Who Is To Blame In Macbeth

The events that occur in Shakespeare’s Macbeth are extremely gruesome and dark. This is part of the reason that it is considered one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies. When looking for an explanation as to why these proceedings happened, the only true thing that is to blame is ambition. Ambition is defined as “a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work.” The ambitions of Macbeth and Lady macbeth is what drove them to murdering their friends and colleagues. The entire reason that Macbeth ended up killing Duncan is because he wanted to become king, and fulfill the prophecy that the Witches told him about. He does it for his own selfish reasons. After actually killing Duncan, Macbeth says “For mine own

I am in blood” (Shakespeare, 3.4.167-170). This is him admitting that he only committed the murder for his own benefit, because of his ambitions. He had the strong desire to be king, and in order to achieve this goal, he had to get Duncan out of the way.
Some make the argument that Macbeth is in charge of his own actions, and is to blame for the murder. 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. It is also evidenced that Macbeth doesn’t always have control over his own actions, or the right state of mind. After Macbeth murders Banquo, he sees his ghost standing on his dinner table. He then panics and begins