Macbeth's Ruin

The specific root of Macbeth's ruin is his uncontrollable ambition. His desires

take control of his actions and this becomes his tragic flaw. It prevents him

from becoming aware of when to stop; he is never fully satisfied as his desire

for power grows. Macbeth's judgment is impaired since he only accepts ideas

that will benefit him in obtaining his wants. He also becomes self centered and

loses his feeling towards others as a result of his need for fulfillment. All

these points in Macbeth's character are caused by his ambition which seems to

have no boundaries. It grows more abundant as his role in William

Shakespeare's play, Macbeth , progresses.

Macbeth's desire for power becomes an obsessive trait for him. It prevents him

from realizing when to stop; he is never fully satisfied and always demands more.

In Macbeth's first meeting with the witches he is told that he is to be the

Thane of Cawdor and king. Soon after he was told these prophesies he already

becomes eager to learn more; his eagerness is shown when he tells the witches,

"Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more" (Act.1,Sc.3,Ln.70). Later in the

same scene Ross, a Scottish noble, presents Macbeth with the title Thane of

Cawdor and here he realized that the prophesies are true. The veracity of these

prophesies disturb Macbeth because at this point he is already filled with the

notion of being king and murder as the way of attaining that title. Macbeth

even asks himself; "why do I yield to that suggestion, whose horrid image doth

unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs" (Act.1, Sc.3,Ln.134-

136). This quotation shows that the thought of murder is not intentional

because he questions his own imagination, but caused by Macbeth's natural

desires and ambition which he cannot control. Already he dismisses the fact

that he has become Thane and his hopes and desires are on becoming king.

Macbeth knows that these desires are evil, "Let not light see my black and deep

desires"(Act.1,Sc.4,Ln.51), nevertheless they continue due to his vaulty

ambition that he has no control over. Eventually with the help of Lady

Macbeth's influence - whose character in the beginning of the play is dominant

and overbearing - murders Duncan and becomes king. As king Macbeth does not

feel satisfied with his thrown because along side of the witches predictions of

Macbeth's titles, Banquo was said to be the father of many kings. Macbeth feels

that "To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus"(Act.3,Sc.1,Ln.48-49). This

means that to be king as he is now means nothing to him because he is not secure

on his throne. Macbeth feels insecure because he has a "fruitless crown, and Ð'...

a barren sceptre in [his] gripe,"(Act.3,Sc.1,Ln.61-62). He does not have any

son to succeed him and feels that every king should or else their reign is

deemed as insignificant. In order to solve this problem Macbeth has Banquo and

his son Fleance murdered, so that Banquo's line will never become kings. His

death is an example of Macbeth's uncontrollable ambitions because Banquo went

from being one of Macbeth's close companions to an enemy all in the name of

power. The death of Macduff's family is another prime example of Macbeth's

uncontrollable desires. In Macbeth's second meeting with the witches he is told

to beware of Macduff by the apparition. Up to this point Macbeth is suspicious

of Macduff. He feels that he is plotting against him and has a "servant

fee'd"(Act.3,Sc.4,Ln.132) in the home of Macduff as a spy. After finding out

from the apparitions that Macduff will be indeed a real threat, Macbeth has his

whole family brutally slaughtered. The aimless death of Macduff's family proves

that Macbeth fears Macduff and thinks that the death of his loved ones will show

his powers and thus deter Macduff's intentions towards Macbeth. Their deaths

gave him an extra sense of security. Macbeth's constant dissatisfaction is

caused by his hungry ambition that grows throughout the play. This contributes

to his ruin because in order to obtain all that he wants - power and security -

he sends a wave terror through Scotland which upsets it's people. In the end he

is defeated by those that he did wrong. Macduff gets his revenge for Macbeth's

...