The novel MacBeth by William Shakespeare is a story of an ambitious man who sought to gain all of the power within his reach. It was his ambition, however, that caused his downfall. A tragedy states that a hero must be of high stature and fall down to nothing. MacBeth is a war hero at the beginning of the story and inevitably meets his demise. MacBeth meets the witches who are the superior force that help MacBeth reach power and ultimate;ey lose it. At the end of the story, we are left to contemplate what we would have done differently if we were put in his situation. From the beginning of the story, MacBeth starts at a high stature. He begins the story already holding the title thane of Glamis. He is a strong military leader and is well respected
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The 3 witches he meets represent the superior force that lead him to his disastrous end. The witches lead MacBeth along their prophecy. When MacBeth first meets the witches, they tell him that he will become thane of cawdor and king. The third witch greets MacBeth by saying, “All hail, MacBeth, thou shalt be king hereafter.” (Shakespeare 5) The Witches in this case being the supernatural force and MacBeth being the hero, the witches cause MacBeth to have the ambition to kill Duncan. The ambition that MacBeth has for power is his tragic flaw. As the story progresses, MacBeth becomes less cowardly and is more care-free. His ambition for power grows and he does not stop until he has a strong rule over Scotland. MacBeth acknowledges his ambition by saying, “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other.” (Shakespeare 12) MacBeth is aware of his ambition and is not keen on changing his ways. MacBeth's tragic flaw inevitably leads him to his demise. The rightful heir to the throne, Malcolm fights MacBeth and slays him. The witches come into play in MacBeth's downfall with the three promises they gave to him. They tell him these promises in the form of apparitions.
The 3 witches he meets represent the superior force that lead him to his disastrous end. The witches lead MacBeth along their prophecy. When MacBeth first meets the witches, they tell him that he will become thane of cawdor and king. The third witch greets MacBeth by saying, “All hail, MacBeth, thou shalt be king hereafter.” (Shakespeare 5) The Witches in this case being the supernatural force and MacBeth being the hero, the witches cause MacBeth to have the ambition to kill Duncan. The ambition that MacBeth has for power is his tragic flaw. As the story progresses, MacBeth becomes less cowardly and is more care-free. His ambition for power grows and he does not stop until he has a strong rule over Scotland. MacBeth acknowledges his ambition by saying, “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other.” (Shakespeare 12) MacBeth is aware of his ambition and is not keen on changing his ways. MacBeth's tragic flaw inevitably leads him to his demise. The rightful heir to the throne, Malcolm fights MacBeth and slays him. The witches come into play in MacBeth's downfall with the three promises they gave to him. They tell him these promises in the form of apparitions.