“Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair” - What factors contribute to the downfall of Macbeth?

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Fiona Whyte 10JWB

“Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair”

What factors contribute to the downfall of Macbeth?

Shakespeare’s text Macbeth is the tale of a man ruined by his own ambition.  The tragedy has many continuing themes of which I will be looking at and analysing in my study.  I shall contemplate which influences add most to the fated downfall of Macbeth.  Furthermore I aim to decide in my own opinion how much Macbeth was to blame for the unfortunate happenings in the Scottish play.

The four main factors which contribute to the downfall of our eponymous hero are as follows.  The witches, weird sisters, creatures of chaos; Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s “fiend-like queen” ; fate and destiny, Macbeth is nothing but a “player”; and finally Macbeth himself and his hermatia.

The play is opened by the witches outside, there is thunder and lightning.  All of these things would have shocked and terrified a Shakespearean audience.  Outside scenes are full of chaos because the outdoors were seen as unsafe.  Weather and the natural elements were said to reflect the state of life for men on Earth, therefore bad weather meant bad times.  In Shakespeare’s texts the most important character would open the piece.  Witches opening a performance would have been unimaginable.

The witches obviously have a strong influence over important characters in the play. King Duncan echoes the witches words without hearing them.  The second witch says:

“When the battles lost and won.”

Duncan echoes this by saying:

“What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.”

Macbeth’s first line is also reverberant of the second witch in the opening scene.  The paraphrase he uses is:

“So foul and fair a day I have not seen.”

These words appear to contradict each other, things are not as they seem and it is hard to define between reality and illusion.

The witches’ words have been put in Macbeth’s mouth.  Therefore he must in some way be associated with them and their evils.  Reading this gave me ideas that the witches were heavy influences over people of high stature as they have some control over Macbeth and Duncan without them knowing it.

When the witches meet with Macbeth they pretend to respect him.

“All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee...”

It becomes obvious this honour is false later in the manuscript as they do not then need him to think they admire him so they do not regard him.

The gorgons received very different reactions from Banquo and Macbeth concerning the news of Macbeth’s new titles.  Banquo’s is one of possible scepticism asking “are ye fantastical?” whereas Macbeth by Banquo’s description appears to be enthralled.  Banquo asks them to speak to him saying he neither fears their hatred nor wants favours from them.  Is he perhaps implying Macbeth does?  The witches speak in riddles which shall only be understood when the subject of them has taken place.  They say Banquo shall be:

“Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.”

“Not so happy, yet much happier.”

These seemingly opposing terms spoken, both come into realisation by the end of the text.

Macbeth orders them to stay, his curiosity getting the better of him. He is obviously confused about what they told him feeling rightly that they have only revealed to him half of the story. However they show total disrespect towards him and disappear, leaving the two bewildered.

The hag’s prophecies clearly have much power over Macbeth, more so than Banquo.  It was the sorceress’, not Macbeth that chose the moment of their first meeting and I believe they picked a time which would leave him more vulnerable and willing to be influenced by them.  He was fresh from battle and full of triumph which would make him feel indestructible.  He would be left thinking he could achieve anything and thoughts of rising above his station in the hierarchy would not be impossible.  Macbeth begs the weird sisters to stay and tries to question them.

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“Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more.”

He is clearly yearning desperately for information or else he would not mix with these evil creatures for longer than he had to.  Later he speaks to himself:

“Present fears

Are less than horrible imaginings:

My thought whose murder yet is but fantastical

Shakes so my single state of man...”

His reaction is as if someone has read his thoughts.

After Macbeth hears that the witches predictions about his future titles have come true, he has no doubt that he shall be king:

“Glamis, ...

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