Cabrera 1

Sophia Cabrera

Ms. Figueroa

Senior English Period 3

20 February 2019

Destruction of Macbeth Commented [SC1]: Different title besides

Macbeth’s downfall
Hell is empty and all the devils are here -William Shakespeare. In the story Macbeth by

William Shakespeare, the main character Macbeth, the Scottish general and the Thane of Glamis

is determined to become the Thane of Cawdor due to what the three witches predicted upon his

future after a war that just took place. Nothing will stop Macbeth for this to come true, he is

eager. His ambitions will lead to his downfall. Although Macbeth should be held most

responsible for his actions and the terrible gruesome outcomes, his wife Lady Macbeth is also

countable for Macbeth’s downfall because she lusts for power and position.

Lady Macbeth is a powerful character whose burning ambitions conducts Macbeth’s Commented [SC2]: Macbeth’s not Macbeths

downfall. When Lady Macbeth is notified what the three witches, or “weird sisters”, have Commented [SC3]: Comma after witches

predicted of Macbeth, shes determined to convince him to take action on the idea of killing the Commented [SC4]:
Commented [SC5]: Comma after weird sisters
king and whoever else that will get in the way of what he desires. Lady Macbeth states, “…Such
Commented [SC6]: Shes not she’s. No
contractions
I account thy love. Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and valor As thou art in

desire? Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, And live a coward in

thine own esteem…” (William Shakespeare 1. 7. 35-40). Lady Macbeth is stating if Macbeth is

fearful of the idea and what he desires, she doesn’t want him to be a coward about the situation

and second guess things. She’s trying to make him unfearful and see things a different way to

getting to where he wants to be in life. She’s good with her words and will make sure Macbeth

won’t regret later on saying I should’ve or could’ve, living in regret.

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Another reason Lady Macbeth is responsible for Macbeth’s downfall is the position she

has on him. Lady Macbeth deceives Macbeth as a person or even dispirits his manhood. His wife

shows this by stating, “What beast wasn’t then, That made you break this enterprise to me?

When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would be

so much more the man…” (Shakespeare 1. 7. 45-54). Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth what

kind of a man is he, or this “tough guy” he sought out to be. Either on taking this action to get

what he truly desires or falling back. If he takes what he dared to do by killing anyone that gets

in the way of his power and prosperity, he will become much more of a man according to his

wife. Lady Macbeth encouraging him leads to his downfall. Questioning his manhood triggers Commented [SC7]: After explanation of the
quote, what causes his downfall is Lady Macbeth
Macbeth. who encourages him.

Macbeths downfall to blame is his own wife, Lady Macbeth for her aggressive, willful,

and ambitious ways. Macbeth was superstitious when hearing the predictions of the three

witches. His power-hungry mind had to make what the witches said, come true. He wouldn’t let

no one get in the way of this and his wife was there to manipulate him into trouble involving

death. Lady Macbeths blind ambitions equalized to Macbeths. Any reader can learn from

Macbeth, its good to be ambitious, but not hurt those around us just to become what we desire.

It’ll come with honor and purpose. Always remember that no devil is in hell, the people on this

bare ground are the devil that was right in front of the faces of Scotland.
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Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Penguin, 1967