Is Macbeth’s Downfall Inevitable?

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Is Macbeth’s Downfall Inevitable?

People often battle with their conscience over what is right and what is wrong. A character’s emotions can be revealed through thoughts. If intentions get out of hand, then perhaps certain actions may be expressed for specific reasons. When intentions and emotions tend to get out of control then consequences are suffered. Through an examination of the intentions, actions and outcome in Macbeth, it is evident that it is the character’s behavior that leads to his inevitable termination.

Firstly, the witch’s accusations influence him to start his journey of torment and confusion. This in turn causes Macbeth to become ambitious. When he meets the witches and learns that he will become “Thane of Cawdor” and then king, he puts himself in a great deal of inner torment as he considers the murder of King Duncan. Later, Macbeth is shocked with this news and expresses his thoughts in his first soliloquy. He tortures himself by thinking of evil thoughts and images. He says

“My thoughts, whose murder yet is but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man that function
Is smother’d in surmise, and nothing is
But what is not.” (Act 1,scene 3, 139-142)

Macbeth has an image of murder, which destroys his peace of mind. After Macbeth is greeted “Thane of Cawdor”, Duncan announces that Malcolm, his son, will be the next king of Scotland. Macbeth realizes that he must kill Malcolm as well, in order to become king. Macbeth’s wife tells him that he should kill Duncan in order to get the crown. Macbeth weighs his options and possible consequences that may result in his demise if he goes along with the murder.

He’s here in double trust:
First, as his kinsman and then his subject,
Strong both against the deed; then, as his host
Who should against his murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself. (1, 6, 12-16)

Macbeth’s evil thoughts cause his inner anguish...