It is difficult to associate the brave Macbeth with such evil creatures as witches, but believing these predictions was his downfall.
Macbeth sent a letter to his wife, Lady Macbeth telling her about the witches and their predictions. When Macbeth returns she tells him that if he wants to be king he must kill Duncan, when he comes to stay: “O never Shall sun that morrow see”
Lady Macbeth is very much in control of this murderous plan and Macbeth is unsure what to do. I feel sorry for Macbeth at this point, as we see that he really wants to be king, but in gaining this title he has to do an evil deed, kill someone who has rewarded him and trusts him. In his soliloquy he outlines reasons not to kill him. Duncan trusts him and Macbeth, as a host, should be protecting the king, rather than plotting to kill him. Also he knows that if he does this, he will be punished by god. From this he makes his decision:
“We shall proceed no further in this business”
This is the reaction I would expect from Macbeth as I think he is a kind and considerate person. Although he does kill other soldiers unconsciously at war, I don’t think he could do it to someone he knew and cared about. Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that he cannot kill Duncan, but Lady Macbeth is very persuasive and questions his manhood. She tells him he is not a man if cannot do this. Macbeth, being very gullible, decides to go ahead with the murder.
When Macbeth returns from Duncan’s bedchamber holding two bloody daggers, Lady Macbeth is waiting for him. He can’t believe the terrible act he has committed and believes he will never be at peace again.
“Methought I heard a voice cry ‘sleep no more’ Macbeth does murder sleep”
Macbeth imagined these voices because his guilty conscience was playing on his mind. Later on in this scene we see Macbeth being crowned king as Duncan’s sons Malcolm and Donaldbain fled the country in fear of there lives.
At the beginning of Act 3 we see Banquo expressing his doubts over Macbeth’s new title; he suspects he may have acquired this by foul means. Unknown to Banquo, Macbeth had already hired murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance, while out riding. Later the murderers report back that Banquo is dead but Fleance escaped.
This is a critical part in the story as this is when we see how the two main characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have changed. In Duncan’s murder, Lady Macbeth was totally in control and convinced Macbeth that this was the right thing to do, but now Macbeth planned Banquo’s murder alone, leaving Lady Macbeth in the dark.
“Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck Till thou applaud the deed”
Macbeth has turned into an evil and controlling character as he killed his best friend simply because he was afraid that he would voice his suspicions. He also is now very superstitious and ambitious as he returns to the witches to learn more. They give him three new predictions;
“Macbeth: Beware Macduff Thane of Fife.” “ None of woman born Shall harm Macbeth” “Macbeth shall never be vanquished until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane Come against him”
Macbeth is pleased with these predictions as If these are true, he shall never be defeated. However, from the first prediction he decides to take action and sends murderers to Macduff’s castle and orders them to kill everyone in sight. At this time, Macduff is in England trying to persuade King Edward to send an army to Scotland, to defeat Macbeth.
Ross brings Macduff the news that his family was killed, he is devastated and wants revenge.
The Macbeth we see in this Act, is not the same person as he was at the start of the play. The savage attack on Macduff’s family proves that he is now an evil person:
“I am in blood Stepp’d in so far that I should wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er.”
Macbeth cannot call a halt to this killing ‘spree’ if he wants to remain king.
Meanwhile in the countryside near Dunsinane the English army, coming to defeat Macbeth, is advancing. They refer to Macbeth as ‘devilish’ and ‘Black Macbeth’ this is a contrast to what he was called at the beginning of the play, ‘valiant’ and ‘noble’. To camouflage themselves they cut down branches from the trees and hold them up in front of them, this from a distance it looks like the forest is moving. When Macbeth’s watchmen report this to him, he thinks they are lying, so he goes and puts his armour on and prepares to fight. He still believes he cannot be defeated as ‘no man of woman born’ shall defeat him, but Macduff, as they prepare to fight announces he was ‘ripped from his mothers womb’ But Macbeth still fights on, showing elements of courage and bravery:
“Why should I play the roman fool and die On mine own sword?”
This shows Macbeth will not take the easy road out and commit suicide. Macbeth is then killed by Macduff and he cuts his head off.
We feel sorry for Macbeth at the end of the play, despite the horrible things he had done, as he was still holding on to the witch’s predictions. All of them came true, like he wanted, but not the way he wanted.
The last words Macbeth say’s are:
“Lay on Macduff And damned be the first that cries hold, enough!”
This shows Macbeth’s courage, he knows everything is lost but he still fights on.
From the play “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare I conclude that Macbeth was a kind, courageous, turned evil man, who although he does deserve some criticism, also deserves our admiration and sympathy as his killing ‘spree’ was fuelled by the witches predictions and his ambition to become king.