Good morning everyone
Good morning everyone, today I will be addressing the cause of Macbeth’s downfall. Macbeth a play written by William shakespeare, explores the tragic tale of macbeth a virtuous man who is corrupted by power and greed. Ambition is the main theme that the protagonist macbeth, possess. To be ambitious is basically an eager or strong desire to achieve something such as fame or power. Despite influences of the witches and lady macbeth, I believe Macbeth’s uncontrollable ambition to become king and to secure his position by killing of others eventually led to his demise as well as his wife lady macbeth.
At the start of the play Macbeth is represented as a loyal, valiant soldier who serves the king and ends a rebellion attacking his country. Coming home from the battle Macbeth meets 3 uncanny witches who prophesied that Macbeth will become king of Scotland and future kings will descend from Banquo a fellow army captain. Macbeth is told he will become king, but he is not told how to achieve the position. Although it was technically his destiny to become king, we can blame him for the way in which he chooses to get there.
Macbeth sends a letter to his wife lady macbeth to tell her that he will be coming home, also informing her about the witches prophecies. Lady Macbeth on, receiving the letter encourages murder since she sees this as the only opportunity to achieve her ambition of becoming queen. Macbeth allows his wife to manipulate him by accusing him of cowardness and not being ‘manly’ claiming she would kill her own baby instead. Yet Macbeth does not put a stop to the killing plan of king duncan although he is physically and mentally strong.
Macbeth ambition to become king is highlighted throughout his Monologue in act 1 scene 7. Where macbeth is trying to decide whether to kill king duncan or not, this can also be attributed to his filthy greed. The quote- I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself indicates that despite king duncan’s innocence, the metaphorical language of vaulting ambition recreates his strong aspirations to become king.
