Macbeth's tragic flaw is ambition. Despite being showered by honors and titles by a grateful King Duncan, it's somehow not enough. He wants more, and is prepared to stoop to murder and treachery to get it.
Even so, Macbeth needs a little help to realize his ambitions. When it comes to actually following through, he gets cold feet about murdering Duncan and needs the assistance of his devious wife—who, if anything, is even more ambitious than he—to make it happen. Lady Macbeth cajoles her husband and questions his manhood when it appears that he's not prepared to go through with the murder plot. Had it not been for her, there's every reason to expect that Macbeth would've backed out at the last minute.
The Weird Sisters also play their part in encouraging Macbeth's ambitions. Their prophecies appear to provide a supernatural sanction to Macbeth's base treachery. Over the course of the play, Macbeth becomes so obsessed with the witches ' prophecies that he starts to feel almost invulnerable....
(The entire section contains 2 answers and 807 words.)
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
Further Reading