Act 1, scene 1, lines 5-6.
Second witch: Upon the heath.
Third witch: There to meet with Macbeth.
This does inject some suspicion into the motives of the witches, do they want Duncan dead or even, ultimately do they want Macbeth dead? Alternatively to inflict an even worse fate upon him, the great down fall of a brave and valiant kinsman. It is very unlikely that the witches did this purely out of spite, however the underlying motives are not immediately apparent.
Macbeth is a very vulnerable character susceptible to influence from any available source, the witches play on this fact throughout the play i.e. Macbeth kills Macduff’s family merely on the witch’s prophesy. Macbeth is open to impressions and already looking for a reason to express his desire (under lying at this point) the witches confirm his ambitions and give him extra incentive. So by no means are the witches completely innocent.
Shakespere uses the witches to represent the supernatural, thought upon as evil, so maybe he wants to imply the idea that the witches are to blame in order to play the theme of good versus evil. They also represent the idea of fate, that is to say that it was neither Macbeth, the witches or Lady Macbeth’s fault, it was simply meant to me.
However would Macbeth have devised and followed through the plan to kill Duncan without the pressure applied by Lady Macbeth, one would doubt it. Lady Macbeth’s ambitions were forced upon Macbeth and one could suggest that Lady Macbeth only uses Macbeth as a medium to for fill her ambitions.
Macbeth has obvious doubts before the murder is committed, but Lady Macbeth soon stifles his scepticism.
Act 1, Scene 7, Lines 59-60
Macbeth: If we should fail−
Lady Macbeth: We fail?
But screw your courage to the sticking place,
And we’ll not fail.
So, arguably if Lady Macbeth had not been there to exstinguish Macbeths doubts he may not in fact of committed the murder.
Macbeth had no part in the organisation of the murder, Lady Macbeth organises the deed and even goes as far as to fabricate their alibi.
Act 1, Scene 7, Line
Lady Macbeth: When Duncan is asleep.
Whereto the rather shall his days hard journey
Soundly invite him, his two chamberlains
Will I with wine and wassail so convince.
That memory, the warder of the brain,
Shall be a fume.
Act 1, Scene 7, Lines 77-78
Lady Macbeth: Who dares receive it other,
As we shall make our grief’s and clamour roar
Upon his death?
Macbeth plays such a small part in the preparation of the murder it further enforces the idea that Macbeth is simply a puppet; a median for Lady Macbeths ambitions. For it is Lady Macbeth who first has the idea of actually murdering Macbeth.
Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 37-38.
Lady Macbeth: The raven himself is hoarse
That croaks the final entrance of Duncan.
If we refer back to the theme of good versus evil; Lady Macbeth alternates with the witches in advocating evil, at many points she is the representative, instead of the witches, for evil. So, again I think that it is unlikely Shakespeare would have wanted the culprit for his tragic hero’s downfall to be on the side of evil.
However Lady Macbeth cannot be completely without conscience as her severe guilt leads to her eventual insanity.
Act 5, Scene 1, Lines 34-35.
Lady Macbeth: Out damned spot! Out, I say! One; Two: Why, then
‘Tis time to do’t. Hell is murky! Fie my Lord-fie
Lady Macbeth’s and Macbeth’s relationship slowly deteriorates throughout he play, even to a point where Macbeth is unwilling to tell his wife of his plans.
Act 3, Scene 2, Lines44-45.
Lady Macbeth: What’s to be done?
Macbeth: Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,
Till thou applaud the deed
This withdraw could have inadvertently contributed to Macbeth’s collapse. Leaving him secluded and even more isolated, fuelling his regression.
Finally there is of course Macbeth himself. The valiant warrior whose downfall was so spectacular. Although Lady Macbeth was the first to categorically mention Duncan’s murder there is no doubt that Macbeth, at the beginning of the play has aspirations to be king. Some would argue that his underlying ambition was simply accelerated by the witches and Lady Macbeth and he would have (eventually) committed the murders himself and his great downfall would have happened regardless of interventions, this reinforces the idea of fate.
Macbeth, I feel, does feel some remorse, which is portrayed in his soliquilies, but does not display it. He goes on to murder four more people. This does not look great when trying to demonstrate his regret.
We must not forget that it was Macbeth who held the knife to commit the murder of Duncan; this single event was the biggest contributor to Macbeth’s downfall.
We have already mentioned that Lady Macbeth and the witches are the representatives for evil but that may not be strictly true. In Macbeth’s first scene there is connection made between him and the witches.
Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 11.
All witches: Fair is foul, and foul is fair.
Act 1, Scene 2, Line 38.
Macbeth: So foul and fair a day I have not seen.
I think that Shakespeare was trying to make a direct link between Macbeth and the witches/evil.
Macbeth’s own withdraw from his wife would have only contributed to his tragedy. If Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship had stayed stable perhaps Macbeth would have had an emotional cushion to fall back on.
So who is to blame for the tragedy of Macbeth? All parties: the witches, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are all somewhat responsible for the tragedy of Macbeth, but arguably so is every character in the play. So who is the main contributor; in my opinion this tragedy is self-inflicted. No matter how evidence you stack against the witches and Lady Macbeth you cannot detract from the fact that Macbeth himself held the knife, gave the orders and made the mistakes.
But Macbeth is the story of the ‘tragic hero’ and it wouldn’t be as nearly as tragic if the hero weren’t responsible for his own demise
