Have you ever been so sure you could accomplish something, but ended up failing because of it? We have all experienced this at some point in our lives. In fact, I was once overconfident about a test, so I barely studied. I passed the test without paying attention and believing that I could do it; however, the result was not what I expected. After receiving my test, I realized that I had made many mistakes that I could have caught if I hadn't done it quickly. I was so certain that I would do well on the test, but it was that self-confidence that got me down. Macbeth, the main character of Shakespeare's Macbeth, also approaches this issue with overconfidence throughout the play. After having his future predicted and tempted by three witches, Macbeth is overcome by confidence, which takes control of him and leads to his death. After learning of his fortune and discovering that he will become king, Macbeth's overconfidence and ambition drive him to do unspeakable deeds. things, causing them to fall. He becomes convinced that he can get away with anything, even killing Duncan, the king, to accelerate his rise to power. After helping his country win the battle between Scotland and Norway, the humble and loyal Macbeth is considered the most heroic knight in all of Scotland. On their way home, Macbeth and his ally Banquo come across the lair of three witches. There, they are told that he will ascend the throne as King of Scotland and receive the title Thane of Cawdor. Tempted by these fortunes, Macbeth devises a plan to murder Duncan and take the throne. In his mind, his loyalty and overconfidence clash, like angels fighting devils, as he ponders the idea. Aided by Lady Macbeth, his manipulative wife, his confidence gets the better of... half the paper... than it is, clouding your thinking, forcing you to focus only on your goal. Macbeth, focused on his good fortune of being the king of Scotland, loses sight of everything else and believes that nothing can stop him. He is still determined to make his fortune come true, despite countless consequences along the way, and it is this mentality that ends up bringing him down. If Macbeth had instead channeled his faith in the right path to stay alive and keep Scotland united, perhaps he would not only have survived, but he would have had great success. Confidence is an important trait to have, but letting it become too much will lead to ruin, whether it's a math test or something much more important. Confidence allows people to do extraordinary things, and channeling this confidence instead of letting it control you is the key to succeeding at things you never thought you could do.