What influences are important in bringing about Macbeth's downfall?

English Coursework

What influences help bring about Macbeth’s downfall

What influences are important in bringing about Macbeth’s downfall?

3 main things influences Macbeth’s downfall, these are the witches because they use ‘spells’ to help bring about his immoral behaviour e.g. murders and conspiracies. However other factors can be considered significant to bring about his downfall such as Lady Macbeth and himself.

Macbeth himself can be blamed mainly because he is ‘weak minded’ meaning he can be fooled into doing anything. i.e. ‘All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor.’ This is a speech from the three witches’ prophesizing his future. ‘All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King thereafter’. Macbeth takes this into account and asks them to tell him more meaning that Macbeth may believe that he will become king. Macbeth believes anything the other characters tell him for example Lady Macbeth in act 1 scene 7 tells Macbeth that if he asked her to kill her own baby she would. ‘And dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn you have done to this.’ Macbeth then becomes even more ambitious and forgets that he was killing Duncan. Macbeth’s determination may also be his weakness, when he is appointed to Thane of Cawdor in act 1 scene 3 Macbeth’s change of character begins as his ambition is triggered. Having previously been seen as a loyal and honourable to his king and country, he quite instantly becomes untrustworthy and deceitful as he thinks of the third prophecy i.e. to become king. Because of his fatal flaw i.e. he is too ambitious, if he wasn’t so ambitious and determined to be king then he would never have killed Duncan, and if Macbeth didn’t kill Duncan none of the other characters would die because of his build up of evil as he kills one character after another. However it may not be entirely his fault as in Act 1 Scene 7 Lady Macbeth says, ‘Thou would’st be great, art without ambition, but without illness should attend it.’ This means that in the end he will catch evil like a disease. Macbeth states that it is ‘his besseting sin: I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition.; Macbeth’s continued ambition is present in his wanting to have a succession of kings after him. Macbeth’s ambition is deep within him and because of this, both the witches and Lady Macbeth are able to influence him to evil. It is this ambition that gets him into so much trouble initially

Another factor which helps bring about Macbeths downfall are the witches, they are parly to blame because they use ‘spells’ to help convince Macbeth. They prophesize that Macbeth will become king, this plays a significant role to bringing about Macbeth’s downfall. In act 1 scene 1 the witches say ‘fair is foul, and foul is fair’ the meaning of this quotation means that good is bad, and bad is good. The word ‘fair’ signifies Macbeth at the start of the play where he is named ‘brave’ and ‘noble’. ‘Foul’ signifies Macbeth when he becomes evil and describes as a ‘tyrant’.

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The witches could foretell the future, they can add temptation, and influence to Macbeth, but they cannot control his destiny. Macbeth creates his own misery when he is driven by his own sense of guilt. This causes him to become insecure as to the reasons for his own action which eventually causes him to commit more murders. The witches offer great enticement, but it is in the end each individual’s decision to fall for the temptation, or to be strong enough to resist their captivation. The three witches are only responsible for the introduction of these ideas and for further forming ideas, in Macbeth’s head, but they are not responsible for his actions throughout the play.

Lady Macbeth is shown early in the play as an ambitious woman with a single purpose. She can manipulate Macbeth easily. This is shown in act 1 scene 5 line 25 ‘That I may pour my spirits in thine ear.’ She is selfless, and wants what is best for her husband. Before the speech that Lady Macbeth gives in act 1 scene 5, Macbeth is resolved not to go through the killing of the king. However, Lady Macbeth manipulates at Macbeth’s self-esteem by playing on his manliness and his bravery then convinces Macbeth to commit regicide. It is like a child who is easily guided. Lady Macbeth knows this and acts on it accordingly.

Although Macbeth has the final say whether of not to go through with the initial killing, he loves Lady Macbeth and wants to make her happy. Lady Macbeth is the dominating individual in the relationship which is shown in her soliloquy in act 1 scene . It seems that she can convince him to do anything as long as she pushes the right buttons. On the other hand, as the play progresses, and Duncan is killed, there is a reversal of natural order, and Macbeth becomes the dominating partner. Lady Macbeth becomes subservient. She becomes pathetic an only a shadow of her former self. Ambition plays a large role in this tragedy. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have ‘vaulting ambition’ that drives them. Lady Macbeth’s ambition drives her to manipulate Macbeth into committing regicide. Macbeth’s fierce ambition is present before the witches prophesies.

Once Macbeth kills for the first time, he has no choice but to continue to cover up his wrong doings, or risk loosing everything he has worked so hard for. In the end, it all comes to Macbeth himself.

Everyone is responsible for his own destiny. This is an essential theme in this tragedy. Macbeth chooses to gamble with his soul and when he does this it is only him who chooses to lose it. He is responsible for anything he does and must take total responsibility for his actions. Macbeth is the one who made the final decision to carry out his actions. He made these final decisions and continued with the killings to cover that of King Duncan.

The killing of Duncan starts an unstoppable chain of events in the play that ends with the murder of Macbeth and the suicide of Lady Macbeth. Macbeth chooses to murder Duncan. Macbeth, in the beginning had all of the qualities of an honourable gentleman who could become anything. This is all shattered when his ambition overrides his sense of morality. Although Macbeth is warned as to the validity of the witches prophesies, he is tempted and refuses to listen to reason from Banquo. When the second set of prophesies I.e. the apparitions. Macbeth receives begin to show their faults Macbeth blames the witches for deceiving him with half truths. While the witches are not totally responsible for the actions of Macbeth, they are responsible for introducing the ideas to Macbeth which in turn fired up Macbeth’s ambition and led to a disastrous and unnecessary chain of events.

Alex Costales 10k7 Page