Macbeth has allowed his false sense of security to cloud his judgement, which is exactly why no one but himself can be blamed for his tragedy. Upon killing Young Siward Macbeth says, “Thou wast born of woman. / But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, / Brandish’d by man that’s of a woman born,” (V, vii, 16-18). Macbeth’s over-confidence blinds his thinking, and so with the thought that he cannot be harmed by any man of woman born, he overlooks the possibility of a man born of caesarean section, and instead just assumes that he is invincible. This over-confidence and sense of
Because of this, he decides he must kill Banquo, so that there will be no heir. “Macbeth plots the murder of Banquo, out of jealousy and insecurity.” (Hompi 1) This is obviously an absurd idea, and prior to Macbeth’s murder of King Duncan he never would have considered it as a solution. Shakespeare uses this to show how power corrupts even the best of people. It is obvious that this is still a problem in society today, as people start off with good intentions but slowly get sidetracked. Before long, their objectives have changed completely.
This play exhibits tragedy because, though Proctor had many opportunities to change his fate, he chooses his demise because his tragic flaw prohibits him from doing otherwise. John Proctor is the tragic hero of the play, “The Crucible.” He has a high social status in the town, yet, because of his tragic flaw, he cannot bring himself to prevent his own death and tragic downfall. Proctor exhibits these tragic traits, making this play a tragedy of self-respect prevailing over shame and public
Macbeth’s Downfall Macbeth is at complete fault that lead to his downfall. Instead of waiting to see if the prophecies and apparitions came true, Macbeth decided to take fate into his own hands, and paid with his life. Although the witch’s prophecies and apparitions were quite startling, he could have waited to see if they were telling the truth or not; how far can you really trust a witch? One prophecy told Macbeth that he would be thane of Cawdor. He did not interfere with that prophecy.
Macbeth knows that he can not allow Duncan to see his ambition for the power of the throne, or Duncan will find a way to hinder him from doing so. After Malcolm is named Prince of Cumberland, Macbeth's hunger for the throne only becomes stronger. Employing her power over her husband, Lady Macbeth convinces him to kill King Duncan in order to obtain the throne Though Macbeth pines for the throne, he understands that he can not rightly justify his actions, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition" (1.7.-.). Nonetheless, Macbeth goes through with the murder. Soon, Duncan's body is found and his two sons flee the country, leaving Macbeth the successor to the throne.
Thesis: Shakespeare did not have Macbeth kill Banquo with his own hands, even though he did with Duncan and the guards, to show that Macbeth is starting to learn how to use his kingly power to his advantage, but does have a guilty conscience on his hands. Evidence/Commentary: “Both you know Banquo was your enemy” (III.i.115-116), Macbeth’s convincing argument to get the murderers to kill Banquo for him, was a tactic he learned from his wife. After his wife had manipulated Macbeth into killing King Duncan, Macbeth used that same manipulation to his murderers. In both situations the arguments made were that deep down, they all truly wanted and knew if it was not for a certain person in their way, they would live a better life. Shakespeare starts to develop a more in depth personality to Macbeth, and showing how much his character has grown since the beginning of the play.
Betrayal Leads to Bad Decisions Betrayal is something that will have negative consequences. William Shakespeare shows different ways of consequences in “Macbeth”. At the beginning of the play Macbeth and Banquo, two captains, are loyal to King Duncan. After receiving predictions from three witches Macbeth they betrayed each other when they didn’t expect it. Macbeth betrays King Duncan because the witches told him he will become king.
“Then yield thee, coward,” Macduff began in the final fight scene. “...And live to show...here may you see the tyrant”, The new protagonist remarkably gives Macbeth a chance to live, but due to the king’s twisted envision of honor, his stubbornness refuses to allow him to bow to anyone. The once bold and noble Thane, now a beheaded selfish
A tragic flaw is defined as “a weakness or error in judgment that brings about a tragic hero's downfall” (Clugston 2010). Ambition was Macbeth’s tragic flaw. An idea was planted inside Macbeth’s mind by the three witches’ prophecy that he would be King. This was what drove Macbeth to madness, in a sense, stopping at nothing, not even murder, to achieve this goal. He is tempted to evil by the
Which everyone knows will lead to his downfall. To prove this is the reason, while analyzing the play, the points that come to mind are that Hamlet only acts when he does not think about the consequences of his actions, and when he accuses himself of over thinking, catching himself in the act, or even when Hamlet had a clear chance to kill Claudius but stop and thinks of all the things that will happen to him. From all these points it is clear that the reason Hamlet delays to avenge his father’s death is because he is in a deep state where he “over-thinks” or “over-philosophizes” which can suggest that he is in fact “thought-sick”. Wolfgang Von Goethe presents the point that the delay is a natural struggle, of a “lovely, pure and most sensitive nature, without the strength of