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Who Was Responsible For Macbeth's Downfall

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Like all of Shakespeare’s other plays, “Macbeth’s” protagonist Macbeth is incredibly successful but suffers from one fatal flaw, his great ambition. His ambition will be the cause of his great success but ultimately also of his downfall. The man’s ambition drives him to seize every opportunity to promote his own agenda. His ambition hurts him the most when he decides to kill King Duncan and Macduff. After hearing from the prophecy from the Weird Sisters, Macbeth realizes his potential to become king of Scotland. His ambition and wife drive him to take action and kill King Duncan. “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other— (1.7.25-28)” Although Macbeth handled the murdered the of King Duncan very well, he did leave some holes in which people could figure out that he did kill Macbeth. For example he kills the guards which causes Macduff and the other …show more content…

Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.” Macbeth goes out of his way in an attempt to change fate and orders the murder of Macduff’s entire family. “He has kill'd me, mother: Run away, I pray you!” This drives Macduff to take revenge by killing Macbeth fulfilling the prophecy and ending Macbeth’s life. If Macbeth did not have so much ambition, he would not have visited the witches or even try to kill Macduff’s family. These two events demonstrate how Macbeth’s great ambition resulted in his downfall. Macbeth could’ve saved himself if he did not kill Banquo and Macduff’s family. Killing Duncan was the right decision, however killing Banquo was unnecessary and killing Macduff’s family was cruel therefore leading to Macduff completely hating Macbeth. This hatred leads Macduff to kill Macbeth. Overall, Macbeth could have totally avoided this conflict if he was not such a power-hungry tyrant and could have lived a peaceful life if he just allowed for fate to continue its

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