Play Macbeth Essay

In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is the cause of his own downfall. Macbeth is ignorant as he does what he pleases, not taking into consideration who he is hurting. Macbeth does what is necessary to become King and hears only what is beneficial to him, using it as motivation to stay King. Though he is heavily influenced by Lady Macbeth and the three witches, he lets his inner desire take over him. Macbeth’s inner flaws lead him to lack of self control resulting in his death.

In Macbeth, Macbeth displays a strong ambition towards becoming King. This ambition flourished as him and Lady Macbeth kill Duncan. This is evident when Macbeth states, “O, yet I do repent me of my fury, / That I did kill them.” (Macbeth II, iii, 124-125) This is significant because Macbeth is now acting on his own without instructions, whereas before she had pushed him towards the murder of Duncan. Though Lady Macbeth influenced him, she is not responsible for his downfall. This is evident when Seyton states, “The Queen, my lord, is dead.” (Macbeth, V, v, 19) After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth starts taking action on his own not consulting his wife. They begin to drift apart, and as a result Lady Macbeth commits suicide.

Unlike Lady Macbeth, the three witches consistently surround him with information that he chooses to alter for his own benefit. Macbeth is astonished when the witches mention him becoming King. This is evident when Banquo states, “Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear / Things that do sound so fair?” (Macbeth. I, iii, 54-55) This is significant because it represents the guilt Macbeth has towards his secret thoughts about becoming King. As soon as Macbeth is introduced, the desire and ambition within him is evident. Another incident when the three witches allowed him to see the apparitions. Macbeth states:
I conjure you by that which you profess
(Howe’er you come to know it), answer me.
Though you untie the winds and let them fight
Against the churches, though the yeasty waves
Confound and swallow navigation up,
Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down, Though castles topple on their warders’ heads,
Though palaces and pyramids do slope
Their heads to their foundations, though the treasure of nature’s [ germens ] tumble [ all together ]
Even till destruction sicken, answer me
To what I ask you. (Macbeth, IV, i, 51-64)

This expresses Macbeth’s personality, as he is reckless and careless at heart. He does not care if the world is going to end, he wants the answers to what he is seeking. Though the three witches where instigating Macbeth’s curiosity, this proves that Macbeth is truly the cause of his own downfall.

Macbeth always had an inner desire to become King, and when he became King he changed as a person. The thought that anyone could take his title away from

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Essay Macbeth: Macbeth and Macbeth Play Macbeth