Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow…? Sometimes tomorrow never arrives, and for Macbeth, tomorrow signified another day of inner torment and guilt. This triumphant Thane quite literally became his own worst enemy once he began to put faith in the witches. Following their prophecies, Macbeth’s popularity and mental state plummeted.
Despite being tempted by the witches and receiving support from Lady Macbeth to overcome his initial reluctance towards murder, Macbeth chose the crown over his honor. Additionally, I believe that Macbeth ultimately caused his own downfall. Although influenced by individuals like the witches and his wife, it was ultimately his decision to value earthly gain over salvation in the afterlife. Ambition can be beneficial but only to a certain extent.
Macbeth is an overambitious individual who becomes captivated by the witches’ prophecy, disregarding his loyalty and ethics towards his king for his own self-interest. Ultimately, it seems that Macbeth’s ambition triumphs over his conscience. Furthermore, his ambition drives him to commit desperate acts, borne out of desperation.
In my opinion, Macbeth sealed his own fate by killing Macduff’s wife and children. If Macbeth hadn’t committed this horrific act, I believe Macduff wouldn’t have harbored such intense bitterness towards him. Macbeth gained nothing by killing Macduff’s family and this was a desperate and spiteful attempt to harm Macduff indirectly. Consequently, this cruel action provides ample reason to fear Macduff now.
As Macbeth ascended to the throne, he did not trust anyone, except his wife Lady Macbeth. His paranoia, stemming from King Duncan’s murder, led to a deteriorated state of mind. Consequently, his initial guilt over the murder drove Macbeth to become increasingly paranoid and commit more killings. The act of killing Macduff’s family clearly demonstrated his desperate state.
Macbeth demonstrates his paranoia and desperation by planting spies, showcasing his constant fear of both real and imagined enemies. Additionally, he provides important lessons for us all, highlighting the benefits of ambition, but also the dangers of becoming too overambitious. This excessive ambition may drive individuals to commit desperate acts, leading to a state of paranoia and perpetuating further desperation.
{When I refer to “we,” I am talking about the global population.} Macbeth was trapped in a destructive cycle caused by the witches and Lady Macbeth, but he ultimately made the decision to proceed. No one forced him to do so, not even a sword held to his head.
