powmac Macbeth: His Downfall Was Due to His Ambition for Power :: Macbeth essays

Macbeth His Downfall Was Due to His Ambition for Power In the Shakespearean novel Macbeth, the protagonist Macbeth is caught in adown spiral induced by his ambition which in the end, was the cause of histragic end. Macbeth, once a great hero falls victim of his ambition forpower. Although the protagonist initially tries to resist his compassionate urge,he in the end committed crime his country, his friends, and sadly himself. Macbeths first great crime was the crime against his country. Inthe beginning, Macbeth was described by his fellow noblemen as a great,loyal soldier, giving all he has for his country. Soon, it becomes evidentwhen the witches foretells Macbeth future All hail, Macbeth That shaltbe king hereafter (I. iii. 53) that Macbeth will be destined for grandnessbut not in the sort he thinks. After receiving the three prophecies, Macbethis intrigue by the idea the he will be king hereafter. He in brief shows hisintention to carry out the prophecies in his aside The prince ofCumberland that is a step on which I must fall down, or else oer-leap,for in my way it lies (I. iv. 55-57). With the help of his wife, LadyMacbeth, Macbeth was able to kill the Duncan, the king of Scotland, a manwhom trusted and loved Macbeth. With Duncan dead and the two princesfleeing, Macbeth was crowned king of Scotland. In the end, Macbeth hadcarry through his prophecies but in doing, he had committed treason against hiscountry. Macbeths second great crime was committed against his friends,the people around him whom use to admire him. After he had been crownedking, Macbeth believed his greatest obstacle had been overcame but thatassumption was far the truth. By committing the first great crime, Macbethhad unconsciously paved the way for his downfall. Perhaps the turning vizorof the novel in which Macbeth kills Banquo his loyal friend, thatMacbeths character begins to deteriorate.  In one of his aside The veryfirstling of my heart shall be the firstling of my hand (IV. i. 161-162)Macbeths mental deterioration becomes visible. This aside is decisivebecause it foreshadows the future events to come. Macbeth now seems to havenot a shred of decency or guilt left in him. Because of his irrationalthinking, Macbeth commits probably the worst crime he had every committed.Macbeth had his Macduffs family slaughtered. This crime was so horrendousbecause unlike Macbeths prior murders, this one had no other purpose butto quench Macbeth hatred of his rival Macduff. It soon became clear that