The Cause of Macbeth's Ruin The specific root of Macbeth's ruin is his uncontrollable ambition. His desires take control of his actions and this becomes his tragic flaw. It prevents him from becoming aware of when to stop; he is never fully satisfied as his desire for power grows. Macbeth's judgment is impaired since he only accepts ideas that will benefit him in obtaining his wants. He also becomes self centered and loses his feeling towards others as a result of his need for fulfillment. All these points in Macbeth's character are caused by his ambition which seems to have no boundaries. It grows more abundant as his role in William Shakespeare