Self Destruction In Macbeth

Macbeth has shown that certain things can lead to self-destruction as well as the destruction of others. Ambition can be good, but when overused for selfish reasons, it can be fatal. Guilt as a result of terrible things can cause those who committed them to go insane. When fate is dominated by free will, it can result in horrible mistakes. Unnatural deeds can upset the balance of nature. By listening to and fueling their own ambition, by committing despicable acts that caused their own guilt, by following free will instead of letting fate take its course, and by committing unnatural deeds, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth ultimately led to their own destruction.

Ambition can be a good thing; it can help people get what they want and can help drive

When people do things that make them feel guilty, they can have an extremely difficult time, especially if the reason for the guilt is something that cannot be taken back or rectified. One thing that cannot be taken back or rectified is murder. Macbeth decided that he wanted to be the king, and he thought that they way to become king was to murder King Duncan. Lady Macbeth believed the same thing and strongly encouraged Macbeth to do it. Once it was done, it was done and Macbeth became king. Guilt began to weigh on Macbeth. He began to hear knocking sounds near Duncan's room and was freaked out by what he did. He even said "To know my deed, 'twere best to not know myself" (II.II.71). This showed that Macbeth did not want to live knowing what he did. The guilt he felt was very intense. Similarly, Macbeth said "Wake Duncan with thy knocking. I would thou couldst" (II.II.72). This showed that Macbeth wished that he had never killed Duncan. It caused more problems than what it was worth; Banquo was suspicious of Macbeth and the guilt that Macbeth felt was horrible and he was very regretful. Even though Lady Macbeth seemed to be the driving force behind Macbeth's actions, she began to feel very guilty as well. She knew that they got what they wanted, but they were not happy because of how they got it. She said "Naught's had, all's spent, where our desire is got without content. 'Tis safer to be that which we destroy than by

Macbeth received a prophecy from three witches that informed him that he would be the king. He was confused, but he began to believe the prophecy. They had stated that he would be the thane of Glamis and the thane of Cawdor, which he was. Macbeth believed that we would become king because the other predictions of the witches came true. Instead of waiting around, Macbeth decided to take action. He believed that if he didn't do anything, nothing would happen. He took drastic measures to become king by murdering Duncan in his sleep. He did become king, but he used his own free will to do it. He was consumed with guilt after that, and there was a whole army against him that was led in part by King Duncan's son Malcolm. Macbeth was targeted by the army and then killed by Macduff, who aligned with Malcolm. Macbeth's own free will destroyed him. Before even taking such drastic measures to get what he wanted, Macbeth was considering things. The witches said he would be king, but he was unsure of how that would actually happen. He thought about killing Duncan to obtain the position, but the thought of killing him terrified him. He couldn’t even recognize himself after considering committing a deed as awful as murder. He then started to wonder if he could become king without doing that. He said "If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir"