Macbeth's Flaws

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The best description of Macbeth would have to be a flawed character. It is best to use this term instead of a tragic hero, because Macbeth was far from being a hero, and not much was gained from his downfall. Overall, Macbeth just had multiple faults which included letting his ambition get the best of him, doubting his own actions which led to hallucinations, and having the feeling of being invincible. Additional flaws include his trust in witches and his ability to be persuaded easily by others. Within act V, scene iii, Macbeth admits his flaws have led him to a “way of life is fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf, and that which should accompany old age as honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have” (24-28). This …show more content…

Macbeth capitalized on this statement and truly believed that this made him invincible, because all people are born from women. However, he did not realize the play on words that was taking place. Because he states to Macduff, “I bear a charmed life, which must not yield to one of woman born” (V. viii. 12-13). In reality, Macduff was born through surgery and not naturally through his mother. This flaw of believing in the witches and feeling invincible due to the apparitions’ prophecies led to Macbeth’s demise, because ultimately he was killed by Macduff. It was not just a single flaw that brought Macbeth down but many. These flaws continued and built up to the point where Macbeth became depressed, mentally unstable, and heartless. When hearing that his wife committed suicide, Macbeth merely explains how “ she should have died hereafter. Thee would have been a time for such a word” (V. v. 17-18). One would have expected to hear a more surprised and mournful reaction to hearing the news of a spouse’s death. However, this flawed character seems to have lost his purpose in life and was waiting for his victory to come. Macbeth’s character had many flaws from the very beginning, and because of the amount of faults, it is best to describe him as a flawed character rather than a tragic

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