Downfall of Macbeth

            Ambition leads the strong-minded to endless achievements but tempts the week-minded to their own defeat. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, our protagonist's ambition to be king is great; however, the barriers to overcome are innocent people whom he must kill. Initially, Macbeth is a loyal, honorable servant of his king. Nevertheless, the possibility of being crowned puts him in a difficult game of tug-of-war between his deepest desires and his moral standards. His desire to succeed drives him to murder the king and to begin his long journey of demoralization. His conscience ignored, he murders Duncan and persists down his dark path of bloodshed. Macbeth's tragic flaw, ambition, causes him to self-destruct due to his great longing for power.
             Initially, the war hero, Macbeth, is a trustworthy and honorable servant of his king. He fights nobly and bravely for his country. A bloody sergeant said " brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name- (274). Macbeth's actions prove him to be true to his country as well to his friends. Eventually, Macbeth and his friend Banquo come across the three weird sisters who prophesize the past, present, and future of Macbeth. They announce that Macbeth is Thane of Glamis (the title he attained through his father's death), Thane of Cawdor (The original Thane of Cawdor will be executed due to treason), and to be King hereafter. These seem distant to Macbeth until the noble Ross addresses him as Thane of Cawdor. When the noble Ross grants the title of Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth, it stirs his ambition, and he realizes that being crowned King doesn't seem so distant to him anymore. Thinking out loud to himself, Macbeth says, "Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor: The greatest is behind" (280). Macbeth is realizing that if he is Glamis and Thane of Cawdor, becoming King is more of a reality rather than a fantasy. Lady Macbeth encourages him to win the crown by murdering Duncan.