Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Analysis of Macbeth
Contribution to Macbeth's downfall
Analysis of Macbeth
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Analysis of Macbeth
In some aspects of life, it may be the easy way out to blame other people for your mistakes. Considering the world we live in today, this may be a common conclusion. While this may be true, however, the person mainly faulted for your mistakes is you. In Macbeth, a play by William Shakespeare himself, reveals the dark desires and insights of the human mind. The person I find ultimately responsible for Macbeth’s downfall is Macbeth himself. During the entire story, Macbeth’s decisions have ironically led to his downfall, most notably the murder of King Duncan.
Although speculations have led me to believe that Macbeth is not solely responsible for his own demise, it’s safe to say that he has the majority of the blame. Yes, it is noted that the
Shakespeare created a character in Macbeth who is strongly influenced in his decision making throughout the drama of The Tragedy of Macbeth. This drama is a Tragedy, hence the title, and has a hero, in Macbeth, who has a downfall. Readers become aware of the aspects that lead up to this predicament. Macbeth’s downfall was contributed equally from Lady Macbeth, the three weird sisters, and Macbeth’s ambition.
Human beings are not perfect, and, although people often make mistakes, it is the recognition of those mistakes and the demonstration of remorse that indicates an ability to change. In Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, spurred by the predictions of the witches of her husband’s future as king, makes decisions she will later come to regret. Although she appears to be strong in planning the king’s murder, her moments of doubt throughout the play indicate a sense of weakness which ultimately lead to her mental instability and death.
Macbeth, “A matchless soldier, kinsman to the king, wins the king’s battles and the king’s praise” however, “prompted by inner ambitions and external urgings”, he takes rash decisions conclusively ending in his atrophy of his title, power, and position (Bernad 49). Several factors contribute to the downfall of Macbeth, which produce a contagion effect; and ultimately end with his demise. The weird sisters disclose his prophecies which enlighten him about Duncan’s throne; Lady Macbeth abets Macbeth to realize his deep desires and come to the conclusion to murder Duncan; and Macbeth, the most significant contributor, makes his deep desires come to reality. In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the weird sisters and Lady Macbeth are important contributors to Macbeth 's downfall, however, they are not mostly responsible. Unlike, the weird sisters and Lady Macbeth, Macbeth is the most prominent contributor to his downfall; whose actions, decisions, and state of mind lead to his ruination.
Ambition is Macbeth’s primary flaw that causes the valiant soldier, who would die for the king, to murder his way to control the throne. Now, others could argue that the Witches are more responsible for Macbeth's downfall because they spoke prophetically to Macbeth and wanted to see the outcome of Macbeth’s endeavor to take the throne for their own amusement. The Witches did not commit the heinous crimes, Macbeth committed acts of treason and murder. The Witches did not tell Macbeth that he would need to murder King Duncan to become king, nor did they tell him to kill Banquo. Macbeth is the main character who is responsible for his downfall, because when Macbeth is first introduced in Act 1, he is a brave and honorable soldier, who is also the Thane of Glamis. He is labeled by King Duncan as “brave Macbeth,”: “For brave Macbeth- well he deserves that name…” Before Macbeth met the Witches, he served the king with complete devotion. After the meeting the Witches, he begins to contemplate becoming King of Scotland. However, his ambition is not satisfied, when he finds out that Malcolm, King Duncan’s son is heir to his throne. Macbeth speaks of his ambition in Act 1, sc.7 line 25, “Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’ other” (Shakespeare). Ambition leads him to murder King Duncan, start committing heinous crimes, and continue his path
In the play, Macbeth was responsible for his downfall and let his greed take over. He was always ambitious, but ended up abandoning his loyalty from King Duncan, the King of Scotland and slowly changed him from a trustworthy, brave and loyal soldier to a merciless tyrant. Lady Macbeth and the three witches are responsible for Macbeth’s downfall. The prophecies changed Macbeth for the worst and is willing to remove any threats that stand in his way. Macbeth, although a loyal warrior, had always possessed ambitious motives that finally turned him into a murderer.
However, it was Lady Macbeth who convinced him to slay the king so that he could usurp the throne: “Hie thee hither, / That I may pour my spirits in thine ear”. So we can say that Lady Macbeth has more responsibility for Duncan’s murder than Macbeth himself as she used her position as a wife and a woman to induce his husband to commit the sin. She knew the “adoration” Macbeth had for her (“My dearest love” referring to Lady Macbeth) and used her status as a woman to judge Macbeth a coward if he didn’t kill Duncan. Even though Macbeth holds some blame for not being the strong, valiant man he is, in battle with her wife and standing before those childish yet effective arguments she used, Lady Macbeth is the immediate cause for Macbeth’s actions.
Factors Contributing to Macbeth's Downfall in William Shakespeare's Macbeth In William Shakespeare's famous play Macbeth, there are many reasons for Macbeth's gradual downfall. Numerous factors contributed to Macbeth's ruin, such as his own character flaws and his demanding wife, Lady Macbeth. The Three Witches, however, caused Macbeth the most trouble. First, the sisters stirred up his dormant ambitions to be king.
It is very likely that the blame lies not on one single character, but on many. For the purposes of this, though, I believe that the majority of the guilt lies on Lady Macbeth, and that is my conclusion.
Macbeth can not blame anyone else, nor can the witches or Lady Macbeth be to blame when he has the ultimate power to do as he wishes. Another example is that the witches never say anything to Macbeth about murdering Duncan or anyone else. When Macbeth first hears the prophecy about being King, his thoughts turn to “murder” all on their own. This tells readers that somewhere along the line he had thought about it or had an idea as he turned to it immediately. He didn’t even wait and see what would happen, instead he becomes brutal and kill the noble king.
Indefinitely, Macbeth is the main person to blame for his downfall. He is not the only one to blame though. Lady Macbeth has the ability to be blamed for his downfall as well due to her peer pressuring him and makes him rethink killing in the first place. The blame also falls on the three witches when they told Macbeth the prophecies and got the idea in his head in the first place. Many are to blame for the downfall of Macbeth during his killing spree I have only mentioned a few
So when the witches told Macbeth he would be king, he could have become king without killing anyone. The king may have become ill and died, and his son would have been too. young to be king, but we will never find out! So Macbeth was trying to become king and therefore following his fate. Overall I think that Macbeth is to blame for the death of King Duncan.
Even though many thought Lady Macbeth or the Witches were at fault for the main events in the play. The man who is really at fault is Macbeth. Throughout the whole play this is evident, when he kills King Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macduff, and the two Guards. Macbeth was the reason this play had so many critical events. Even to the end Macbeth never changed as a character, “Yet I will try the last. Before my body, I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff, and damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough! (Scene VIII).”
MacBeth is Responsible for His Downfall. There were many wrongs committed in "MacBeth." But who should bear the major responsibility for these actions? The witches prophesying the truth? Lady MacBeth's scheming and persuasion?
People and ideas can greatly affect the outcome of a person's life, determining whether the outcome will be successful or disastrous. Decisions and actions can also influence outcome. This is the case in Macbeth. Many factors cause the ruin of Macbeth and for that reason, all the blame for his downfall cannot be placed on Macbeth himself, despite the fact that he is the one that commits or has people commit the murders which lead to his downfall. Lady Macbeth's encouragement and convincing lead Macbeth to take the first step towards his destruction. The witches and their prophecies are equally accountable, since the witches reveal their predictions to Macbeth, giving him a glimpse into his future. This glimpse represents the beginning of the end of his life. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, as well as the witches and their prophecies are all responsible for Macbeth's downfall.
In the book and play MacBeth written by William Shakespeare, the MacBeths were wholly responsible for their fate because their greed ,ambition, and believing in the witches. Their fate was made by their own hands . They are responsible for their own actions, with the choices that they have made.