What Led To Macbeth's Downfall

Macbeth is a popular tragedy written by William Shakespeare that portrays how thirst for power can lead a person to their downfall. Set in Scotland, Macbeth who is a General in the army, is given a prophecy in which he is seen to become the next King of Scotland. Led by his ambition and further backed up by his wife, he goes on to kill the former king. Deeply consumed by this desire, he continues to commit more crimes in order to remain in power. This ambition is Macbeth’s tragic flaw which eventually leads him to his downfall. As Macbeth falls from these great heights, he accepts full responsibility of his actions and accepts his fate. Macbeth is a tragic hero and not a game piece in the witches plan as he has the attributes that make him

fall from being a hero.
Ambition is Macbeth’s tragic flaw that leads him to his downfall.

Shakespeare was known well for the plays he wrote about tragic heroes. In these plays, the tragic hero “must possess a character trait or quality which under normal circumstances would be a virtue, but under the special circumstances of the play proves to be a fatal flaw” (St. Rosemary Educational Institution). This is well seen throughout the play Macbeth as he is very aspiring. After killing King Duncan, his pushes himself to kill Banquo to remain king. Feeling threatened by Banquo’s character, he feels that “there is none but he whose being I do fear; and under him my genius is rebuked….no son of mine succeeding. If’t be so, for Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind; for them the gracious Duncan have I murdered” (III: I: 52-70). He decides to eliminate Banquo as he is the only one at the time who knows about Macbeth’s prophecies along with Lady Macbeth. Macbeth receives prophecies from the three evil sisters who purposely misguide him, however the decisions he make upon receiving them are fully his own. “That will never be: who can impress the forest, bid the tree unfix his earth-bound root?....Rebellion’s head rise never, till the wood of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath to time, and moral custom.” (IV: I: 104-110). After the revealing of the three apparitions, Macbeth feels as if he has everything he aspires. As Macbeth continues to do misdeeds, he

decides “from this moment, the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand. And even now, to crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done” (IV: I: 159-168). Macbeth’s ambition is what makes him take the necessary steps he needs to achieve what he desires. He has made a rule for himself that he will act immediately on his thoughts without hesitation.
As Macbeth falls from great heights, he accepts full responsibility for his actions. Macbeth’s introduction in the play is done by a soldier who tells the King “brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name – disdaining fortune, with brandish’d steel, which smoked with blood execution, like valour’s minion carved out his passage till he faced the slave….O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!” (I: II: 18-26). As he explains, he speaks of Macbeth’s bravery, indicating his importance. Upon hearing the prophecies, Macbeth decides from his own free will to complete them, especially when Duncan makes Malcolm the crown prince. He says to himself, “the Prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o’er leap, for in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires: the eye wink at the hand!” (I: IV: 55-60). He knows that he is making the wrong choice, however he hopes that it will remain a secret. These bad choices made him fall from being someone people admired to someone they found disgusting. As he begins to come to reality, he makes metaphors reflected off of his life. “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by and idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” (V: V: 21-30). He begins to feel that what he has chosen has gotten him to a place worse than he was before. In his final battle with Macduff, Macbeth talks about the amount of deaths he has done in a regretful way. He says to Macduff, “I have avoided thee: but get thee back; my soul is too much charged with blood of thine already.” (V: VIII: 5-7). In the end of the play, Macbeth realizes how many mistakes he has made along the way and has changed from being the hero he once was into the person people want dead.
Macbeth is a tragic hero as he has all the characteristics that lead him from being a hero to his death.

Shakespeare made his character very carefully, making sure he has the right mix that will make him legible for such a title. He made ambition, normally seen as a remarkable characteristic, Macbeth’s tragic flaw that ultimately leads him to his downfall. While falling from his high place, he knows it is he who is responsible. A tragic hero is always seen as a great person, however it is their actions that make them do wrong and bring them

down.