The Causes of Macbeth's Downfall in Shakespeare

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” – Lord Acton (Lazarski, and Allshouse 6) Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s darkest works. It is a tragedy that tells the story of Macbeth, a gallant Scottish soldier who is overcome with greed for power, after receiving a prophecy from three witches that he would become the Thane of Cawdor and the King of Scotland. Essentially, Macbeth's downfall was influenced by his wife and the three witches. He also contributed to his own ill fate by allowing them to manipulate him; thus, playing into their plan. The evidence of Macbeth’s greed for power is clear through his brutal treatment of anyone who threatened his ascension to the throne.