Who Was Responsible For Macbeth's Downfall

533 Words3 Pages

Jaina Strunk
Mrs. Richter
English 10 Honors
24 March 2023
Tragic Hero Lost in his Hubris Downfall
The play Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare takes place in Scotland during the 11th century. Macbeth discovers the witches prophecy and develops a constant strive for power. With encouragement from his wife Macbeth kills Duncan due to his son Malcolm seeming as a threat to his throne. This strive for power causes him to become out of control. Macbeth is a tragic hero due to his high rank and tragic flaw of overconfidence. Fate's role changes him throughout the play, which reveals his tragic flaw of hubris ultimately leading to his downfall.
At the beginning of the play Macbeth is very powerful and highly ranked. He killed the traitor and is being commended for his heroism in battle by the captain, “ For brave Macbeth- well he deserves that name” (1.1.15). After being commended of this name Macbeth lets the power corrupt him causing him to strive for more. In the beginning of the play when Macbeth kills the traitor. He is not much of a …show more content…

In the beginning, Macbeth is a noble character, but soon encounters Shakespeare’s representation of fate through witches. The witches fill Macbeth's head with prophecies, bringing forth his evil qualities, making him believe he is unbeatable. The Second Apparition, summoned during Macbeth’s second visit, tells him, “ The power of a man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (4.1.80). After hearing the prophecy, Macbeth concludes that he is untouchable because everyone had to have been born from a woman. However, due to his tragic flaw, Macbeth overlooks the mental consequences of his actions. Seeing Banquo’s ghost horrifies Macbeth making him realize what he has done and causes others to see him as delusional.Though it does not kill him, like it does Lady Macbeth, the guilt still has a potent effect on his character, allowing weakness to seep