Macbeth s Downfall
British politician William Pitt once said that [u]nlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those
who possess it; and this I know ... that where law ends, tyranny begins . Pitt s assertion is substantiated
by William Shakespeare s 17th century tragedy entitled Macbeth, where the protagonist Macbeth
commits unspeakable crimes in his pursuit of power, including the murders of many innocent people
such as King Duncan I of Scotland, Macduff s entire family, and his friend Banquo. Consequently,
Macbeth becomes paranoid and is ultimately slain by Macduff at the end of play. Macbeth s lust for
power leads him to his downfall as it causes him to slowly metamorphose from a courageous, loyal,
and noble general to a brutal, cruel and inhumane tyrant. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This includes murdering his friend and ally Banquo, who has done Macbeth no harm, as well as
attempting to murder Banquo s innocent son Fleance. Macbeth killed Duncan in order to make himself
king of Scotland, but he fears that his felony will be futile in the long term if Banquo s descendants,
rather than his own, are destined to wear the crown. In order to prevent his worst fear from becoming
reality, Macbeth hires assassins to assassinate Banquo and his son Fleance, in an effort to prevent the
witches prophecies about Banquo from being fulfilled. Macbeth attempts to tamper with fate even
though fate is an inevitable course of events that is predetermined by God and is beyond human
control. Macbeth kills Banquo in order to satisfy his greed and, thus, he must pay the consequences
for his actions. Additionally, Macbeth developed hubris, believing that he is invincible and nobody can
slay him. Consequently, Macbeth s hubris slowly becomes his dominant character trait. This is evident
when Macbeth visits the witches at his own free will. After the witches give him the three apparitions,
Macbeth presumes that the witches apparitions can never come true and, therefore, he is invulnerable
(Shakespeare 4.1.104 105). Macbeth s hubris lingers to the very end of the play, even when he knows
that his defeat is inevitable. When Macbeth finally realizes the witches deception during his fight with
Macduff, Macduff suggests that Macbeth should capitulate. In turn, Macbeth replies, I will not yield,/
To kiss the ground before young Malcolm s feet,/ And to be baited with the rabble s curse./ Though
Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane,/ And thou opposed, being of no woman born,/ Yet I will try the
last (Shakespeare 5.8.32 37). This quote bespeaks the magnitude of Macbeth s hubris. Macbeth
refuses to surrender to his enemies and demonstrates that his pride is so
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