The Tragedy of Macbeth
Bailey Stuart
Macbeth's Downfall
Although when Macbeth first killed King Duncan he took extra precaution to keep his act a secret, he slipped up now and again. He let out hints to his fellow peers of the murderous crime he had committed. Just after the murder while he was speaking with Lennox he mentions that he had already known about Duncan's death and killed the guards in an outrage. When Lennox tells the group, Macbeth replies with "Oh, yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them." (Act 2, Scene 3, Shakespeare). This small slip up is just the beginning of Macbeth's down spiral, it is also what starts the suspicion that he committed the crime.
As a result of The Weird Sister's prophecy, Macbeth comes to the idea that he has no need to fear another living soul. He believes that he is invincible among death that is unnatural. What convinces him to come to this conclusion in when the witches tell him "The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth." (Act 4, Scene 1, Shakespeare). In the simplest explanation, what the witches are telling Macbeth that no man who was born of a woman could kill or even harm him for that matter. This results in Macbeth becoming careless and cocky, ignoring the fact that the witches could be tricking him.
Macbeth is a very ignorant man. Even after his wife kills himself and an army is practically standing at his doorstep, Macbeth refuses to see the fact that there was even the possibility of him being killed. "Thou losest labor. As easy mayst thou intrenchant air with thy keen sword impress as make me bleed. Let fall thy blade fall on vulnerable crests;" (Act 5, Scene 8, Shakespeare). Macbeth is literally saying that the sword may as well be stabbing air because he cannot die. He could have at least been wearing some sort of protection, but out of ignorance he just believes the witches, and dies.
Macbeth
The Weird Sisters
The forest
Literary Devices Found in Macbeth
Foil
Imagery
Irony
Song Connection
Icarus and Macbeth
This is similar to the situation of Macbeth's downfall. Because he thought he was invincible, he saw no need to be careful, only leading to his death. Both of these men threw caution to wind in ignorance in believing they could not be harmed. Those acts were concluded by the death of both of them. Shakespeare wrote in act three, scene one that the witches made Macbeth believe he could stand against anything by telling him "The power of man, None born of woman Shall harm Macbeth". This led to Macbeth thinking he was invincible.