Austin Blankenship Baker Identity and Ethnic Lit 8 March 2023 The true demise of Macbeth William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth is a tragedy that tells the story of a Scottish general who receives a prophecy from a group of witches telling him that he will become king. Consumed by his own ambition, Macbeth commits a series of murders to secure his power leading to his own downfall. Although many might think that the witches are the most responsible for Macbeth's downfall, in reality it is Macbeth himself who is most responsible because of his unbridled ambition and willingness to commit atrocious acts in pursuit of power. In the beginning, Macbeth is depicted as a courageous and loyal captain who is dedicated to serving the King of Scotland, Duncan. …show more content…
When the prophecy starts proving itself true, Macbeth starts to act on the witches prophecy. Because of this, Macbeth becomes increasingly obsessed with maintaining power as he disregards others, even the ones he’s closest with. Eventually Macbeth realizes what is driving him by saying, “I have no spur/to prick the sides of my intent, but only/ vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on th' other” (1.7.25-28). This quote demonstrates his understanding in which he knows that his own drive is fueled by the lust for power. After some time, his ambition and drive leads him down a path of destruction causing him to commit terrible acts. Before committing this horrible act, Macbeth says, “Glam’s thou art and Cawdor, and shalt be/ what thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature/it is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness/to catch the nearest way” (1.5.58-60). Here, this quote shows what Macbeth thinks of people, expressing that he believes he must “milk” or in other words, abuse human kindness to jump into what he desires. This quote may be foreshadowing that he has chosen to take drastic measures to gain power. Of course though, his conscience is what holds him back, and if it was strong enough, could have been his saving grace from his descent into …show more content…
While it is true the witches have provided him with a prophecy that has sent him down this path of destruction, they are not his greatest downfall as they simply provided information not forcing him to take action. It was his own ambition that made him commit these terrible acts to take power. During his descent into darkness, Macbeth says, “I am in blood/stepped in so far that, should I wade no more/returning as tedious as go o’er” (3.4.168-170). This brings to light his understanding that he knows it was his own fault that has sent him on the wrong path. Macbeth's ambition driving him to murder these in his way to seize power was his greatest
To begin, Macbeth demonstrates desperate and ruthless choices as he reaches for power which doesn’t belong to him. For example, when Macbeth is talking to himself about what he should do about the second part of the prophecy. Banquo, one of Macbeth's friends, also received a prophecy that his children would be their heirs to the king. Wanting to keep the power of the throne he says “Given to the common enemy of man/To make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings./Rather than so, come fate into the list,/And champion me to th’ utterance”(3.1.74-77). Macbeth is not willing to take any chances when it comes to keeping the power he has been handed.
Once he starts his reign after killing Macbeth, he becomes determined to keep that throne. The fear of anyone overtaking his power gives him the ambition to kill anyone who comes or has the potential to come into his path. For example, Banquo is Macbeth’s best friend, but he still has Banquo and attempts to have his son killed because he is so scared of losing his power. In addition, the witches are the root of the ambition. If the witches wouldn’t have told Macbeth that his fate was to be king, he most likely never would have killed so many people out of ambition for power.
Throughout the story, Macbeth is haunted by visions that symbolze his guilt and fear of punishment. these visions are a result of his own choices and actions, which lead him down a path of destruction. Although the witches prophecies do set Macbeth on a certain path, it is his own actions that lead him to murder and ignore the moral and ethical considerations that would have stopped from doing so. The prophecy may have played a role in his initial decision making, it was ultimately Macbeths own choices that determined his fate. The prophecy delivered by the 3 witches was the driving force behind his
In the play, Macbeth is listing lots of reasons why he should not kill king Duncan, but then he realizes that his only reason that he should kill Duncan is his own desire and ambition to become king, “I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself / And falls on th’ other”(Shakespeare 1.7. 25-27). In this quote it shows that not only is Macbeth going to betray a very well liked king, but he is also betraying himself and his morales. Furthermore, before Macbeth kills another character named Banquo, who is another threat in the way of him becoming king. Macbeth makes a statement that shows how Lady Macbeth has betrayed him and has turned him into a monster.
Macbeth doubts his plan to murder Duncan and is unable to motivate himself to take action. There is tension between Macbeth's unwillingness to move ahead with his plan and his acknowledgment that his ambition is leading him down a dangerous path. Macbeth notes, “I have no spur to prick the sides for the intent, but the only vaulting notes ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’ other” (1. 7. 25-29). Macbeth knows that he has lacked motivation and ambition, and he knows that it’s the only thing preempting disasters to come his way as he makes mistakes.
Macbeth has been so far unaware of the witches poisoning his mind with prophecies and making him greedy. Macbeth’s ambitiousness and also recklessness with knowing his fate corrupted him as a king. Overall, Macbeth is at fault for his own actions after demanding to know more from the evil
Macbeth is most responsible for his downfall, Lady Macbeth was the main cause that flipped the switch in his brain. The witches' prophecies do not change Macbeth's future, they only state what is going to happen. Macbeth caused his own downfall. Macbeth sends out two murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance, Macbeth says “And though i could with barefaced power sweep him from my sight and bid my avouch it.” (Act 3.Sc1.
Shakespeare's play Macbeth tells the story of a Scottish general whose own ambition drives him to pursue power at any cost. The play shows themes of guilt, the high cost of a blind pursuit of authority, and unchecked ambition. The character, Macbeth, is a distinguished warrior who falls to temptation by his own desire to claim the Scottish throne, an action that was prophesied by three witches. As his battlefield expertise transitions into his life outside of combat, his actions become increasingly depraved and immoral, this leads to a downward spiral of violence and paranoia that ends in his downfall. Though it is often said that Macbeth's wife leads him to commit the appalling acts detailed in the play, I argue that his militaristic prowess
(I.iv.55-60) In simpler terms we are exposed to Macbeth's inner thoughts and when Macbethś tragic flaw of blind ambition was unlocked. The prophecies provided by the witches sparked his desires for more such as higher power. His thoughts were laced with that inherit desire that was unlocked by the witches and their words which caused him to start on a path that will eventually lead to untimely
Power is always coveted in any society and the world of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is no different. In the play, Macbeth, a noble lord, shows his hunger for power with thoughts to remove an heir to the throne from power. Macbeth’s impatience to be king leads him to stain his honor by using murder. Macbeth travels further down the path of evil by arranging the assassination of a friend.
In Act II Scene II, when Macbeth kills King Duncan, it is to fulfil his duty as a man by pursuing his ambition. However, by killing the king, he has set the precedent that any ambitious man who wishes to become king and can attain that role by killing the current king, must do so otherwise they are not a man. This dangerous paradigm set by Macbeth ties in to much of his paranoia and is the reason for his tyranny; he is afraid other people will kill him to go after the crown so he acts ruthless and stomps out any possible conflicts before they even have a chance to happen. Furthermore, In Act I Scene VII, Macbeth says "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on th' other." (Line XXV)
Therefore, it is Macbeth’s interpretations of the prophecies that triggers his ambition and is the cause of his betrayal towards the King who trusted in him. Undoubtedly he has yet another encounter with the witches, which leads Macbeth to believe he is invincible after they say to him, “Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until / Great
Macbeth’s Greatest Downfall It is a very common misconception in today’s society that ambition in it’s entirety is only ever a positive thing. From a young age we are taught that we are to aspire for greatness in everything we do, as it is only then that we will succeed. However, what often times goes unseen is how ambition can turn from a simple drive to succeed into a vengeful desire fuelled hunger towards gaining further power. Macbeth’s greatest downfall within Shakespeare's famous play is not a tragic flaw, and he himself is not a tragic hero. It’s not an influence from a greater power either, but rather it is his vaulting ambition and greed that cause him to fail at the end of the play.
Robert Forte Mrs. Milman Honors English 3 21 April 2023 The Downfall of Macbeth In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth, a great warrior of Scotland, is influenced to become an evil tyrant when he is informed of what will happen in his life and what wonders he will achieve. Throughout the play, Macbeth makes decisions that impact his life on a physical and mental capacity.
Macbeth’s ambition is unbounded by moral constraints, placing no limitations on his desires. As a result, Macbeth is committing a transgressive act, rebelling against the social norms of the hierarchy and the great chain of being. The supernatural stimulates Macbeth’s unchecked ambition to an extent. Due to his “vaulting ambition”, Macbeth chose to comply with the witches prophecies and Lady Macbeth’s aspirations. His greed, jealousy and ambition develop once temptation and deception overtake his mental health.