Is Macbeth Responsible For His Own Downfall

A humble man corrupted by the greed for power, creates the path for his own downfall. This occurs when Macbeth in the play Macbeth by Shakespeare chooses to take the path of deceit and murder to gain the title of king. Macbeth`s decision to murder the former king, leads to a sense of paranoia, and mistrust. His impatience to fulfill a prophecy, leads to him provoking his own future, while making irrational decisions, overlooking the consequences that he faces later on. Nonetheless, Macbeth`s decision to murder an innocent family causes the only threat to Macbeth and his power, to turn against him.

Macbeth creates the path for his own failure, by murdering Duncan to take his place on the throne. The assassination of Duncan creates a sense of

Once the witches state that he is destined to be the king, he becomes overconfident, provokes his own future, and changes his character. After the witches’ confirm that no one can prevent Macbeth from gaining the throne, Macbeth becomes overconfident. Macbeth believes that “none of woman born/ shall harm Macbeth” (IV.i.82-83). Overconfidence led Macbeth to the doors of his own misfortune, when he becomes reckless and overlooks the consequences of his actions, which are causing people to go against Macbeth. Furthermore, his race to the throne against his own fate leads him to his downfall, when he provokes his own future, by revolving his life and the decisions he makes according to the prophecy. According to the prophecy, Banquo’s sons are destined to be king, so to prevent that threat Macbeth decides to kill Banquo “with twenty trenched gashes on his head” (III.iv.29). In Macbeth’s mind, he is preventing the witches’ prophecy of Banquo’s sons being kings by killing him, but is overlooking the fact that he cannot change the future. Additionally, the transformation of Macbeth’s character causes his own downfall, when he converts from a humble to greedy man. Macbeth’s impatience and greed to fulfill the prophecy and become king, causes him to leave behind the hardworking, noble person he once was, to one with “dark and deep desires.`` The man that was loyal to Duncan and was humble, is corrupted by the greed for the title of king so much, that he makes irrational decisions such as committing murder, without considering the consequences. Overall, Macbeth`s impatience for the title of king causes him to overlook the consequences of his irrational decisions, which later come and bite