*Note:  Mrs. Roehl, from now on, I will keep my files on a locked disk should my works be stolen on paper and magnetic data in the future.  I have learned that lesson.  I hope that this following is sufficient.  Please let me know if I need more, I do not want my grade affected because of kleptomaniac(s).  Since this is a shortened version of my original paper, there is no rough draft and it is only two pages in length.  It does, however, emphasize my most important reason for Macbeth’s downfall.  Your dispensation on grading this will veritably demonstrate your impartiality to swimmers.  Much appreciation and thanks.  Sincerely, me.  (I hope this is a good attention-getter, it’s my intro--just joking)
 

 “I’ll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked.”  (Act 5, Scene 3).

    Phrases as forceful as Macbeth’s quote are not common day language, in fact, it is used except in times of intense emotion.  Although the diction of Macbeth’s words are from the Elizabethan Age, it’s message rings true and clear.  Macbeth clearly will oppose anything standing in the way of his passion.  Critics often debate over the what tragic flaw of Macbeth lead to his downfall.  Was it ambition or Lady Macbeth’s influence?  Hardly so.  It was an obsession of power that Macbeth desired so much that led to his compulsive fixation and preoccupation of obtaining his desire by any and all means necessary.  Thus, he inevitably lost touch with reality and became irrational, unreasonable, and myopic which is clearly shown through his decisions.  Macbeth had a downfall because of what he did and what he desired, and he could blame no one but himself.

    Macbeth is first introduced as a war hero, slayer of the Norweyans.  He is then introduced to prophesy by three witches.  They prophesize how he will become first Thane of Cawdor and then king.  “All hail, Macbeth!  hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!...Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.”  (Act 1 Scene 3).  Macbeth becomes thane and starts to believe in the prophesies if the witches.  What first started as inquisitiveness and doubt, soon became fate and truth as the Bible is to Christians.  Macbeth began to believe the next prophesy.  In fact, not only would he become king, he made it his personal obligation and responsibility to see that it became so.  With a little bit of nagging (that is the best term to use) from Lady Macbeth, Macbeth chooses to fulfill his destiny by killing Duncan in order to become king.  “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition.”  (Act 1, Scene 7).  This is the beginning of his obsession for power.  At this point he loses touch with reality and what life is truly about.  He cannot say, “Lady Mac made me do it.  It was she who forced me.”  (Didn’t Adam blame Eve and Eve blame the serpent.  It didn’t fool God, so Macbeth should not fool anyone).  Macbeth chooses by his own free will to pursue his obsession and let it control him, rather than controlling it.

    This preoccupation of mind of Macbeth is clearly seen as the play develops.  We see that this obsession to power is accomplished by Macbeth by any means necessary.  “Sacrifice any and all if necessary” would be a good portrayal of his state of mind.  He kills to cover up his earlier murder victims.  He has let this fixation take him on a one-way path, a path of no return.  It is exactly the same as lying.  The problem with a lie is that one must lie to make the first lie believable.  The more one lies, the more they become convicted to not coming clean.  This is exactly what happens to Macbeth.  He kills to cover up his first murder.  “The death of each day’s life...Give me the daggers...This my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine.” (Act 2, Scene 2).  He commits himself deeper into this passion of gaining power and status.  This inevitably leads up to his downfall.

    As the play progresses, Macbeth loses his support and followers.  Everybody has found out what he has done just to become king.  He has murdered, killed, lied and even arranged for the death of Banquo, a once close friend.  “Know Banquo was your enemy...so he is mine.”  (Act 3 Scene 1).  It is clear now, that Macbeth has totally lost sense of truth and justice.  He has become irrational and is verifiably obsessed.  He has no control over his decisions, he let go of that control the moment he decided to fulfill the prophesies of the witches.  This is what Macbeth’s tragic flaw is and what does lead to his demise.  His own decisions, own actions, own thoughts, own desires, own wife, own beliefs, own gullibility, and own fault that he has a downfall.  Had he not fallen victim to his obsession, he would not have the premature demise he himself caused.  No outside evil force can and should be blamed.  Can Christian’s justify their weaknesses and sins to God with “The devil made me do it.”  No, only through the admission of imperfection, true repentance, and faith can Christians even hope of receiving the true grace and forgiveness of God.  Evil forces will always tempt and persecute human kind, however if one chooses to not fall victim to evil through their own free will, it strengthens their moral character.  Clearly Macbeth chose not to stand up in principle, but allowed himself to die through sin and evil with no one or no thing to blame but himself.

    Macbeth’s downfall was because of a tragic flaw in his character.  This flaw was his obsession of power, not ambition.  Ambition can lead to great things that are praiseworthy and good, and obsession to power cannot.  Macbeth permitted himself to become blinded by a fixation of power, power, and more power (sounds good, doesn’t it).  This is what led to his demise, downfall, and destruction of his earthly life and innermost soul.  Perhaps Shakespeare is attempting to deliver a powerful poignant message.  One may debate and argue over that, however, one thing is clear, Macbeth sought power and it led to evil when he lost sight of true reality and became obsessed.  It would only be wise to learn from someone else’s mistakes, whether fictional or real.  For it could only possibly save souls.

*Mrs. Roehl, this is a little more deep than my original paper.  I hope you are not offended by my use of religious principles.  I by no means advocate using assignments to spread my beliefs, however, my I wrote what I believe and I believe in what I wrote.