Macbeth’s Ambition Lead To His Demise

In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, one could argue that Macbeth is motivated to commit his evil acts by three possible forces. The main force is Macbeth’s ambition, he tries to be and do too much by killing and betraying his friends and his king, which later in the play leads to his downfall and even death. Other possible forces are the three witches, who gave Macbeth the idea about becoming the King, which sparks Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s ambition and makes them think to themselves if the prophecies will become true. The last force is Lady Macbeth who pushes and provokes Macbeth to commit these evil deeds. There is more influence than just his own thoughts. Although it is not just his own ambition that drives him, it is other influences that make him commit these evil acts.

The three witches play a large influence on Macbeth. The witches tell Macbeth he will be the Thane of Cawdor, and this prophecy comes true, “all hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!” (Liii.48) which makes Macbeth think about the other thing the witches said, they also told Macbeth that he will become the king of Scotland. The witches are turning Macbeth against his King because he is ambitious; he was once an honourable and noble but the witches made him into an evil ambitious man. “will it not be reciev’d, when we have mark’d with blood those sleepy two of his own chamber, and us’d their very daggers, that they have done’t.” (Lvi.63-65). They also tell Macbeth that none of woman born can kill him, as this makes Macbeth believe he is unstoppable, “the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” (lv.i.79-80). This makes him want to kill more to protect himself from getting caught. In the end the witches put these ideas into Macbeth’s head which leads to his tragic demise,

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Lastly Lady Macbeth has a huge part in Macbeth’s ambition, as she is the one that starts Macbeth off on the killing. Lady Macbeth talks him into doing the evil deed; she pushes him for her satisfaction of becoming queen. Lady Macbeth constantly questions his man hood making him feel like the smaller person in the relationship if he doesn’t commit this act. She does not care what she does or says, she just wants to be the queen of Scotland. Her finding out about the witches, made her ambition grow larger and it makes her do anything for the result of becoming queen. “Come to my

woman’s breasts and take my milk for gall” (Lv.46-47). Lady Macbeth makes up an entire plan to murder King Duncan, “we fail of our … great quell?”(Lvii.59-73)

I think )hat Lady Macbeth, all through the play, was the main cause of Macbeth’s demise, apart from Macbeth’s ambition, and the witches putting the idea that he will become king into his mind. She pushed him around at the start after he heard from the witches to kill Duncan. If she had not convinced Macbeth to kill Duncan, Macbeth would still be an honourable and noble man, with his head on his shoulders. Macbeth did not want to betray his king, although Macbeth wanted the throne, he did not want to kill the king because he had sworn and oath to him. Lady Macbeth just wanted the title of becoming the queen, so she convinced Macbeth to kill Duncan by questioning his man hood.

In conclusion, Macbeth had three other forces motivating him to commit his evil acts and bring a lot of chaos to Scotland. The three forces; the witches’ prophecies, and planting the idea of Macbeth being king into his mind, his own ambition to become king to hold that title. Lady Macbeth constantly pushing him, and well thought out plans all added to his motivation of committing all the evil crimes. Although Macbeth should be blamed for these acts, but without just one of these forces, Macbeth would still be alive.