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Who Was Responsible For Macbeth's Downfall

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Macbeth is one of the most celebrated plays in William Shakespeare's collection. It explores the theme of ambition and its consequences, which has made it popular with readers and scholars alike. The play is set in Scotland and tells the story of Macbeth, a Scottish nobleman who is driven by ambition to commit heinous crimes that lead to his eventual downfall. In this essay, I will argue that Macbeth's character is ultimately responsible for his tragic end.

The first reason Macbeth is responsible for his tragic end is his unchecked ambition. Throughout the play, Macbeth's ambition drives him to commit a series of brutal murders in order to hold onto power. Starting from his killing of Duncan, the king of Scotland, he spirals down the path …show more content…

He ignores wise counsel from his wife, Lady Macbeth, and other advisers who try to steer him towards a more righteous path. Instead, Macbeth chooses to listen to his own ego and inner voice, which leads to disastrous consequences. For example, when he hears the prophecy of three witches that he would become the King of Scotland, he decides to take matters into his own hands by murdering Duncan, rather than waiting for the prophecy to come true through legitimate means.

Thirdly, Macbeth's strong sense of guilt and conscience is also a factor in his demise. Despite committing numerous terrible acts, Macbeth doesn't seem to have a complete lack of conscience or remorse. Instead, he constantly battles with his inner demons as he tries to justify his actions. This leaves him in a state of constant turmoil, which saps his strength and ultimately leads to his defeat.

Fourthly, Macbeth's lack of emotional intelligence is evident in his actions. He consistently fails to see the bigger picture of his actions on people around him. For instance, he does not realize how his actions affect Lady Macbeth, leading her to insanity and eventually suicide. Furthermore, his murder spree plunges Scotland into chaos and destruction - something that he could have avoided if he had only been able to look past his own selfish

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