Explain How Too Much Ambition Can Lead To The Downfall Of Macbeth

In the tragedy Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the main character Macbeth suffers a tragic downfall. Macbeth begins as a brave and honorable war hero who everyone praised. He takes a dangerous turn when he meets the three ominous witches who prophesize that he will eventually become king of Scotland. Macbeth is seen as a tragic hero because all of his actions, after the encounter with the witches, is driven by his fatal flaw: ambition. While Macbeth is obsessed with becoming king, it is his wife, Lady Macbeth who thinks he should do everything he can in order to maintain the crown. Shakespeare uses Lady Macbeth’s manipulative character to convince Macbeth to commit heinous acts that show how ambition can lead to a tragic downfall. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are very different characters that show many opposing characteristics
Towards the end of the play during Lady Macbeth’s sleep walk, Lady Macbeth goes mad and says, “Out damned spot! Out I say”(5.1.31). This is symbolic because the “damned spot” represents the blood of Duncan that she cannot wash off and her participation in murdering him. Later on Lady Macbeth kills herself because she is full of guilt and paranoia.Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have switched characters from the beginning to the end of the play since Macbeth was the one who felt all of these emotions. She realizes what her husband has turned into and that she does not really matter anymore. Eventually everyone turns against Macbeth, and Malcolm and Macduff bring an army to kill Macbeth. Macduff storms into the castle and demands for Macbeth saying, “That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face!”(5.7.15). Everyone understands how evil Macbeth truly is and they all want him dead. Macbeth’s greed has led him to either fight or die. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth suffer a tragic downfall because of their actions and