Who Was Responsible For Macbeth's Downfall

Those who commit cruel actions are not always fully responsible for the actions, therefore they should not have to face all the repercussions that follow. In the tragedy Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is pushed into committing multiple cruel acts of violence. Trying to control his fate and make sure that he gained power drove him to go crazy and commit the cruel actions that he did. Macbeth’s insecure and weak-minded nature, combined with the manipulative abilities of Lady Macbeth caused the death of many and the eventual tragic downfall in Macbeth.

Macbeth displays his mental weakness by challenging his fate and doubting the witch´s prophecies. At first, Macbeth appears to be willing to let fate take its course, assuming that, “chance

Lady Macbeth, the mastermind of the murders, manipulates Macbeth into murdering his way to the crown. This process changes Macbeth’s mindset, which allows him to carry out additional murders in order to secure his power. Initially, Macbeth had no intention of murder when he had informed Lady Macbeth of the prophecy (as previously proven with a quotation). Lady Macbeth, knowing of Macbeth’s hesitant nature, fears that he,“is too full o' th' milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way,” and will not be able to kill (cite). To remedy the situation, Lady Macbeth mercilessly chastises Macbeth’s manliness until he caves and continues with the murder. On the night of the the killing, Macbeth hosts a banquet and invites the King Duncan. Duncan is incredibly courteous and kind to Macbeth, which causes him to reconsider his plan. He informs his wife that they must,“‘proceed no further in this business,’” but this plea fails to sway Lady Macbeth in the slightest (cite). She relentlessly mocks Macbeth calling him a,“‘coward,” and claiming that he is,“‘afraid to act’” upon his desires (cite). This last bit of ridicule torments Macbeth, eventually pushing him to enact his wife’s plan. The process of murdering Duncan drastically changes Macbeth for the rest of the play. Once his hands were bloody, Macbeth realizes that he is. “in blood/Stepp'd