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Was Macbeth Responsible For His Own Downfall

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The character of Macbeth, in Shakespeare’s famous play “Macbeth,” experiences series of conflict that contribute to his downfall. The question is, was his downfall due to fate? Or his own actions? The prophecy that the witches saw of Macbeth led him to believe that others may get in the way of his reign. Although seeing his own fate altered his decision making, it was not his fate that doomed him. His actions were led by greed and fear; he committed selfish acts by murdering Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff’s Family all to uphold his status. Due to his murderous crimes being led by his own actions and not the destiny that the witches prevised; Macbeth’s downfall was a tragedy of character.

The first murder Macbeth administered was against King Duncan. Shortly after Macbeth discovered that he was fated to be King, he wanted to help the prophecy take effect. By murdering King Duncan, Macbeth would be next in line to the throne. In this excerpt from the play, Macbeth expresses his concern with killing Duncan for others might use his reasoning against him, “We’d jump the life to come. But in these cases, We still have judgment here; that we but teach Bloody instructions, …show more content…

Due to Macbeth’s previous murders, Macduff decided to orchestrate a battle to end Macbeth and his reign. Macbeth’s response to this devious plan was to kill Macduff’s family as an act of revenge. These family members were not an interference to his prophecy, but instead were used as collateral damage. This last crime was the last straw for Macbeth and ultimately led to his death. Once news was heard of the mass murder, Macduff responded with his vindictive intentions, “Cut short all intermission; front to front Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself; Within my sword’s length set him. If he ’scape, Heaven forgive him too!”(Shakespeare 4.3.266-269) Overall, Macbeth murdered the family for selfish reasons which were not decided by

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Macbeth decided on his own accord to carry out this murder for his own gain, so he would be able to become king. He was given the spark of interest by the witches prophecy, but was never forced into taking such a drastic measure. The murder occurred solely due to Macbeth's judgment, as he did not reject the opportunity to fulfill his greedy goal of becoming king. Such control was seen once again following the news of Macduff fleeing to England, as Macbeth decided that “The very firstlings of [his] heart shall be the firstlings of [his] hand” (Shakespeare 4.1). Macbeth made such a decision wanting to maintain his grasp on the throne, trying to prevent anyone else from seizing power.

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His violent approach to the issue is evident: that Macbeth was willing to secure his place on the throne no matter what. When Macduff is shown to be a traitor to Schotland after he flees to England, Macbeth sends murderers to kill his family. Macbeth says, “The castle of Macduff I will surprise; seize upon Fife; give to the edge o’ the sword his wife, his babes and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line” (Act IV, Scene i. Lines 164-167. This shows that Macbeth is trying to wipe out an entire family line because of one man who was deemed traitorous. This displays Macbeth’s paranoia even further, by emphasizing the lengths he will go

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When Macduff hears about the murder of King Duncan, he automatically has his suspicions about Macbeth. During this scene Macbeth goes off and kills the two innocent guards, killing the only evidence against himself. Due to this act everyone praises Macbeth for his bravery and for solving the murder so fast, but Macduff had his doubts with

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Having a strong desire to rule, Macbeth is extremely ambitious. His ambition outweighs any other quality, making it undesirable. Nothing would stand in the way of Macbeth’s success once he set his mind towards something. Macbeth doesn’t have any reason why should kill King Duncan. As he is talking with himself trying to get one, the only reason to go through with the plan is because of his ambition getting in the way.

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The Downfall Of Macbeth Shakespeare's drama Macbeth emphasizes the corrosive influence of uncontrolled ambition. Macbeth's demise is ultimately due to a terrible weakness in himself: ambition. However, in the shape of witches and predictions, fate is also to blame for his downfall since they impose his wickedness. Lady Macbeth's quest for power also influences Macbeth's destruction. She uses persuasion as a driving force behind Macbeth to persuade him to kill Duncan and fulfill her wants, all contributing to Macbeth's tragedy.

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Shakespeare points out how “infirm of purpose” Macbeth acts after realizing the repercussions of his betrayal, when Macbeth says, “I am afraid to think what I have done. Look on ‘t again I dare not” (II.ii. 66-67). Macbeth’s reaction shows how distress, guilt, and anxiety go hand in hand with immoral actions. In another situation Macbeth may have had a legitimate cause for his regicide, such as, if Duncan plans to kill hundreds of innocent people, or engage in a war the country does not want.

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That is not entirely accurate. Macbeth didn’t want to kill Duncan. Before he killed him, he said “I have no spur to prick with the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on the other” (1.2.25-28). This is Macbeth being honest with himself and realizing that there isn’t really a good reason to kill Duncan. He just wants the power of king to himself.

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(Shakespeare 1.3.52-55). Macbeth is influenced by his greed for power to use ruthless actions, in this case to kill Duncan to receive the crown he thinks he needs to earn that power. Overwhelmed by his greed, he is already thinking about the “murder” as he

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Not only does Macbeth portray his inhumane quality through his lack of inner voice, but also through his cruel actions. Later in the Act, Macbeth is told by Apparitions that he should beware of Macduff. Because of this warning, Macbeth thinks he needs to kill all the members of Macduff’s family (4.1.171-175). When Macbeth killed Macduff’s wife and sons, he did not stop to think about them as humans. The wife and children of Macduff were innocent people with lives that were taken away just because Macbeth received a warning from ghost-like images.

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“He has kill'd me, mother: Run away, I pray you!” This drives Macduff to take revenge by killing Macbeth fulfilling the prophecy and ending Macbeth’s life. If Macbeth did not have so much ambition, he would not have visited the witches or even try to kill Macduff’s family. These two events demonstrate how Macbeth’s great ambition resulted in his downfall.

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After the three witches inform Macbeth that he will be king, Lady Macbeth finds out and wants Macbeth to kill King Duncan. “Shall sun that morrow see! Your face,my thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters. (1.5.60-63). At first, Macbeth does not want to do it, but Lady Macbeth persuades him to do it by telling him that he isn’t a man if does not do as she says.

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It is clear that it was Macbeth’s fault for his downfall because of he, himself chose the wrong path. He had the choice of avoiding people but, he did not even after feeling guilty of what he did. Macbeth’s downfall in life cannot be blamed on anyone else, but

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Often times, people go through rises and downfalls in their lives that they themselves are responsible for. In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, both main characters, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, himself, are responsible for the downfall of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is responsible for the tragedy because she convinces and manipulates Macbeth into doing the deed. However, Shakespeare accomplishes in showing that Macbeth is more responsible for his own downfall than Lady Macbeth because he listens to the witches and follows his ambition rather than his conscience. To begin, Lady Macbeth is responsible for the tragedy because she convinces and manipulates Macbeth into doing the deed by insulting him when he changes his mind.

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This is where the planning of the murder truly develops. Macbeth continues with his internal conflict, but comes to the realization, and debatable conclusion that the murder is morally wrong. He makes reference to angels in Heaven saying, “And pity, like a naked new-born babe, Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubim, horsed, Upon the slightest couriers of the air, Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind.” (Act I Scene VII, ll. 21-25.) Here we see Macbeth discussing what would happen if he committed murder, and if he would be exposed.

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Often times in literature, the downfall of a character arises due to both external and internal forces. In Macbeth, William Shakespeare demonstrates that the downfall of Macbeth arises due to both internal and external forces, but among the two, internal forces have a greater influence on the outcome. The forces of Macbeth’s own nature, the supernatural and Lady Macbeth all contribute to his downfall but the true deciding factors are the forces within. The external forces that affect Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and the witches, prompt Macbeth into doing actions and making decisions that lead to his downfall.

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