Macbeth’s Ruin

The specific root of Macbeth's ruin is his uncontrollable ambition. His desires

take control of his actions and this becomes his tragic flaw. It prevents him

from becoming aware of when to stop; he is never fully satisfied as his desire

for power grows. Macbeth's judgment is impaired since he only accepts ideas

that will benefit him in obtaining his wants. He also becomes self centered and

loses his feeling towards others as a result of his need for fulfillment. All

these points in Macbeth's character are caused by his ambition which seems to

have no boundaries. It grows more abundant as his role in William

Shakespeare's play, Macbeth , progresses.

Macbeth's desire for power becomes an obsessive trait for him. It prevents him

from realizing when to stop; he is never fully satisfied and always demands more.

In Macbeth's first meeting with the witches he is told that he is to be the

Thane of Cawdor and king. Soon after he was told these prophesies he already

becomes eager to learn more; his eagerness is shown when he tells the witches,

"Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more" (Act.1,Sc.3,Ln.70). Later in the

same scene Ross, a Scottish noble, presents Macbeth with the title Thane of

Cawdor and here he realized that the prophesies are true. The veracity of these

prophesies disturb Macbeth because at this point he is already filled with the

notion of being king and murder as the way of attaining that title. Macbeth

even asks himself; "why do I yield to that suggestion, whose horrid image doth

unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs" (Act.1, Sc.3,Ln.134-