Ambition – The Biggest Weakness of Macbeth

William Shakespeare, in his tragedy, presents the reader with numerous life-related questions and places the main character in situations where choices are crucial. The reader witnesses the internal struggle of Macbeth as he oscillates between good and evil. Macbeth is a powerful man, skilled on the battlefield, whose ambition leads him down the path of a tragic hero. Although he made the choices, he was strongly influenced by the female characters in the play. In the following paragraphs, we will explore the development and deterioration of Macbeth, focusing primarily on the influence of female characters on him.

Macbeth's Greatest Flaw: Ambition

Macbeth is a tragic hero, and he can be classified as one because of his noble birth, being a cousin to the king and Thane of Glamis. He is skilled and extraordinary in battle, showing bravery and loyalty to King Duncan. However, most importantly, he possesses flaws that lead to his downfall, the most significant being his ambition and greed for the crown. The Weird Sisters play a crucial role in his downfall by triggering his ambitions and planting the prophecies in Macbeth’s mind, which drive him to commit evil deeds. From the beginning, we can see that Macbeth depends on prophecies: “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more” (Shakespeare, 1.3.70-71).

Macbeth is a powerful man who claims the title of Thane of Cawdor by determining the fate of the battle at the beginning of the play, through his brave actions that lead to Scotland's victory. As a famous quote says, behind a great man, there is always a great woman, and with Macbeth stands his wife, Lady Macbeth. She is ambitious, strong, and independent, but also ruthless, manipulative, and greedy for power. This is evident in Act One, Scene Seven, where she shows her willingness to commit violence and brutal actions if she had sworn to kill a baby: “Dashed his brains out, had I so sworn as you” (Shakespeare, 1.7.58-59).

Throughout the play, it is evident that the women surrounding Macbeth have a significant influence on his decisions and actions. Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband using three methods: first, she questions his manhood; then, she appeals to guilt; and finally, she uses her femininity and sensuality to persuade him to carry out the deed. This method ultimately convinces him, as he says, “I am settled and bend-up” (Shakespeare, 1.7.79). The Weird Sisters also manipulate him by using prophecies, making him believe he is safe. However, the prophecies are riddles that trick him into misery.

Conclusion

Macbeth’s choices lead him to his misfortune, driving him insane and transforming him into a tyrant. Lady Macbeth falls with him as guilt consumes her. In this tragedy, evil overtakes good by exploiting Macbeth’s weakness—ambition. Shakespeare masterfully illustrates how unchecked ambition can lead to one's destruction, a theme that resonates through the ages.

References:

• Shakespeare, W. (1606). Macbeth. In The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Retrieved from [insert source here].