Traits That Lead To Macbeth'S Downfall

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In the play Macbeth, I believe that Macbeth brings about his own downfall and is not a victim of circumstance. Certain traits contribute to his downfall. Three that are apparent are his ambition, the way others can influence him, and his ignorance while making decisions. Vaulting ambition is a very obvious flaw of Macbeths. In part of the play, Macbeth even admits to his ambition, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself, and falls on the other." As a result, many decisions were influenced negatively. His choice to kill the king was made too quickly, and had begun the snowballing effect of killing innocent people. After the witches had told Macbeth the four apparitions, he felt as though Banquo needed to be killed, since he was in the way of Macbeths becoming king. Other Characters in the play greatly influenced Macbeth. They influenced him especially when decisions were to be made. Lady Macbeth and the witches both contributed to his bad decisions. In the play, Lady Macbeth basically told Macbeth how he should act and what he needed to do, for example, when she told him “look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.” If there had been less negative influence in his life, Macbeth most likely would not have made nearly as many mistakes that lead him to his downfall. The third, unfavorable trait of Macbeths came in the form of ignorance. As other characters pressure Macbeth into making quick decisions, he does not realize how ignorant and oblivious he is being. The consequences of his actions are hardly ever even considered, for example, after he saw the dagger, “Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?” and ignorance took the best of him as he went to kill the king. After the witches spoke the four apparitions, Macbeth, being ignorant, believed that nothing

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