In spite of his atrocities Macbeth is a pitiable man. While the thought of murder crossed Macbeth’s mind, he was initially against the idea of murdering Duncan, but later changed his mind as a result of Lady Macbeth’s manipulative persistence. This indecisive secondary role of Macbeth in Duncan’s murder allows the audience to feel pity for him. After the first murder the audience is furthermore pitiable towards Macbeth as the once “brave” and “gallant” kinsman is reduced to a sacred, paranoid, and delusional being who is plagued despite his sovereignty. While all sympathy for him is lost during the chain of ruthless murders throughout his dictatorial reign; the audience once again sympathizes with Macbeth as his earlier bravery and courage, as shown in his final words “…before my body I throw my warlike shield...” escorts him in death. Though tyrannical in office Macbeth is a repented character who pays for his crimes.
Consuming ambition was the central cause of a great man’s fall. Macbeth’s ambition leads him to have his first thoughts of murder and to consider the witches prophesies whereas Banquo who was also promised great things in the future remains skeptical even after the Macbeth was hailed “Thane of Cawdor”. Ambition also made him vulnerable to Lady Macbeth’s manipulation. After identifying “vaulting ambition” as the only real reason for killing Duncan, Macbeth was in search of other reasons which came in the form of Lady Macbeth questioning his love for her, his bravery and his manhood. After attaining sovereignty Macbeth’s overleaping ambition, insecurity and paranoia continued to devour him - thus resulting in his dictatorial rule. Ambition was the greatest cause of Macbeth’s downfall.
However it is not to say that ambition was the only cause of his down fall. For, it was closely guided by two main factors in the form of the witches and Lady Macbeth. Later in the play it is obvious that the witches targeted their prophesies at Macbeth rather than Banquo who was also promised great things in the future; this is evident through the different reactions of both men when given the prophesies where Banquo remained skeptical and for Macbeth his ambition was kindled. In their second meeting the witches manipulate Macbeth’s consuming ambition by giving him four ambiguous apparitions. As a result Macbeth’s ambition and desire for security he is narrow minded in his interpretation of the prophesies which ultimately leads to his death.
On the other hand if it was not for Lady Macbeth’s persistence, Macbeth though very ambitious may never have murdered Duncan. This can be deduced in Macbeth’s letter to Lady Macbeth when he says “…thou mightiest not lose the dues of rejoicing, be being ignorant of what greatness is promised three…” thus informing her that she too would gain from the prophesies, he invokes her into push him towards murder. Both Lady Macbeth and the witches played significant role in Macbeth’s downfall.
Ultimately it has to be said that Macbeth was responsible for his own actions. While the witches were responsible for delivering the prophesies, Lady Macbeth was the persistently manipulative force behind him and his ambition was the consuming force driving him; Macbeth was solely accountable for his own actions. This is shown thought his words, he is in “blood stepp’d so far” it is too late to go back, implying that it is his conscious decision which chose to go on further in his tyrannical rule. As Macbeth takes the witches prophesies into his own hands changing the nature of the natural, moral and social order of the time to “catch the nearest way” to the throne.
The Shakespearean classic Macbeth is a truly tragic play for it is about the fall of a man destined for great things. With the assistance of evil supernatural being (the witches) and the manipulation of his wife, Macbeth falls victim to his greatest character flaw, ambition.
