The Downfall of Man in Macbeth and Moby Dick

The Downfall of Man in Macbeth and Moby Dick

It can be stated that mans greatest downfall is his greed. No matter

how much a person has, they will always want more. In Melville's Moby

Dick and Shakespeare's Macbeth, the character traits of the tragic

heroes, and many similar outside factors combine to create a spiral

downfall effect which essentially leads each character to his demise.

Each of these character's downfalls are brought upon as a result of

their predetermined fates, their ambitions to reach an unattainable

goal, and their foolish choices.

From fortune cookies to Miss Cleo, many people around the world today

believe in the ability to see into the future and determine ones fate.

Both Macbeth and Captain Ahab have predetermined fates which conflict

with their goals, thereby causing them to be unachievable. Moby Dick

is riddled with evidence foreshadowing that the Pequod, Captain Ahab,

and his crew are doomed from the moment it sets sail. "Ishmael's

narrative contains many references to fate, creating the impression

that the Pequod's doom is inevitable" (Chong). When Ishmael first

arrives in New Bedford, he stays at a very dark and gloomy inn

decorated with clubs and spears, and other whaling equipment. The

appearance of the Spouter-Inn develops the atmosphere of tragedy, and

even the owner's name, Peter Coffin, hints that in due course, death

will ensue. On one wall, Ishmael is perplexed by an oil painting,

which he eventually interprets to be that of a whale attacking a ship;

The picture represents a Cape-Horner in a great hurricane; the

half-foundered ship weltering there with its three dismantled masts

alone visib...

... middle of paper ...

...it is then that Macduff tells him that, "[he] was from his

mother's womb untimely ripp'd" (Shakespeare 5.8.19-20). It is at this

point that Macbeth finally realizes that the three apparitions were

riddles, and that he will be defeated. "[Macbeth] goes down fighting,

bringing the play full circle: it begins with Macbeth winning on the

battlefield and ends with him dying in combat" (Phillips). With

Macbeth slain, order is returned to Scotland, similar to how it is

returned to the sea when the ship is dragged under.

It is evident that although both of the characters reach their end

through completely different paths and events that occurred, the three

main causes of their downfall remain the same; fate, ambition, and

their actions. "Desire. [it is] Man's greatest pleasure. [but also]

Man's greatest downfall" (DeLatore).