The Downfall of Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Listening

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William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Macbeth, involves the downfall of Macbeth. His tragic outcome is the result of his actions and those around him. Macbeth’s downfall was created by his ambition, listening to others and taking direction from them. The influence of Lady Macbeth, the witch’s prophecies and Macbeth’s ambition and actions are to blame for his tragic downfall.

Lady Macbeth is an ambitious woman who easily manipulates Macbeth. She manipulates Macbeth by insulting his manhood, bravery and calling him a coward. When Macbeth gets the news from Ross and Angus about becoming “Thane of Cawdor”, he sends a letter to Lady Macbeth about his thane ship of Cawdor and details about his meeting with the witches. Lady Macbeth feels that Macbeth lacks the ruthlessness required to kill Duncan in order to fulfill the second prophecy. Lady Macbeth fears that Macbeth “is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness” (1.5.17). Macbeth has a difficult time thinking about killing Duncan because Duncan has done nothing wrong to him. He tells Lady Macbeth that he no longer intends to kill Du...

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