Everyone has flaws, but how they dictate a person’s life is up to them and this is shown in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. Macbeth is one of these characters whose flaws damage him in many ways. Throughout the story, the reader can see the changes in Macbeth’s emotions and actions. He went from hero to tyrant, from honor to tyranny, and from ambition to greed. Macbeth’s flaws and moral weaknesses led him to his downfall which was inevitable because of how his actions and emotions affected him throughout the play. People change over time from past events in their lives, and Macbeth is no exception as his guilt eats away at him and then turns to indifference. The first show of guilt from Macbeth in the play is in (Shakespeare2.2.39-41) when he says,” …show more content…
The first time in the play that the reader sees Macbeth push forward and show ambition is when he realizes that what the witches said was true and he says,” Two truths are told. As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme.” (1.3.127-129.) The first thing to come true was that he becomes the thane of Cawdor and Macbeth wonders if the prophecy of him becoming king will become true and is eager about the possibility of the prophecy coming true. Once Macbeth is king his ambition changes to keeping the throne rather than getting it and Macbeth says,” To be thus is nothing, to be safely thus.”(3.1.47-48.) He wants to keep the throne because to him he believes why to be king if one cannot continue the lineage. At this point in the play, Macbeth realizes that killing Duncan has not solved all of his issues which leads to events later in the play. “For mine own good all causes shall give way. I am in blood. Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er.”(3.4) Macbeth states that violence is the answer to all his problems along with it being for his own good. As stated in the previous point this is one of the later events which lead to Banquos death. As the reader reads through the play his ambition leads him to greater power, but it also is one of Macbeth’s greatest flaws because of his ambition which led him to the …show more content…
The beginning of Macbeth's downfall starts when the witches say,” First Witch. All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! Second Witch. All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! Third Witch. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (1.3. 48-50)Them saying this began his downfall as each of the statements came true. It’s significant because he believes everything the witches say is true after this comes true and he eventually goes back to them. In a later scene, Hecate comes and says,” And that, distilled by magic sleights, Shall raise such artificial sprites As by the strength of their illusion Shall draw him on to his confusion. He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear His hopes ’bove wisdom, grace, and fear. And you all know, security Is mortals’ chiefest enemy.” (3. 5.25-33 ). These lines are important because it tells how Hecate and the witches are going to manipulate Macbeth’s beliefs. They manipulate him into believing that he’s unstoppable and make him confident. Macbeth listens to them even when he knows that they are not to be trusted and this helps lead him to his downfall. The final peace leading to his downfall is when he goes to the witches and believes what he is told. “Macbeth. I conjure you by that which you profess (However you come to know it), answer me. Though
Macbeth is considered the most evil character in Shakespeare’s play, “Macbeth”, having nefarious traits of over-ambition and selfishness. Following the events of Act 1 Scene 3, the three witch sisters foresee Macbeth’s prophecies; he will become the Thane of Cawdor, and eventually become King of Scotland. Although he finds such statements to be nonsensical, he is then proven wrong as he finds out King Duncan bestows him as Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth states, “Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth?
Macbeth starts out being an excellent warrior in the battles that he is fighting in for the good. He is spilling blood over the right reasons and in doing so he earned the title of Thane of Cawdor. However, this all begins to change once he and Banquo, his right hand man in battle, meet the three witches and they get their prophecies told to them. This begins the downfall of Macbeth, causing corruption, greed, and guilt coming from the actions after the prophecies are told to them. Immediately after Macbeth’s mental state switches as a result to the first prophecy coming true already, he begins thinking that he has to kill King Duncan in order to fulfill the rest of them.
“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself…” (1.7.25-27) During the first act, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth come up with a plan to kill King Duncan, so Macbeth can become the king. But there are some obstacles that Macbeth has to face before becoming king. And Macbeth admits that he has ambition taking him over and that it is making him “power hungry” or just wanting to become powerful.
Macbeth's Fatal Flaw Macbeth is always hoping to gain more power and knowledge. Initially when Macbeth hears the three original prophecies he could have just let the prophecies play out, but he takes action out of greed in order to gain power. That is where his downfall begins. In the book Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the main character Macbeth's flaw that leads to his downfall is his greed.
Macbeth is the Shakespearean play that features the triumphant uprise and the inevitable downfall of its main character. In this play, Macbeth’s downfall can be considered to be the loss of his moral integrity and this is achieved by ambition, despite this, Lady Macbeth and the witches work through his ambition, furthering to assist his inevitable ruin. Ambition alone is the most significant factor that led to Macbeth’s downfall. The witches are only able to influence his actions through Macbeth’s pre-existing and the three witches see that Macbeth has ambition and uses it to control his action. Ambition alone is displayed throughout the play to be the most significant cause for Macbeth’s downfall.
He believes that he is invincible and that he cannot be defeated. This overconfidence blinds him to the reality of the situation and ultimately leads to his downfall. Another character flaw is his unchecked ambition. One of the primary factors that drives Macbeth's actions throughout the play is his unbridled ambition. From the moment he hears
The scene Act 3 scene 2, conveys the theme that killing someone isn't the most proficient way in dealing with problems nor does it make life simpler, instead it creates more complications. Ironically, In this scene Lady Macbeth and Macbeth discuss the death of Banquo; both of them begin to show signs of fear & guilt. Both of them realize the troubles that come with killing Banquo, and recognize that troubles follow; his son Fleance can still cease the prophecy. This is demonstrated in the metaphorical quote “We have scorched the snake, not killed it.” Macbeth refers to Banquo as a snake, who has not yet been killed and is still able to “attack” them.
Shakespeare highlights Macbeth’s key flaw, which is conspicuous throughout the chosen scene where he is doubtful and hesitant with the news of himself becoming King, although he knows it is wrong, Macbeth believes he could be a great leader and therefore gives into his flaw of ambition. He is dominated by the influence of the witches where they utilize repetition, “All hail, Macbeth!”, this shows his firm stance shaken by the words of the witches as he is easily influenced thus continues to listen and possibly taken action by the words of the witches. Another flaw of Macbeth is himself doubting the way he thinks. After discovering the prophecy from the witches he believes his future of becoming the king is true while he talks to himself. Macbeth
At the start of the play, Macbeth visits the witches with Banquo at the closing of the battle. The witches speak to Macbeth and Banquo and get the idea of a prophecy in Macbeth’s mind. “All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis./ All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor./ All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” (1.3.46-48). When the witches get the prophecy in Macbeth’s mind, he believes it will come true and misunderstands the prophecy of the witches. Although the witches make Macbeth believe in the prophecy of becoming the King, Macbeth is responsible for his downfall because they do not recommend Macbeth to kill Duncan.
Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a perfect example of a story that upholds and dramatizes the character of the “flawed hero”. It is a story that revolves around a great general named Macbeth who is given a prophecy that leads him to make questionable actions and creates a theme of madness throughout the play. Is Macbeth a flawed character? Macbeth’s flawed nature in our chosen scene is highlighted by Shakespeare through various language techniques and has also been interpreted through drama techniques by my group.
Macbeth’s ambition is one of the most prominent things that drive Macbeth in the play and truly becomes evident when he hears of the Witches prophecies. When the witches stop talking, he demands to know more. “Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more” (I, III, 73-74). This portrays his excessive curiosity on the subject as well as his craving for more desirable prophecies. This ambitious nature and craving for power is also demonstrated only moments after hearing the witches, when he starts formulating a plan to kill Duncan in order to make the third prophecy come true.
This proves how two contradictory ideas are used to attain a certain outcome such as being king. Macbeth wants to be above fate; therefore, he is doing everything he can as he resides as king. He certainly does not like the idea of anything or anybody being above him, especially fate. If Macbeth “can prove that he is above fate, then he may not be subject to the retribution which he fears. The escape of Fleance shows him that he is not a free agent but is “bound in” by an external order whose laws he has violated” (Bernard).
Macbeth started off as a valiant and courageous soldier, who would do anything for the king. By the end of the play, Macbeth was a tyrant and a horrible leader who killed those who trusted him to maintain the throne. It takes many factors to take a strong man and transform him into an evil monster. Macbeth’s downfall was caused by the deception and temptation of the witches and their prophecies, Lady Macbeth’s greed and aspirations for her husband to be king, and Macbeth’s own greed, jealousy and ambition.
Shakespeare’s tragic hero Macbeth is a noble who is ultimately brought low by his own tragic defects. Failure was the result of his own character and decisions rather than anything else. The tragic outcome of a man is brought on by his weaknesses, which are ambition, lack of morality, being easily manipulated, and pride. All these traits are things that tie into what ultimately brings down who Macbeth was and will ever be as a thane and king. The main reason for Macbeth’s greatest weakness is his ambition.
At the beginning of William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ the protagonist Macbeth is described as ‘brave’, ‘noble’ and ‘honourable’, however Lady Macbeth’s and Macbeths desire for power consumes them. Macbeth’s ambition overrides his conscience and transformed his greatest strength into his greatest weakness. Macbeth’s inability to resist temptations that led him to be greedy for power, Macbeth’s easily manipulative nature which allowed his mind to be swayed, Macbeth having no self control and his excessive pride was what allowed him to renew his previously honourable and celebrated title into one of an evil ‘tyrant’. Macbeth is led by the prophecies of the witches after they foretell he will become the Thane of Cawdor. Not only the witches, but also his wife easily manipulate Macbeth as she attacks his manhood in order to provoke him to act on his desires.