Throughout the Tragedy of Macbeth, Shakespeare evinces the notion that Macbeth’s incessant utilization of self-preservation caused him to victimize himself, subsequently leading him down a perpetual path of inner destruction. Furthermore, self-preservation contributed to the ruination of his well-being which is ironically what he sought. Adding coal to a fire to sustain its longevity to keep warm was the ultimate blunder of his life. If he had simply taken notice of the abundance of firewood next to the pile of coal, he would have reaped the fruits of the coveted title that is Thane of Cawdor.