In the play "Macbeth," by William Shakespeare, it is not fate or the haunting prophecy of the witches, but rather Macbeth’s flawed character that leads to his downfall. Macbeth is a valiant, ambitious and brave solider, but lacks the strength of character and is too often controlled by outside forces. In Act 1 and Act 2, despite him clearly protesting, most of Macbeth’s actions were decided by his wife. By the third act Macbeth, due to his weak-mindedness and inability to deal with guilt, became so consumed by his own conscience that his actions were not that of a sane man. The struggle between guilt and ambition in a weak-willed, impressionable man is what truly leads to Macbeth’s doom. From the first accounts of Macbeth by his fellow soldiers, Macbeth is shown as an agreeable and brave man, however it quickly becomes evident that he is also excessively irresolute and compliant. These personality traits and general wanting of strength of character coupled with ambition and constant external forces are what lead to Macbeth’s ruin. In the second scene Macbeth is exalted by a captain, “For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name – Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel” showing that he truly is a courageous and loyal man held in high esteem by his fellow soldiers. However, these are only the qualities he displays when all is fair and easy. Even his close friend Banquo does not hesitate to doubt Macbeth’s character when tested, as when Macbeth tries to raise Banquo’s support for him to become king, Banquo replies with, “So I lose none in seeking to augment it, but still keep my bosom franchised and allegiance clear, I shall be counseled.” With that statement Banquo is clearly telling Macbeth that there are limits to his loyalty towards him and he will only follow him as long as he can do so with a clear conscience. Why would Banquo feel the need to establish this boundary with Macbeth, unless he distrusted his character? The faithful wife of Macbeth, one who must surely know him better than anyone else, herself many times expressed her annoyance at his weakness and flaws. "I fear thy nature; it is too fullo' the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great, art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it,” Th