Reasons For Macbeth's Downfall

Many people argue over who is to blame for Macbeth’s demise. The real question is what is to blame? A tragic flaw is a trait that a character usually possesses too much of and causes the character death or suffering. Macbeth was a great warrior who became king and was so determined to stay king that he was led to his own demise. Macbeth had a tragic ending and it was all because he had too much of something which turned him into a tyrant. Others say that Lady Macbeth is to blame for Macbeth’s downfall but the real reasons were his tragic flaws ambition and credulousness. One of Macbeth’s tragic flaws that can be blamed for leading him into his own death is ambition. Macbeth is first introduced to the audience as a righteous fighter who will unseam someone from nave to the chops.

This is because Lady Macbeth reflected her own greed and ambition onto Macbeth, without Lady Macbeth, Duncan’s murder would have never happened. Lady Macbeth said, “Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would, ” (1.7,45-48) This shows how it is Lady Macbeth’s fault because she knew just what to say so she could control Macbeth and make him murder. This explanation may be right on some levels, however, it is not accurate because Lady Macbeth did not make the decision to murder Duncan for Macbeth. Macbeth acted on his tragic flaw and killed Duncan, he did not act upon what Lady Macbeth said. I have mentioned before that the character cannot usually control his tragic flaw. Macbeth trusted Lady Macbeth too much and so Macbeth’s ambition took over and he could not control it and he was soon on his way to becoming a tyrant. My words can easily be twisted but do not get me wrong, Lady Macbeth did influence Macbeth’s ambition. After knowing all of this it can be concluded that Lady Macbeth was not really to blame for Macbeth’s