Macbeth’s Downfall

Macbeth by William Shakespeare is about Macbeth, a thane, killing the king in order to take his position. Once he has his position killing whoever he thinks he needs to kill in order to maintain his assumed innocence. Eventually, he is caught and killed. There are many people who could have been Macbeth’s downfall. But what Shakespeare wrote leads only to one suspect: Macbeth.

Macbeth is the man at fault because he took control of his actions. He was in charge and no one else had any influence in his actions. Before Lady Macbeth is even introduced as a character he says, “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir.”(pg. Macbeth is allowing himself to become king before anyone can have a chance to influence him in anyway. Macbeth is saying he would allow himself to become king even if something were to happen to the king, Duncan. Macbeth also says, “Why hath it given me earnest of success commencing in a truth?”(pg. he has already started to ponder about the idea of himself becoming king.

Macbeth defies himself as a husband, a thane, and as a kinsman. When he declares he will kill the king by saying, “False face must hide what the false heart doth know,” (pg. 18) he is defying himself as a kinsman and a thane when he kills the king. He denies himself as a wife when he says, “She should have died hereafter.” (pg.77) He denies everyone around him; therefore, relies on no one but himself. Also, Lady Macbeth couldn’t have influenced Macbeth because after the killing of Duncan she says, “What’s to be done?” (pg. 39) This clearly states that she had no jurisdiction over Macbeth’s decisions.

Yes, Macbeth first gets the idea of becoming king from the three witches. However, all they say is, “All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.”(pg. 6) they only speak of him becoming king and not killing the in order to become king. Also, Macbeth’s downfall is his death. The witches prophesy to Macbeth that “none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (pg. 54) and that “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against.”(pg. 54) The witches, in a way, are trying to help him by warning him. They try to warn him but Macbeth thinks their prophesy is a guarantee for safety. However, it actually is a guarantee of destruction.

Because Macbeth thought this was a guarantee of safety he thought that he was invincible when he declares, “Then live, Macduff. What need I fear of these?” (pg. 54) Now that Macbeth is invincible he starts to make commands, before he used to take commands and be influenced by others. Now he is influenced and takes commands from no one. We see him commanding others when one of the murderers says, “We shall, my lord, perform what you command us.” (pg. 37) This proves he is responsible for the killing of the nobles; therefore, he is responsible for his downfall.