Every man is responsible for his own destiny. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, this is particularly true, as it was by his own actions that Macbeth brought about his downfall. Macbeth's ambition to be King sets himself upon the path to his downfall. By being paranoid and suspicious because of his guilt he followed the path. Also, by failing to realizing the warning signs and acting accordingly he came to the end of the path, his death.
             Macbeth's ambition is a main factor in his downfall. After the witches tell him he is to become King his ambition corrupts him immediately, "Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear things that seem so fair?" says Banquo, who misunderstands Macbeth's hesitation for fear when it is actually a show of his ambition taking over. Macbeth's ambition was so strong that he had to act on it by Killing Duncan, which leads several characters to question their loyalty towards Macbeth. Macduff is the first to suspect Macbeth for killing Duncan after Macbeth kills the attendants and Macduff asks, "Wherefor did you so?" This suspension leads Macduff to "pray the holy king, upon his aid to wake Northumberland and war-like Siward" and raise a rebellion against Macbeth. This leads to Macbeth's death at the hands of Macduff.
             Once king, Macbeth's guilt drives him to become more and more paranoid and suspicious which leads to his downfall. Macbeth's once close friend Banquo now becomes an enemy as a result of his paranoia. Macbeth fears Banquo because Banquo is prophesized to become King, "There is none but he whose being I do fear; and under him my genius is rebuk'd" and so Macbeth plots to get rid of this threat. After Macbeth kills Banquo and Banquo's ghost appears at the banquet Macbeth's friends and lords become suspicious of Macbeth and question their loyalty to him, causing them to flea when Macduff and the English army appr...