The Tragic Downfall of Macbeth

A detailed Summary of The Tragic Downfall of Macbeth


In William Shakespeare's Macbeth, the main character, Macbeth, is a brave and loyal subject to the King of Scotland, but as the play progresses, his character begins to change drastically. Evil and unnatural powers, as well as his own desire to become king, take over his better half and eventually lead to his downfall. Three main factors that intertwine with one another that contribute to Macbeth's tragic end are the prophecies told by the three witches, Lady Macbeth's influence, and finally, Macbeth's excessive ambition which drove his desire to become king.

The prophecy told by the three witches was what triggers the other factors that contribute to Macbeth's downfall. In the first act, Macbeth is told by the witches that he is to become the Thane of Cawdor and soon after, king. This prophecy arouses Macbeth's curiosity of how he can become the King of Scotland.

"Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more. By


Issue have I filed my mind; For them the gracious

This quote shows how the witches' prophecy attracts Macbeth. It demonstrated how Macbeth thirsts for an answer from the witches of how is he to become the Thane of Cawdor and king. As the play continues, Macbeth slowly relies on the witches' prophecies. It becomes a remedy for Macbeth's curiosity which corrupts his character.



Some common words found in the essay are:
Lady Macbeth's, Thane Cawdor, Lady Macbeth, King Scotland, Seeds Banquo, Shakespeare's Macbeth, Scotland Macbeth, Banquo's Issue, King Duncan, Duncan Macbeth, lady macbeth's, thane cawdor, witches' prophecies, lady macbeth, told witches, lady macbeth's influence, macbeth's influence, macbeth's curiosity, thane cawdor king, influence macbeth's, desire king, cawdor king, witches thane cawdor,

Approximate Word count = 673
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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