Final answer:
Macbeth's tragic flaw is his overwhelming ambition to become king. After hearing a prophecy from three witches, he becomes consumed with attaining power, ultimately leading to his downfall. His uncontrolled ambition leads him to commit regicide, which leads to guilt, paranoia, and a reign of terror that ultimately destroys him.
Step-by-step explanation:
In William Shakespeare's Macbeth, the tragic flaw of the protagonist, Macbeth, is his overwhelming ambition for power. From the prophecy from the witches that he is destined to be king, his ambition gets heightened, leading him to commit regicide by murdering King Duncan. This sets him on a destructive course that eventually leads to his downfall. His uncontrolled ambition blinds him to the immorality of his actions until it's too late for redemption.
Over time, Macbeth's guilt eats away his mental peace, making him paranoid and eventually leading him to commit more murders. He becomes a tyrant and his reign of terror not only destroys his own life but it also leads to the suffering of many others. Hence, the ambition that drove him to seek more power, ironically, ends up isolating him and leading him down the path to self-destruction. His tragic end serves as a powerful cautionary tale of the dangerous consequences of unchecked ambition.
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