would overlook his actions consequences as long as he ended up with more power. Macbeth greatest flaws are his desire for power and overconfidence, that also drove to his death. As the story progressed Macbeth loses his humanity and is overpowered by his greatest desire. Macbeth family Is also affected by this flaw.

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While Lady Macbeth persuades him into killing King Duncan, Macbeth proceeds to murder his dear friend Banquo, and Macduff’s family without tell Lady Macbeth. Macbeth uses his power to manipulate other characters within the play. Furthermore, Macbeth is very secretive while committing these murders. The power of kinsman, and the prophecies reveal the worst of Macbeth.

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Even if he was pressured into killing Duncan he did it anyway. After he has committed the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is plagued by guilt and remorse. This suggests that he recognizes the gravity of his actions and is

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This shows that Macbeth is still a good person and doesn’t want to kill Duncan. However, Macbeth had already been persuaded by Lady Macbeth to go through with it, for they would be richer and

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However, he and his family end up on the trail of Macbeth's murders as he is perceived as a threat to Macbeth's reign as king of Scotland. Duncan also succumbs to the destructive nature of Macbeth's ambition despite being the rightful king. He is also a victim of other people's ambitions who exploit his good character for their own gains

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Macbeth’s greed with power causes danger but allows him to persist Macbeth’s greed with his power gets the best of him; he puts himself and others in danger. Macbeth chooses to kill the king and take his place. Donalbain (son of Duncan) chooses to flee with his brother for their own safety. He tells his brother“there’s daggers in men’s smiles.”

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At the beginning of William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ the protagonist Macbeth is described as ‘brave’, ‘noble’ and ‘honourable’, however Lady Macbeth’s and Macbeths desire for power consumes them. Macbeth’s ambition overrides his conscience and transformed his greatest strength into his greatest weakness. Macbeth’s inability to resist temptations that led him to be greedy for power, Macbeth’s easily manipulative nature which allowed his mind to be swayed, Macbeth having no self control and his excessive pride was what allowed him to renew his previously honourable and celebrated title into one of an evil ‘tyrant’. Macbeth is led by the prophecies of the witches after they foretell he will become the Thane of Cawdor. Not only the witches, but also his wife easily manipulate Macbeth as she attacks his manhood in order to provoke him to act on his desires.

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He feels that because the witches said it that it must be true no matter what the consequences in the future are. This is a leading factor that causes Macbeth to decide to murder King Duncan. Macbeth consciously makes the decision to commit treason and knows that it will have consequences. He even ponders the fact that although he will have a prosperous life on

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“ I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself And falls on the other” (I, vii, 26-28) Macbeth's fatal flaw is too much ambition and he even says it himself. This quote is very ironic because he says that ambition will make people rush into disaster, which is exactly what happens to him later on.

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The witches tell Macbeth “that [he] shalt be king hereafter”(1.3.53), foreshadowing his impractical rise to power. As Macbeth prepares to kill Duncan, he draws his dagger and says,”Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going/And such an instrument I was to use”(2.1.54-55). This exemplifies Macbeth’s true and impatient motives as he was never told to kill Duncan, rather chose to out of his freewill. Killing Duncan wasn’t enough though, as Macbeth needed someone to blame the murder on, so he framed the guards who were there to protect Duncan. Lady Macbeth decides to “smear/The sleepy grooms with blood”(2.2.63-64), which Macbeth could have objected to, but still continued, which made him worse of a person, steering him into a disastrous path.

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Macbeth is the Shakespearean play that features the triumphant uprise and the inevitable downfall of its main character. In this play, Macbeth’s downfall can be considered to be the loss of his moral integrity and this is achieved by ambition, despite this, Lady Macbeth and the witches work through his ambition, furthering to assist his inevitable ruin. Ambition alone is the most significant factor that led to Macbeth’s downfall. The witches are only able to influence his actions through Macbeth’s pre-existing and the three witches see that Macbeth has ambition and uses it to control his action. Ambition alone is displayed throughout the play to be the most significant cause for Macbeth’s downfall.

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Macbeth, himself took these decisions and caused the downfall in his life. He had the taste of power with becoming the king. After having more power, greediness led him to murder Banquo and Macduff’s family. It is clearly shown that Macbeth was aware of what he was doing and knew the consequences. Macbeth really became the “dead butcher”, which Malcolm talked about.

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Macbeth started off as a valiant and courageous soldier, who would do anything for the king. By the end of the play, Macbeth was a tyrant and a horrible leader who killed those who trusted him to maintain the throne. It takes many factors to take a strong man and transform him into an evil monster. Macbeth’s downfall was caused by the deception and temptation of the witches and their prophecies, Lady Macbeth’s greed and aspirations for her husband to be king, and Macbeth’s own greed, jealousy and ambition.

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“There is none but he whose being I do fear: and, under him, my genius is rebuked; as, it is said, Mark Antony 's was by Caesar” (III.i.57-60). Macbeth is angry about being under any of Duncan 's sons when it comes to who becomes the next king. Macbeth is being selfish and greedy, which he proves when he kills Duncan to take his place as king. Macbeth thinks about his line of succession, and thinks to himself “ No son of mine succeeding,if’t

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Lady Macbeth influences Macbeth to kill Duncan, but he continues to have second thoughts about it (i.vii.31-34) and feels terribly guilty afterwards (II.ii.63-66). However, following the murder of Duncan, Macbeth loses any ethics he had left. Macbeth kills the servants, Banquo, and Macduff’s whole family in cold-blooded murder. On the other hand, when Banquo ponders the witches prophecy for him, he contemplates the thought of having to kill someone to get power, but he quickly shuts it down (III.i.9-11).

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