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Macbeth’s Tragic Flaw Essay

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Macbeth’s tragic flaw is his ambition and it consequentially leads to his downfall and ultimate demise. Macbeth is a tragic hero who is introduced in the the play as being well-liked and respected by the general and the people. He brings his death upon himself from this tragic flaw. His strengths turn into his weaknesses and his ambition drives him to the edge and sets himself up for his tragic death. In the play, Macbeth possesses many strengths such as honor, respect, and he was viewed as being courageous. Macbeth was given the title “Thane of Cawdor " because he used his strengths to his advantage and was recognized for them. “For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name--Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel, …show more content…

At this point, he has become very egotistical and has no clue where this new vision will lead him. This new outlook and personality he acquires along with the witches prophecies lead to his fatal downfall. The witches affect his perception by telling him what is going to happen in the future and they make him paranoid. He is confused after hearing them call him the “Thane of Caldor” and that he will soon be king. His trait of ambition in the beginning is his biggest weapon, but in the end, it is his own worst enemy. The murder of Duncan triggers this reversal of this ambition and leads to all the other murders in the story. Murder becomes the pistol to his holster and his ambition is now focused on taking out whoever opposes him or anyone he sees as a threat to his throne. Macbeth cannot be fully blamed for gaining this new ambition though, Lady Macbeth and the witches contributed mightily to tainting his ambition. However, Lady Macbeth never blatantly tells Macbeth to do anything he does, she strongly persuades and eventually talks him into doing the things he does. She does call him out as a coward and questions his manhood and bravery. This comes into play when Macbeth tells her he will not murder Duncan, she replies: "How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck'd my nipple from his

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