Responsible For His Own Downfall example essay topic

Macbeth was ultimately responsible for all of his actions, and therefore he must be held to blame for his downfall. Although he was facing pressure from many forces, including his wife, the witches and his own "vaulting ambition", in the end it was his choice to go ahead with the regicide and his following actions. Macbeth would never have even considered murdering Duncan, if not for the trickery of the witches. The witches, by prophesising to Macbeth that he would become first the Thane of Cawdor, planted the first seeds in his head, and after he become the Thane of Cawdor, the seeds began to grow. Macbeth was originally misled to believe that if he became Thane of Cawdor without having to do anything, he might become the king without having to do anything. In the end, his own ambition warped this, so that he would " ve done anything to become the new king.

However, Macbeth was explicitly warned about this by Banquo, who described the witches as "instruments of darkness" who "win us with honest trifles", and the witches never actually physically forced Macbeth to do anything. Not only was Macbeth tricked by the witches, but he was also facing immense pressure from his own wife, who led down the wrong path. She cajoled him into the regicide, by using taunts, tricks and emotional blackmail. Through relentless pressure, she used guilt to make Macbeth commit the deed that led to his own downfall. Lady Macbeth used whatever tactic she could; she attacked his courage, "but screw your bravery"; and she used guilt, claiming that she would have "dash'd the brain out" of her own baby, had she sworn to do so. On the fateful day, however, it was Macbeth who killed Duncan, and he could quite easily have overruled his wife.

At the end of the day, it was only Macbeth's own "vaulting ambition", as he described it, that led him to commit this act, and therefore he must be held accountable for it. Macbeth was the person who drove the dagger into Duncan, and therefore he must be held responsible. When Macbeth did this, he fully understood that he was committing a crime, and doing an evil deed. He knew that he shouldn't commit the deed, as he was "his kinsman and his subject", and he knew that this meant he should be fighting against potential murderers of Duncan, and that he should "not bear the knife" himself. He even admitted that he "had no spur" other than his own "vaulting ambition". Although Macbeth was facing pressure from his wife and the witches, he made the final decision, and he knew that what he was doing was evil.

Macbeth must also be held to blame for his downfall, because after he became king, he compounded his downfall by not ruling justly, he killed his subjects, and put spies in every house. After Macbeth ascended to throne, he was ruthless, ordering the killing of Banquo and Flea nce, and the murder of Macduff's family. Once again, Macbeth knew that what he was doing was wrong, even saying that he was "stepped so far" in blood, that "returning were as tedious as go o'er", and he used this as an excuse to justify his actions. He decided that once he had started killing, he might as well continue, and kill women and children as well. By continuing to kill, Macbeth ensured his own downfall, as it was Macduff who slew him, and by continuing to commit evil acts, Macbeth further ensured his downfall, and therefore he is responsible. Macbeth was ultimately responsible for his own downfall, as he gave the final go ahead, and he was the person who actually killed Duncan.

He was facing pressure fro many forces, but he was still responsible, and then he made the dead even worse by committing further crimes.