Ambition Is Responsible For Macbeth's Destruction

“I’m tough, I’m ambitious, and I know exactly what I want.” William Shakespeare's play Macbeth, written in 1605, explores the story of Macbeth as he climbs the ladder of the social hierarchy within Scotland. Driven by ambition, Macbeth puts his faith in the words of the three witches, and Lady Macbeth, who is certainly a key instrument in Macbeth’s ambition to becoming King. In the course of the play, Lady Macbeth is however responsible only to a certain extent for Macbeth’s destruction. It is his ambition, the prophecies of the three witches, and also his misplaced confidence in his invulnerability that causes his decline. By succumbing to committing evil acts to achieve his ambition, Macbeth destroys his morality, leading to his downfall.
The prophecies ignited Macbeth’s ambition and his wife, Lady Macbeth, who was even more ambitious and determined than her husband. In fact, in the opening scene, Shakespeare creates a mysterious and ominous atmosphere, foreshadowing that “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” suggesting the evil which is about to follow throughout the play. In act 1 scene 3, the witches greet Macbeth as “Thane of Glamis,” “Thane of Cawdor,” and as “King of Scotland.” These prophecies lead Macbeth to genuinely think about being in control and having power. However, the witches cannot be entirely blamed for Macbeth’s downfall, because Macbeth listens, and turns to his wife, Lady Macbeth who is greatly responsible for the killing of King Duncan and misleading her husband towards