Macbeth Group

Question:

kate93
kate93
Student
High School - 10th Grade

What causes the downfall of MacBeth?

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Posted by kate93 on Wednesday November 5, 2008 at 9:40 PM and tagged with downfall, macbeth.

Answers:

  1. eabettencourt
    eabettencourt Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Macbeth is typically considered to be a tragic hero, so most would believe his tragic flaw is what causes his downfall.  Arguably, this tragic flaw is his blinding ambition or his lust for power.  He is so blinded by this that he neglects to make wise (or moral) choices, such as trusting the witches or becoming so steeped in murder that he feels he can never go back.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth

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    Posted by eabettencourt on Thursday November 6, 2008 at 4:41 AM

  2. pmiranda2857
    pmiranda2857 Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Macbeth's downfall is attributed to a sense of over-confidence and unchecked ambition, and the impact of the witch's prophecy all three seal Macbeth's fate and his destruction 

    At the start of the play, Macbeth is a loyal, courageous servant of the King of Scotland, but he is a man who harbors a hidden ambition for power.  He is both noble and brave in his defense of the King in battle, he is rewarded for his actions.  Macbeth has an encounter with a trio of witches and his life is changed.

    Once the witches show him his future, he becomes obsessed with speeding up the anticipated coming into power.  He is told he will be King of Scotland, so Macbeth makes it happen by killing the King, which casts a shadow of doubt on his two sons, thereby allowing Macbeth to ascend to the throne.

    Once Macbeth seizes power through violence and murder, his life is darkened with the crime of regicide, he has killed a rightful, good and much loved king.  His life begins to fall apart after this because he develops a serious case of paranoia over having the crown stolen from him.

    He becomes a slash and burn murderer and he loses sight of his humanity, he has no morality governing his actions.  He thinks that he will be able to maintain his power through murder and intimidation.

    This leads to Macbeth's isolation from everyone, his wife commits suicide and Macbeth is killed by Macduff.

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    Posted by pmiranda2857 on Thursday November 6, 2008 at 2:28 PM

  3. albomamii
    albomamii Student
    High School - 11th Grade

    The witches' Prophecy causes Macbeth's downfall.Also the witches were poking fun at him making him believe that even though he committed all those murders he'd be safe until someone not born of woman challened him and until Birnam Wood came to Dunsinane Castle which happens later on in the play.But Macbeth should have listened to the apparition when it said "Beware Macduff." becuase little did Macbeth know Macduff was technically not born of woman.He was born from a sea-section.

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    Posted by albomamii on Thursday November 6, 2008 at 3:28 PM