Who is responsible for Macbeths downfall?
In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the main character, Macbeth, is a brave and loyal subject to the king of Scotland, but as the play progresses, his character begins to change severely. His downfall was caused by a combination of three dark forces: supernatural, external and internal. They are the three weird sisters (witches’) and the dark powers behind them, Lady Macbeth’s influence, and finally, Macbeth’s own ambition, which brought him to his downfall.
In the first act the weird sisters prepare a surprise for Macbeth, surprise that will possibly cost him life. The sisters tell Macbeth that he is to become the Thane of Cawdor and soon after, king. This induces Macbeth’s curiosity of how he can become the King of Scotland. “Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more. By Finel’s death, I know I am Thane of Glamis, but how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives a prosperous gentleman, and to be king stands not within the prospect of belief.” (Act 1. Sc. 3) this quote shows how the weird sisters prophesy attracts Macbeth. It also shows how Macbeth thirsts for an answer from the weird sisters of how he is to become Thane of Cawdor and even king. After this his royal dreams and ambition begin to take over his good side. He’s convinced that “two truths are told, as happy prologues to the swelling act of the imperial theme.” (Act 1. Sc. 3) the dark forces “win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence”. Not only they make Macbeth thinking about murdering Duncan, they also bring him to the decision to kill Banquo and his son by saying that Banquo’s children will be kings. As the play continues Macbeth slowly relies on the witches’ prophecies. It becomes a remedy for Macbeth’s curiosity, which corrupts his character.
