Who Was The Most Responsible For Macbeth's Downfall

Macbeth’s Downfall

Throughout the play, Macbeth was able to conquer warriors all the way from the east to the west, but the one warrior he could not conquer was himself. William Shakespeare wrote Macbeth- a tragic play about the fatal flaws of the main character, Macbeth, and how they caused him to shift from a renowned hero to a tyrannic traitor. Macbeth faced a multitude of forces, but his own ambition is the strongest force that was the most responsible for both his success and his eventual downfall.

Macbeth was very ambitious throughout the entire play. However, from the beginning, he understood that it could potentially become a disadvantage. “I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Vaulting ambition” (1.7.25-27).

Lady Macbeth was able to use his ambition as a tool to convince him to carry out her bidding. “Thou wouldst be great,/ Art not without ambition, but without/ The illness should attend it.” (1.5.18-20). Lady Macbeth was attempting to convince Macbeth that ambition is a good thing, a necessary evil, by telling him that killing Duncan was the only way to become King and that it was a worthwhile decision to make, as unpleasant as it was. Shakespeare used “illness” as a metaphor for evilness or nastiness. This strengthened Lady Macbeth’s argument, as she admitted that killing the King would be nasty and even evil, but necessary. She wrote it off as something that needed to be done. She asked if he was courageous enough, further playing on his ambition and even some of his insecurities by asking if he has what it takes to become King. “And live a coward in thine own esteem,/ Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would”/ Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage?” (1.7.43-46) Shakespeare used an allusion to help get Lady Macbeth’s message across to the audience. By referencing the adage of the cat that wants to eat fish but is scared to get its feet wet, he strengthens Lady Macbeth’s argument towards Macbeth and makes her case more compelling. This was helpful to the audience, as this was a commonly known adage at the time, painting a clear image in the minds of the

They caught onto his actions and saw him for what he was- a man who let his ambition turn him into the very type of person he fought at the beginning of the play. Towards the end of the play, Malcolm led the English army into Scotland, seeking revenge for Macbeth’s wrongdoings. At this point in the play, Macbeth was running low on supporters, the people defending him only fought on his side because they had to. He had lost his friends and followers, his ambition had cost him everything, and he was completely alone. “Those he commands move only in command,/ Nothing in love. Now does he feel his title/ Hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe/ Upon a dwarfish thief.” (5.2.22-25). “His title hang loose about him like a dwarfish thief” is a simile, that provides the audience with an image of how people are beginning to perceive Macbeth. Angus was calling Macbeth someone who is “too small” for the title of “King”, and someone who is unfit for the throne. He was saying that Macbeth is undeserving of the title that he stole by killing Duncan. At this point, Macbeth has officially switched from a hero to a tyrant, he’s lost control of his ambition. “But, for certain,/ He cannot buckle his distempered cause/ Within the belt of rule.” (5.2.14-16). Shakespeare used imagery to say that Macbeth could not control himself, his ambition had overrun his self-control. In the conversation between Lennox,