Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy that emphasises the horrific effects of being over-ambitious with intentions of becoming the most powerful. The play revolves around one of Shakespeare’s infamous tragic heroes Macbeth. Macbeth, seen by all, as a loyal and brave warrior, develops a lust for power from three mysterious women he meets. His lust for power strengthens as he is granted Thane of Cawdor, following one of the three prophecies said by the three women. Through Macbeth’s ambitions, he obsesses over power, resulting to his loss of sanity and inevitable death. Lady Macbeth victimising Macbeth, Macbeth following his ambitious thoughts carelessly and the three witches telling him the prophecies all contribute to Macbeth’s downfall to a large extent.
Lady Macbeth is indeed a detrimental part to the downfall of Macbeth. She, not only influences and takes advantage of Macbeth but begins to question his manhood in hopes of calming him down after the murder. This is shown as she says:
“My hands are of your colour, but I shame
To wear a heart so white” (Act 2, Scene 2)
Macbeth, being a tragic hero, exposes his flaw to the reader through Lady Macbeth’s judgement. He, after being convinced, commits the murder. His flaw of being weak-willed and over-ambitious allows his own wife to control him, resulting to his own downfall. Lady Macbeth continues to show her masculinity and driven ambition to murder Duncan. Shown in Act 1, Scene 5, she wishes to be filled “from crown to the toe topfull of direst cruelty”. Through this remark, Shakespeare illustrates a relationship between ambition and masculinity. This suggests that Lady Macbeth, although being physically weaker than Macbeth, will be able to push Macbeth into murdering Duncan through her empowering ambition. Consequently, Lady Macbeth’s manipulation and power-driven ambition contribute to Macbeth’s downfall.
A certain factor that holds responsibility for Macbeth’s downfall is Macbeth himself. Macbeth becomes over-ambitious after hearing of the three prophecies, blindly believing three mysterious woman. Following the hearing of the three prophecies, Macbeth forms an obsession to become King of Scotland. Macbeth reveals his hamartia to the reader as an ambition for power as well as being weak-minded. Through his flaws, Macbeth allows himself to be tricked into the murder:
“Is this a dagger which I see before me,
the handle toward my hand?” (Act 2, Scene 1)
Macbeth, being a weak-minded individual, also manages to allow Lady Macbeth to manipulate him, although she is clearly physically inferior to him. He succumbs to Lady Macbeth’s insults which result to the murder of Duncan. After the murder, Macbeth feels a sense of guilt and remorse but instead continues to follow Lady Macbeth’s lead, being consciously aware of what is ahead of him. This is portrayed through his awareness of the “black and deep desires” he plans to do. He also shows regret after the murder when he knows the deed he has done and says “twere best not know my self”(Act 2, Scene 2). However, his regret does not stop him as he listens to his power-driven, murderous ambitions instead of his conscience. These ambitious thoughts lead to Macbeth continuing his murderous actions, killing Banquo. As a result, Macbeth contributes to his own downfall through his lust for power and allowing himself to be tricked into murder by Lady Macbeth.
The three witches are also responsible for Macbeth’s downfall through their knowledge of the events that would occur involving Macbeth. The witches, after telling Macbeth of the prophecies, create false hope for Macbeth which ultimately leads to his downfall. The witches use of double meaning allows them to fool Macbeth. An example is shown when they say, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair,…”. This statement suggests that the witches, although looking horrid and foul, still give Macbeth fair predictions as well as anything that looks pretty, tend to be foul in the inside, referring to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The three witches show their knowledge of the events that are going to occur as they say:
“double, double, toil and trouble,
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” (Act 4, Scene 1)
The lines said by the witches represent the double meaning in their speech. It shows that Macbeth will receive double the amount of trouble. This gives the reader knowledge of the fact that the witches have intel on what will happen to Macbeth but still do not address it to him. Adding to this, the three apparitions, summoned by the witches, say that “Macbeth shall never be vanquished” until “Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him”. Through the apparitions, Macbeth becomes over confident saying, “That will never be”. It is clear to the reader the witches intent through the wording of the prophecies, fooling Macbeth successfully. Therefore, the witches are also held responsible for Macbeth’s downfall through their knowledge of Macbeth’s downfall and the double meanings in their statements.
Overall, Macbeth’s downfall is inevitable through three aspects. Lady Macbeth, Macbeth himself and the three witches. Lady Macbeth contributes to Macbeth’s downfall is through her manipulation and convincing Macbeth into the murder. Macbeth himself contributes to his own downfall as he believes the witches blindly and allowed himself to be tricked into the murder. The three witches also contribute to Macbeth’s downfall through their double meanings, fooling Macbeth, and their knowledge of Macbeth’s downfall.