ipl-logo

Who Is Responsible For The Downfall Of Macbeth

713 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The impact of supernatural in macbeth

Williams Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy Of Macbeth, scrutinises that the supernatural is responsible for the tragic downfall of Macbeth. Shakespeare utilises Macbeth as a mouthpiece to demonstrate how the supernatural leads to the corrupting motion of unchecked ambition and to one’s ruination through desires and delusions. Shakespeare introduces how the witches equivocating with ambiguous words and Lady Macbeth summoning the demonic spirits is influential supernatural power generating Macbeth’s downfall. The witches are symbols of figures promoting supernatural power and Lady Macbeth is a ruthless woman who demandingly pleads for help from the supernatural. In the long run, the supernatural is not entirely accountable for Macbeth’s tragic …show more content…

Shakespeare employs the three witches to be conspicuous voices of unnaturalness and disorder. The three witches, Hecate being the leader, are foul beings that promote the supernatural by predicting Macbeth’s future leading him to demolition. The three witches equivocate with ambiguous words and poison Macbeth’s mind with prophecies, forcing him to become gluttonous and immoral. Macbeth’s paranoia forces him to trust the witch’s prophesies and attempt to fulfil them himself eliminate threats to his social position. Hecate creates complications by stirring the pot and misshaping Macbeth’s thoughts by prevaricating his future. “When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lighting, or rain?” This quote manifests that the three witches have the ability to control the weather, which is a supernatural act. For the most part, Shakespeare demonstrates through the witches that the supernatural is the rationale that leads to Macbeth’s tragic …show more content…

Macbeth’s ambition is unbounded by moral constraints, placing no limitations on his desires. As a result, Macbeth is committing a transgressive act, rebelling against the social norms of the hierarchy and the great chain of being.The supernatural stimulates Macbeth’s unchecked ambition to an extent. Due to his “vaulting ambition”, Macbeth chose to comply with the witches prophecies and Lady Macbeth’s aspirations. His greed, jealousy and ambition develop once temptation and deception overtake his mental health. “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’other.” Macbeth claims the only motivation he attains is his ambition, which ultimately, in the end, is the root cause of his tragic downfall and not of the supernatural. Although the supernatural is responsible for tempting Macbeth, his immeasurable ambition and avarice lead him to his tragic

Show More
Related
1464 Words | 6 Pages

Macbeth’s greed takes over him as he chases a fool’s dream. Macbeth's ambition leads him to secure his power; he overlooks his guilt and focuses on doing whatever it takes to hold onto his authority. Shakespeare demonstrates, in a variety of techniques, how just ambition alone can bring down the even the greatest of men. “There is something wrong with a individual’s character if opportunity controls their loyalty.” Sean Simmon’s the writer of this quote explains how blinded someone can be when given certain opportunities which can be directly related to the character Macbeth.

Read More
714 Words | 3 Pages

The three Witches are one of the reasons why her husband chooses to kill Macbeth. The Witches in Macbeth’s play have powers like no other. One of the powers they have is

Read More
793 Words | 4 Pages

Greed causes even the best of men to brood immoral intentions. The Tragedy, Macbeth by William Shakespeare, describes the flaws of human nature and the traumatic effects unrestrained ambition may cause. The play commences, featuring Macbeth as an eminent, highly esteemed Thane and loyal warrior to the king; however, after being prophesied by the three witches, a torch of ambition is lit. Furthermore, upon hearing the witches prophecies, his reputation is downgraded as he steps into a realm of evil, and more tragically, finds that he has “in blood stepped in so far that should [he] wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er”. After murdering the rightful king of Scotland, Duncan, and therefore subsequently, one murder leads to another; to a point where he cannot return from his life of evil “I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er”.

Read More
631 Words | 3 Pages

His greed brings temporal joy, but later causes social and mental insanity. Although the fictional tragedy portrays a practical lesson for one’s character, it also has a spiritual application. He is merely an ordinary man, a respected general of King Duncan’s army. Macbeth is living a pleasant life, "For brave Macbeth — well he deserves that name” (Act I Scene II), until three witches prophesy of a greater future. Although he believes it is an impossible fate, Macbeth allows the prophecies to linger in his thoughts.

Read More
839 Words | 4 Pages

In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the tragic tale of a Scottish general's rise and fall from power, evil plays a front and center role. As a play that explores the darkest corners of human ambition and desire, Macbeth weaves an intricate examination of the consequences when one is consumed by greed and the lust for dominance. In this essay, I will argue that Macbeth's tragic descent into evil is fueled by unchecked ambition and desire for power, ultimately leading to his downfall. To support this claim, I will analyze various aspects of the play, such as the influence of Showing evil forces, the roles played by characters like Lady Macbeth and the witches, and how Macbeth's own character transforms throughout the story. First, let us delve into how

Read More
900 Words | 4 Pages

Greed and Ambition is a vital theme that notably influenced Macbeth’s mental deterioration. By following with a heart filled with avarice he is lead awry, which consequently sparked his destruction, defeat and left him bathing in

Read More
722 Words | 3 Pages

Power can easily become a corruptive force when ambition and desire get out of hand. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth (1606), Macbeth’s ambition and Lady Macbeth’s greed for power transform them into a corrupt king and insane queen. The witches are the trigger for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s inhumane actions. A variety of literary and dramatic techniques are used to present these themes.

Read More
362 Words | 2 Pages

Like all of Shakespeare’s other plays, “Macbeth’s” protagonist Macbeth is incredibly successful but suffers from one fatal flaw, his great ambition. His ambition will be the cause of his great success but ultimately also of his downfall. The man’s ambition drives him to seize every opportunity to promote his own agenda. His ambition hurts him the most when he decides to kill King Duncan and Macduff.

Read More
1337 Words | 6 Pages

The witches, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and other characters seem to act one way, whether it be good or evil, but their intentions are usually impure and meant to harm others in order to benefit themselves. Macbeth’s guilt is caused by the foul play the witches involve themselves in. If not for their prophecy, Macbeth would have never known of his fate and would have gained the kingship without involving murder, leading to his guilty conscious. The use of Supernatural elements is added to the plot of the play in order to show readers what led to Macbeth’s downfall, and what contributed to his guilt. His guilt arose from the

Read More
973 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout the play, the witches have a strong influence on many characters. MacBeth listens to their prophecies and tries to pursue ultimate power because of them. The witches are an example of supernatural beings and change in natural order of events. The witches prophecies were seen as concrete and not able to be altered, so by MacBeth trying to usurp and affect his future, he reaps the poor consequences of his actions. The witches are stronger and more powerful than MacBeth because they have all-power and the ability to forever alter the course of someone’s life.

Read More
682 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
1009 Words | 5 Pages

Primarily, Macbeth craves power but is too weak to obtain it rightfully, leading him to a second internal struggle in which his ambitious attempts to obtain power conflict with his conscience. Finally both of these struggles are results of his struggle to be admired. Firstly, a contributing factor towards Macbeth’s internal struggle is his hunger for power that is contrasted by his cowardice which prevents him from independently attaining power. Macbeth hopes that “chance may crown (him) //

Read More
685 Words | 3 Pages

Macbeth Essay: Influence of the Supernatural Throughout the Shakespearean play, Macbeth, the supernatural plays a part in all the events in the play. The witches, the floating dagger, and the prophetic apparitions are all examples of the supernatural intertwining with the play. From the murder of King Duncan to Macbeth’s eventual death, the supernatural played a part in most of Macbeth’s actions.

Read More
569 Words | 3 Pages

Blind Ambition and Greed The play “Macbeth”, by William Shakespeare illustrates many themes through the characters from the beginning to the end of the story. But the main central theme introduced is Ambition and Greed. As the play goes on we read how Macbeth permits his Ambition and Greed to dictate the outcomes and tragedy’s that occur to himself and others.

Read More
1241 Words | 5 Pages

Macbeth’s ambition is one of the most prominent things that drive Macbeth in the play and truly becomes evident when he hears of the Witches prophecies. When the witches stop talking, he demands to know more. “Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more” (I, III, 73-74). This portrays his excessive curiosity on the subject as well as his craving for more desirable prophecies. This ambitious nature and craving for power is also demonstrated only moments after hearing the witches, when he starts formulating a plan to kill Duncan in order to make the third prophecy come true.

Read More

More about Who Is Responsible For The Downfall Of Macbeth

Related Topics

Open Document