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Albert Gamez Ramirez

Ms. Figueroa

Senior English 2

21 February 2019

Macbeth’s Downfall

Does one have a free will to make their own choices or is it our providence leading us to

our destiny that might lead to downfall? In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth three witches tell

Macbeth the prophecy of becoming king. Macbeth obsesses over this idea and allows Lady

Macbeth to influence him to kill the king. Macbeth is now worried that they are after him and is

not letting anything stop him from his goal. The entire commotion has him hallucinating and he

plots the murder of his best friend. Macbeth is responsible for his own downfall which is shown

through his blind ambition and mental instability.

Macbeth’s blind ambition is responsible for his own downfall. Macbeth becomes

obsessed with the prophecy and leads him to kill the king. Macbeths states, “Why do yield to that

suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair... whose murder yet is but fantastical”

(Shakespeare 1.3.134-139). Macbeth’s ambition leads him to focus on only receiving the throne,

and he becomes ignorant to the consequences that he will face after his actions. Macbeth’s

ambition leads him to hire men to kill Banquo. Within knowing Banquo’s intentions, one can

come to the conclusion that he was not only naive, but later becomes the rival enemy the texts

says “both of you know Banquo was year enemy” (1.3.118). With Macbeth working on

persuading the murders it slowly becomes easier for him to get his way of cruelty. To conclude,
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Macbeth finds ways to kill his own friends and does not let anything get in his way of becoming

king.

Macbeth’s mental instability varied throughout the play due to the people he encountered

and the situations he faced. Macbeth follows the prophecy and stabs the king with a dagger

leading him to the throne. Macbeths knowing his prophecy of becoming king Macbeth states “is

this a dagger which I see before me. The handled toward my hand? Come. Let me clutch thee”

(1.2.30-34). With the guilt that came after the murder, he became mentally unstable and began

having hallucinations which led him to his downfall. After the murder of Banquo, his actions

made him go insane and caused so much guilt that he began to see apparitions of his dearest

friend whom set out to be murdered. When realizing Banquo’s ghost’s presence Macbeth says,

“Here had we now our countries honor roofed. Were the graced person of our Banquo present,

who may I rather challenge for unkindness than pity for mischance” (1.3.39-45). Macbeth killing

Banquo causes hallucinations of Banquo’s ghost and feels guilty of Banquo’s murders. In brief,

seeing Banquo ghost led to an increase in the instability of Macbeth mentality.

Macbeth’s blind ambition and mental instability is responsible for his own downfall. In

conclusion, due to the situations Macbeth had to face, both blind ambition and mental instability

led him to be cruel and caused him to be guilty of all of his murders. Macbeth still takes pride on

becoming king and acted upon his instincts instead of analyzing the situation and taking into

consideration the consequences that would follow. What one can learn from this is that one

should be open minded and aware of all the possible outcomes when taking action of a certain

situation. It is important to be patient and analyze one’s actions rather than to just react on their

instinct.