When Macbeth arrives and is with his wife, we perceive what is to be the start of a dreadful scheme. We observe the relationship between the two, as Lady Macbeth describes her husband’s face “as a book where men may read strange matters.” We notice Lady Macbeth’s dominant behaviour as she instructs Macbeth to, “look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.” She is straightforward and unambiguous whilst she states to Macbeth “leave all the rest to me.”
In Act 1, Scene 7, we read the soliloquy of Macbeth, where we enter a confused man’s thoughts. It is as if his conscience is split into two and each is arguing to what shall be done. One argument is put forward, and then a counter argument is dispatched. Initially we hear the reasons of why he should commit the deed as he thinks that, “If it were done, when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly.” A part of him is in favour of perpetrating the action, however only if “th’ assassination could trammel up the consequence, and catch, with his surcease, success.” Here we detect the streak of ambition that runs through his body, where we see what Macbeth really wants is success. Conversely, he starts to contemplate the motives of why he should not carry out the deed. Macbeth is aware that Duncan is there in “double trust,” first because he is his “kinsman” and second because he is his host. Macbeth comprehends that as Duncan’s host he should “against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife.” He thinks he ought to protect Duncan, not carry the knife himself. Macbeth describes Duncan’s murder to “a naked new-born babe, striding the blast.” These words have a deep impact as the parents in the audience can actually relate to a newborn baby being exposed to a storm. It would be something they would be able to think about happening to their child; somewhat they would be very much horrified at. At the end of the soliloquy, Macbeth has more or less made clear that he no longer desires to carry out the murder as he acquires “no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only valuing ambition, which o’erleaps itself, and falls on th’other.” He now believes that he has nothing to impel him, only ambition, which is not always a good thing. When Lady Macbeth enters the room and Macbeth announces that he “will proceed no further in this business,” no one is surprised except for Lady Macbeth. She scornfully mocks Macbeth’s behaviour, until eventually, Macbeth succumbs to her. Yet again, Lady Macbeth shows her dominant characteristics towards Macbeth which has the effect of him saying, "Away, and mock the time with fairest show: False face must hide what the false heart doth know.” A dramatic end to Act 1, where the audience are waiting in suspense for the murder to commence.
In Act 2, a disillusioned Macbeth, who saw “a dagger of the mind,” concluded the murder. The mind of the distraught Thane of Cawdor is pre-occupied and disabled after the slaughter, this conveying him being already affected by the deed. Lady Macbeth instructs Macbeth to “consider it not so deeply” as “these deeds must not be thought after these ways; so, it will make us mad.” She orders Macbeth to take the daggers, which should have been left up there, and “smear the sleepy grooms with blood.” Macbeth, in spite of everything objects horrified, as he says “I am afraid to think what I have done: look on’t again I dare not.” Instead, Lady Macbeth takes the daggers back up to the grooms, showing yet again the practical and cold-blooded person she is.
When the dead body of Duncan is found by Macduff, the alarm is raised. The audience see Macbeth and his wife acting the innocent and putting on what is to be a mask of disbelief and horror at the death of Duncan. The servants were the ones believed to have murdered Duncan, yet no one could question them as Macbeth unfortunately murdered them but now thought, “ O, yet I do repent me of my fury, that I did kill them.” The sons of Duncan, Malcolm and Donalbain, flee the country as they think, “This murderous shaft that’s shot hath not yet lighted.” Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have perpetrated the deed, yet they have not been suspected, but the murder of Duncan is the catalyst for all things yet to come…
The witches play an extremely important role in the play as they poison Macbeth’s mind which such prophecies as, “All hail Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter.” This is the reason why Macbeth has the desire to go through with events, such as the slaughter of Duncan, without pondering the consequences. Macbeth had not even contemplated being king, let alone the Thane of Cawdor, until he had heard the witches’ divination. It was as if the witches’, also known as the weird sisters, had planted a seed of ambition in Macbeth’s mind, which made him do things, which he had never even considered, by the route of evil. We can see that after Macbeth and Banquo have heard the witches’ prophecies in Act 1, Scene 3, Macbeth desires to know more. Curiosity embodies him, as he wishes to know if there is truth in the witches’ prophecies, and if so how. In contrast, Banquo is able to dismiss the witches, being aware that they are potential troublemakers, but he is attentive of the effect the witches have on Macbeth
After Macbeth has been crowned Thane of Cawdor, he believes in the witches whole-heartedly. Here we observe the self-centred side of Macbeth as he not content with being Thane of Cawdor. He desires to have more, the seed of ambition the witches’ planted in Macbeth’s mind, starts to grow. When Macbeth meets the witches for the second time, we definitely perceive a change in Macbeth’s character. This time though, he does not meet the witches by chance, but actually goes to meet the witches of his own accord. Macbeth is now dependant on the witches, he is not strong by himself, but rather addicted to their evil. He is adamant, before his visit to the witches, as he says, “For mine own good, all causes shall give way.” We can also notice that yet another scheme is being planned, but this time in Macbeth’s mind, as he announces that, “Strange things I have in head that will to hand, which must be acted ere they may be scanned.” A definite sign, conveying that there is even more yet to come.
When Macbeth meets the witches for the second time, the atmosphere is more intense. The apparitions have a deep impact on Macbeth, as they possess indications to what Macbeth should look out for, which in turn will help him. The three apparitions individually appear, the first one being a head wearing armour. It declares to Macbeth, “Beware Macduff! Beware the thane of Fife!” The second apparition is a blood-covered child, whom announces, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute: laugh to scorn the power of man; for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” The third apparition, a child crowned with a tree in his hand, declares, “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him.” Macbeth states, “That will never be,” and “our high placed Macbeth shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath to time and mortal custom.” The security provided by the second set of predictions is only fleeting. Feeling there is no threat to his power, Macbeth acts wildly, bringing his downfall and loss of both comfort and security. Macbeth’s heart however, “throbs to know one thing” and that is whether or not, “Banquo’s issue ever reign in this kingdom.” Even though it is not what Macbeth wants to see, a procession of eight kings, with Banquo following, appears.
The witches play the role of the supernatural element in the play, yet they are also perform the part of corrupting Macbeth. Initially, Macbeth was an innocent person, whom unfortunately became the victim under the witches’ prophecies. His ambition overpowered his conscience and guilt, also combined with the witches’ predictions of “All hail Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter.” The weird sisters prophecies, catapulted him into a scheme of murder, mendacity and deceit. If not for the witches’ predictions, Macbeth might have succeeding in being king, but in a more legitimate manner. If we compare Macbeth being king to Duncan, we notice he is very little in comparison. Duncan was one whom honestly cared for the people in his country and earned respect of them. Macbeth, however, failed to take the chance to earn the respect of his people, but received only disgust. If Macbeth had waited for the prophecies, he whole-heartedly believed in, to come true; Macbeth may have been able to prove that he was just a good a king as Duncan.
Another element, which contributed to the corruption of Macbeth, even more so than the witches, was Lady Macbeth. She was a cold-blooded woman whom propelled Macbeth into murder. Initially Lady Macbeth’s plotting, scheming and persuading led to the string of murders committed by Macbeth. She was the person that persuaded Macbeth into performing the murder, when Macbeth had declared that, “We will proceed no further in this business.” Conniving as she was, she mocked Macbeth’s masculinity, as she declared, “When you durst do it, then you were a man; And, to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man.” Lady Macbeth made him feel like a coward, she was playing with his mind, in order for him to do what she wanted him to do. Lady Macbeth’s confidence radiated through her and Macbeth, as eventually he succumbed to her. When he asked, “If we should fail?” Lady Macbeth told him the series of events in which they would act. She exerts a lot of power over Macbeth in this part of the play and even calls him a “coward” and this shows, just how determined she is and how much ambition she has for her husband. It is this confidence in her plus the persuasiveness of her words that makes Macbeth act.
Immediately after Macbeth has murdered Duncan, we can observe that he is appalled with himself. His mind is pre-occupied, thus showing he is already affected by the deed. Lady Macbeth still seems to be her cold-blooded self, and more practical than Macbeth whom is completely distraught. His state of mind has changed since before and after committing the murder. Lady Macbeth’s words had persuaded Macbeth to commit the murder, now, however, he was utterly distressed by what he had done. He looked at his hands, which were covered in blood, and said, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red.” He thinks that the oceans will not wash his hands of the blood, but rather that his hands will stain the vast green seas blood red. We observe Macbeth’s thoughts, and discover the enormity of the crime. It has an immediate impact on him, one that clearly conveys that Macbeth still has his humanity intact, as his emotions are clear of what he has just done. He is deep in regret and is repentant of the deed.
However, Macbeth’s humanity starts to slip away from him with the subsequent murders. He fears the hurdles that stand in the way, but prepares to destroy them. He is clutching onto being king, as he has been through a great deal to be in that position, and fears anything or anyone that may threaten his authority. Guilt is no longer an issue for him; he performs the actions without giving them a second glance. Over the course of the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth change greatly with respect to their characters and their personalities. Although Macbeth was weak at first, the strong Lady Macbeth helped him through the first murder. “These deeds must not be thought of after these ways; so it will make us mad.” However, in attempting to control Macbeth, she sacrificed her own sanity, consequently turned insane, and killed herself. Thus, in the end, it was worthy to call Macbeth and his wife "a dead butcher and his fiend like queen."
Through the development of this tragedy, Macbeth has turned from a fine natured person to an evil person. His ambition, wife’s influence and strong belief in the witches, cost him his life, and significant others. Macbeth can be summarised as strong physically, but weak mentally, it is this weakness, which causes the downfall and change of Macbeth. Other factors do also contribute to this change such as his wife whose ambition is very strong at first, particularly mentally, but it is also Macbeth’s ambition and his trust in the witches which ultimately change him.
At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is seen as a courageous soldier who is loyal to the King but is corrupted by the witches’ prophecies. This is because of the weakness of Macbeth’s character and the strong power of Lady Macbeth and how she is easily able to influence him. Her strength motivates him at the start but after he realises what he has done, Duncan’s murder motivates him to continue down his murderous, bloody path. At the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth appears as a compassionate wife of Macbeth’s but underneath lies a scheming and treacherous woman. Macbeth is lured to murder the king, by the desire for power, an appetite whetted by witch's prophecies and his wife's encouragement.
Lady Macbeth caused Macbeth's downfall by her own ambition to be the queen of Scotland and by her constant belittling of her husband. She was originally like any normal woman, wanting to outdo the other noblewomen of Scotland. After Macbeth related the three weird sisters' prophecies to Lady Macbeth, she started to aspire to becoming the queen of Scotland. She was already the Lady of Glamis, and then Cawdor, but she did not have enough patience to see the third prophecy come true on its own. If Lady Macbeth had not kept the pressure on Macbeth to kill Duncan, Macbeth would have remained a good man and would not have been beheaded by Macduff in the end. Macbeth was driven to evil due to his wife's ambition. Lady Macbeth displayed two flaws that of searing ambition and disparagement of her spouse. This led to their downfall and to the death of her husband and herself.
Sima Lad
