Who is responsible for Macbeth's downfall in the tragedy "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare? Plz help!

MacDuff

Well, firstly, Shakespeare always made the fall of the hero due to an inherent fault in his character, so yes, you can say that Macbeth's unlimited ambition was the cause of his down fall, that's according to A.C. Bradly. But, also Shakespeare always but some outer influences that made that fault a fatal fault, I mean, if Macbeth was ambitious in other circumstances, he would have lived. But under the outer influence of his wife, Lady Macbeth, and her greed, and also the witches, who manipulate him so well, he fell and died. I hope this was useful to you.

The mad ambition of Lady Macbeth is revealed in her speech: "Unsex me now." In other words, she wishes she were a man so she could become king. Since she is female, she can only achieve power through her husband (medieval times were not liberated).

Macbeth has second thoughts about their scheme. This is shown in his speech "If it were done when twer done, better that it be done quickly." (if we are going to act, we must act now). He says that they should simply enjoy all the fame and rewards from his recent battle and not "cast them aside so soon."

As the other posters say, all the characters had a hand in it. It is a situation similiar to a shark tank: everyone in the royal court is constantly trying to find a way to gain power no matter what the cost.

They all share in the blame. Everyone you mentioned (and one person you forgot, MacDuff) had a part in it. In fact, without the contributions of any one of these characters, things would have probably turned out differently for MacBeth.

The play is a "perfect storm" of choice and destiny. Things could not have turned out worse for MacBeth. He had a bunch of chances to avoid doom (i.e., ignoring Lady MacBeth and what she said about the witches), but once he decided to kill Duncan, he lost control of his destiny.

Since I came here from the country, I have not seen her close. Tell me, is-- is she beautiful? Thomas, if I could write with the beauty of her eyes, I was born to look in them and know myself. A-A-And her lips? Her lips? The early morning rose would whither on the branch if it could feel envy. And her voice, like lark's song? Deeper, softer. None of your twittering larks. I would banish nightingales from her garden before they interrupt her song. Oh, she sings too? - Constantly. Without doubt. And plays the lute. She has a natural ear. And her bosom. Did I mention her bosom? What of her bosom? Oh, Thomas, a pair of pippins... as round and rare as golden apples. I think milady is wise to keep your love at a distance. For what lady could live up to it close to... when her eyes and lips and voice may be no more beautiful than mine. ---------william Shakespeare---'shakespeare in love'(the new juliet)

Macbeth's struggle is with his own ambition.

Irrespective of what prophecies or pressures are presented to him, he walks his own path and decides his own fate.

One dichotomy in the play is the 'vision' of the witches. They lay the seeds of ambition in his mind, knowing that success breeds ambition which in turn lays the seed for success.

When you're the right hand man of the King, where is there left to climb, but over the top?

Don't be sucked in by the imagery of these haggered old women. Their importance in the play and to Macbeth's path is similar to the 'Oracle' in the Matrix movies. What they say is not as important as how Macbeth reacts to it. When they predict his path, he still possesses the right to decide.

If you see life as a journey and our collective lives as a crossing of paths, you see how Macbeth spent time being forced from his own path by those drunk with his new found fame as a favourite Knight of the King. He becomes so drunk with his own self importance that his ambition is stirred further by the witches.

His wife also drunk with their new status sees this as just a stepping stone to greatness and convinces him to commit treason, for her selfish ends, despite the revulsion she feels when her clothes become blood stained. Macbeth is drenched in blood and she doesn't care, but she then has one 'damned spot' and she breaks down.

Many English metaphors come directly from Shakespeare: eg. If you are said to have "blood on your hands" to describe guilt, you can refer it back diirectly to that scene.

MacDuff might be the 'man not born of woman', who killed him, but MacBeth's own weakness and greed led to his downfall.

I'm gonna have to go with . . . Macbeth. Yup, it is Macbeth -- the zany Thane of Cowder himself -- who is responsible for his own downfall. Or, more appropriately, he's the victim of his ambition. Shore 'nuff.

Macbeth was a god military leader, but a weak husband, influenced by his wife and her social climbing, which led to his downfall.

Shakespeare is responsible for his dwonfall.

Heh. Shakespeare is. He created the guy.