Lady Macbeth by William Shakespeare

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'Macbeth' is Shakespeare's shortest tragic play in which the main character, Macbeth, becomes the tragic hero. He begins as 'a noble lord' only to finish as 'Devilish Macbeth'. But who or what is responsible for the tragic downfall of Macbeth? I believe Macbeths is partly responsible for the tragic events that take place, including the murder of King Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macduff and her children. However, Macbeth was influenced by the supernatural witches and by the strict pressure of his wife, Lady Macbeth. The themes of Fate, Ambition, Greed and Manhood are expressed in Macbeth's action and his tragic downfall.

Firstly, Macbeth is partly responsible for the tragedy that befell him. He has always harboured the desire to be king, as seen in his soliloquy after the witches' prophecies, where he admits that his desires are not just "black" but "deep", and the play charts his course from worthy Thane to "dead butcher", fuelled by brutal ambition. The events of the play can be traced back to Macbeth himself as a character.
Macbeth is a good man who uses his best asses - his ambition - to excess, resulting in his fall. He's a classic tragic hero. Macbeth chose to listen to the witches and to his wife. His ambition drove him to fight bravely in the first battle and win the title of Thane of Cawdor. When he heard that he could be king, his ambition took over his mind and he will do anything - including killing the king he loves, under his own roof - to satisfy that ambition. As the play progressed, he became a cold and callous man. He lost his sanity and is driven by immoral thoughts that make him act as quickly as thinking. He let superstition, greed and evil take over his mind, which resulted in many deaths. He turned from being...

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...nd the role it has in the play. One can only wonder if Macbeth ever even had a chance of doing what was right, after he heard the witches' prophecies.

In conclusion, I believe the witches' supernatural prophecies, Lady Macbeth's strict pressure and Macbeth's own greedy ambition and betrayal add to the tragic events that take place in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'. 'Brave Macbeth' at the start of the play succumbs to pressure, expectations and greed to become 'Devilish Macbeth' at the closing lines to the play. Things couldn't have been worse for Macbeth. He had plenty of chances to avoid doom, but once he decided to kill Duncan, he lost control. The play is a "perfect storm" of choice and destiny. Shakespeare's play ends in tragedy, as most main characters end up murdered or they commit suicide; however Good wins over Evil and peace and justice is restored in Scotland.

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