How is Macbeth's fall from grace a tragedy?.
Macbeth's fall from grace is a tragedy as the central cause to it was his character flaw: his ambitious nature. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth's key character strength was his ambition. But as the play progressed, it became his weakness, consequently causing his downfall and his eventual tragic death. However, Macbeth's character flaw was not the only cause of his fall from grace, other causes include the natural order of the world and internal/external factors and influences. .
The main cause of Macbeth's fall from grace was his character flaw. His ambitious nature had acted like a double-edged sword upon him: it helped him to gain glory and success and then toppled him from his success. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a brave and honourable soldier [Described as "Valour's minion" and "Bellona's bridegroom"] who had just finished fighting a battle for his king. He was also portrayed as a high ranking thane who the king had a lot trust invested within. [Greeted by Duncan as "O Valiant cousin"]. At this stage of the play, Macbeth's ambitious nature is viewed as a weapon which helps him, as a soldier to defeat his enemies. However, then arrives the turning point for Macbeth: he meets three witches who tell him three prophecies: [All hail to Macbeth Thane of Glamis Thane of Cawdor King of Scotland]. As the play progresses, after the first two prophecies are fulfilled, Macbeth ambition leads him to believe that the third may also come true. Unfortunately for Macbeth, Malcolm is crowned heir to the throne and the third prophecy is proven fruitless. However, Macbeth's ambition is sparked alight by the third prophecy and attempts to make the third prophecy become true through murdering King Duncan. At the end of I(iv), Macbeth reveals the flawed and evil side of his ambitious nature- [Instruments of darkness tell us truths Let not light see my dark and deep desires Yet let that be, which the eye fears when it is done to see.