On the other hand, Shakespeare changed the characteristics of Macbeth in a completely diverse way for example, ‘good’ into ‘evil’. He starts out as a strong man but when he encounters the witches his whole mindset changes to that of a greedy man. There are two major influences, one which is supernatural on Macbeth's character. These influences are the 3 witches and Lady Macbeth along with Macbeth losing touch with his conscience. Macbeth falls into an evil world and an evil mind.
Macbeth’s biggest influence was the witches. The quote
“All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! / All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!”(Act1,Sc.3,51-53).
Before hearing the witch's prophecies, Macbeth had never in his wildest dreams thought of killing King Duncan to become king. Shakespeare shows the audience how weak some people are in decision-making, but also in how much others influence their lives. Most people forget how to think for themselves. In Macbeth the reader sees the influences on him from the witches and that of his wife, Lady Macbeth. This play shows the importance of not only thinking about the right thing to do, but also to ones conscience. Influences shouldn't always have the final say. That is what Macbeth’s tragic mistake was in the play.
On the other hand, his wife influenced him as well. Lady Macbeth is first reading a letter receives from Macbeth describing the encounter with the Witches, and the prophecies which they given him. Lady Macbeth is very ambitious; believes that Macbeth is too kind and loyal to take the steps needed to become king.
"Yet do I fear thy nature; it is too full o’ the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way"(Act 1,Sc.5,14-16).
Lady Macbeth uses the weaknesses of Macbeth to convince him to kill King Duncan: she challenges his manhood
"When you durst do it, then you were a man"(Act1,Sc.7,49)"Thou esteem’st the ornament of life and live a coward in thine own esteem"(Act 1,Sc.7,42-43).
She tries to make him feel guilt, Macbeth promises to kill Duncan.
From the quote "Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires"(Act 1,Sc.4,50-51)
Macbeth hopes in an aside that his immoral ambition isn't revealed, since he doesn't want anybody to find out about it. He prays for the stars to stop sending out light, because he fears that light will illuminate his ambition to achieve the kingship. Of course, this is not literal; he simply means that he hopes his plans aren't found out. Shakespeare suggest to the audience Macbeth knows what he’s doing and shows us awareness of Macbeth’s greediness.
Shakespeare interprets a Macbeth’s lifelong ambition that seems to be fulfilled, but causes consequences that his mind cannot handle. Macbeths desire to gain wealth and status completely overpowers him. Macbeth becomes more ambitious as his wife and the witches make him question himself and his desires. Lady Macbeth is the biggest encouragement to his ambition, since she uses her husbands trust to change her own future. Shakespeare’s use of aside presents Macbeths ambition,
"I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself, and falls on th'other-"(Act1,Sc.7,25-28)
this suggests that Macbeth’s determined, ready and is already planning how to kill Duncan.
The most significant display of ambivalence is in Act I, in which Shakespeare effectively uses literary devices such as imagery, and structure to portray Macbeth's indecisiveness over whether or not to kill King Duncan. Macbeth’s diction and imagery reveal his struggle to make a firm decision regarding the fate of his king through his dilemma between appeasing his conscience and satiating his lust for power.
