Causes of Macbeths Downfall Essay

Shakespe bes Macbeth, based on a lead written in 1605 explores the life-time journey of Macbeth as he climbs the ladder of the social hierarchy. Determined to become King, Macbeth will kill each and all that get in his way. impelled by rivalry, Macbeth puts his faith in the words and prophecies of three witches after a prediction that Macbeth would gain the new title of Thane of Cawdor. aboard with ambition, wench Macbeth, is a separate instrument to Macbeths ambition to become king, continuously pressuring him, when he fears he has gone too in his schemes for greatness. We can definitely see a well regarded and faithful soldier of the Scottish army change to a murderous tyrant. His downfall is complete and he is responsible for his fate. It is his ambition, the influence of his wife, Lady Macbeth and the prophesies of the three witches and then his mislaid confidence in his invulnerability that causes his decline. These all contri plainlye to the primary reasons for Macbet hs incorrupt downfall as he climbs the ladder of success. The term moral downfall refers to the worked up and social impact as oppose to a physical downfall, which is describe as a step back in society, including the loss of money, fortune, family, social life and wellbeing. By succumbing to committing evil acts to achieve his ambition, he basically destroys Macbeths morality, leading to his downfall. Macbeths AmbitionIn Shakespeares Macbeth, ambition is the main theme that the protagonist, Macbeth, possesses. To be ambitious is basically an eager or strong desire to achieve something, such as fame or power. In Macbeth, ambition is a main theme. Macbeth, the protagonist and tragic adept in William Shakespeares Macbeth, possesses hamartia. Hamartia, named by Aristotle in Poetics, is a tragic flaw possessed by any tragic hero. Over the prey of the play, Macbeths ambition grows. He succeeds in murdering Duncan, being named the new king, and ruling the kingdom. As his success grows, so does his ambitious nature. Fearing that the rest of the witches prophecy will come true (that Banquos sons will be kings), Macbeth decides to murder both him and his son (namely Fleance). Still feeling threatened, Macbeth murders Macduffs family (to send a message of his power to Macduff). It is translucent in the play that this theme exists. We can definitely see that Macbeth useshis ambition to justify bad and evil actions, whereas most will use it for ripe(p). Not only it is seen finishedout the course of the play, hes ambition is revealed by Macbeth in Act 1, scenery 7.As mentioned in lines 25-27, Macbeth says I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which oerleaps itself and falls on th other. Macbeth, trying to rationalise his impending murder of King Duncan, continues his great If it were done which was a technique incorporated by Shakespeare called a soliloquy. As Macbeth has just explained to himself, theres no real justification for the crimeDuncan is his relative, a meek and moral earth, a good king, and, furthermore, a guest at his castle. All this argues against so bloody a deed, which will appear unjustifiable to mortal and divine eyes alike. Therefore, Macbeth has no spur to prick his intent, which is likened to a wild steedno motivation to inspire the murder. Continuing the horse metaphor, he can only draw on vaulting ambition an intense desire for power. His desire vaults even beyond its intrinsic limits (oerleaps itself) to land on thother (the other side)possibly, to land someplace unknown and beyond reason, as Macbeth regrets that he is motivated only by ambition and not by some more worthy motive. Those propelled by ambition often end up worse than they were before once the deed is done. Through this quote mentioned in Macbeths soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 7, it is evident that Macbeth is driven by his ambition to kill for power as his only motivation to gain the crown leading to Macbeths moral d ownfall. Lady MacbethAlongside with Macbeths ambition to become Thane of Cawdor, his wife, Lady Macbeth is another influential being that causes Macbeths downfall. As the lead up to the event of King Duncans murder Lady Macbeth tricks Macbeth into putting to death Duncan by using her cunning and complicated words. She look ats Macbeth think that he has to kill Duncan for his social welfare. Lady Macbeth deceives him into thinking that only he would gain more power, and it wouldnt benefit her. Lady Macbeth counters Macbeths arguments by saying that he needs to muster up all of his courage, and just follow here directions. Lady Macbeth plans the murder strategies, and influences Macbeth to go on with her strategy. Macbeth doesnt want to kill a good king for his own ambitions, but is persuaded to do it. From Lady Macbeth persuadinghim to kill Duncan, the first evil act he commits, he is drawn into believing the witches prophecies, and takes action to make them come true.Through vari ous quotes by Lady Macbeth, it is evident to say that with each other by their sides, was a negative influence to the lead up of Macbeths downfall. Lady Macbeth blames her husband for lacking the courage to do the deed, and because Macbeth is a warrior above everything else, her comments manipulate him a good deal. Indeed, manliness is an idea the play interrogates in various ways, such as when Macbeth says I dare do all that may become a man who dares do more is none (1.7.46-47). This is the belief that his wife use against him When you durst do it, then you were a man and to be more than what you were, you would be so oft more a man (1.7.51-53). In short, it is by means of his manhood, fundamental to his belief of himself as warrior, that Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband. Through these quotes, revealed by Lady Macbeth, we can take a crap that Lady Macbeth was another factor influencing the decision-making of Macbeth, thereby causing his downfall. Three WitchesWith the influe nce of Macbeths ambition driving him to kill King Duncan as well as Macbeths wife, Lady Macbeth, driving him to fulfil his ambition, although there is another factor in Macbeths downfall. At the start of the play, the three witches inform Macbeth that he is destined to be king, as they are responsible for the introduction of the ideas that caused Duncans death and Macbeths destruction but not for Macbeths actions themselves. Ultimately the witches represents his fate and symbolise the dark side of unselfishness and the evilness of these beings, is evident that from the beginning when they meet and choose Macbeth to be their plaything.They live to torture and harass. While they do not physically create the downfall of any human, they do lead the humans to fall by their own demise, by way of misleading illusions. In Act 1, Scene 3 the three witches make a chilling prophecy saying All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor and All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter each revealing Macbeths future. In these lines, it is evident that Macbeth thinks about what being king would be like and since he is known as a brave warrior, this causes him to break down even more. This is the other post that they play in the downfall of Macbeth. These predictions by the threewitches soon motivates Macbeth to commit actions of evil and selfishness, which includes the murder of his best friend Banquo and the murders of Macduffs family. By Macbeth becoming everywhere confident we can see he has lost his moral values from becoming a well-liked and respected Scottish General to an evil murderous fool.To conclude, the factors alter to Macbeths moral downfall include his ambition to become King of Scotland by murdering his cousin, King Duncan, and the primary factor which was his wife, Lady Macbeth, that influenced him to commit such immoral acts through the insulting nature Lady Macbeth adopts. Finally, the last factor is the witches prophecies which drove Macbeth into believing he will be king and will have all this fame and power. However, he soon realises that he lost more than he received. We can see that Macbeth experienced a moral downfall as oppose to a downfall, which is described as a step back in society, including the loss of money, fortune, family, social life and wellbeing. We can see in Shakespeares Macbeth that Macbeth experienced a moral downfall as he climbed the hierarchy only to achieve nothing but hatred and loss of loved ones.