In the scenes which lead up to the murder of Duncan, Shakespeare uses Lady Macbeth as an unnatural being with a strong influence on Macbeth who drives Macbeth to his fatal flaw which is similar to the witches in the beginning of the play.
In order to gain control over Macbeth, Lady Macbeth questions his masculinity in Act 5 Scene 1. Within it, she expresses her worry that Macbeth’s kindness will hold him back, and so she says “Come you mortal spirits, that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here…… of direst cruelty.” She calls upon the evil sprits to aid the hardening of the heart which then makes it possible for her to carry out her wicked deeds. Macbeth is responsible for putting power into the hands of Lady Macbeth and letting her influence him. Lady Macbeth tries to persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan but it is Macbeth who listens to her demands. “This night’s great business into my dispatch.” (Act 1, scene 6). Macbeth could have told his Lady to stop her plans. Instead, he lets himself be influenced. Macbeth puts power into the hands of Lady Macbeth by letting her arrange Duncan’s murder. If Macbeth truly did not want to commit evil, he could have refused his Lady’s arrangements. Instead, Macbeth accepts the plans and goes further by asking Lady Macbeth to “mock the time with fairest show” (Act 1, scene 7). She seemed to lose all her feminine qualities, including her love for children. She even goes as far as saying that she would have “dash’d the brains out” of a child if she had had one. Also, she oversteps her duties as a wife by taking over from Macbeth, defying the belief at the time that women were weaker and less important than men.
Macbeth is relating his fear that he may have to do something violent in order to become king. Immediately after the witches had visited him, Macbeth begins to take their prophecies as a reality. He is almost trying to fulfil the tempting predictions, now that his mind is lustful for power, instead of remaining loyal to the King. The ambition of becoming king, when the witches’ tell him his fortune is stronger than his conscience and ability from knowing right from wrong. The first thought in his mind when the witches’ tell him his great fortune of becoming king, is to kill King Duncan to take his place. Banquo was also given news by the witches. They informed him that his children would be kings, yet he did not feel moved to murder. Banquo, who had never thought of murder, did not now think of murder. If the witches had the influence over mortals then Banquo too would be plotting not only Duncan's death but the death of anyone else who was not of his line. The witches tempted him, but it was his own ambitions that lead him to commit the crime. Although Macbeth's temptation started with the words of witches'; the true cause of his downfall was from his inner struggle, as well as greed and ambition. Macbeth chose to believe he was cursed by fate. The witches presented Macbeth with false ambitions and hopes. The witches can only influence and manipulate, but they cannot force the person to do their work for them as they have no authority, the sole decision rest on Macbeth's decision itself, so whatever Macbeth did to conquer the whole empire, how many countless of people he slaughtered to achieve his ambition for success and glory, he cannot blame anyone but himself. When he comes to find out that he will have to get rid of those in his way by killing them to become king. This is when he switches from destiny to free will. The prophecies then become a mind game to him and he struggles with his conscious between doing right and wrong. He then strides to make what the witches prophesized true. Lady Macbeth first takes control over her husband in Act I, Scene v. She tells Macbeth that they will kill Duncan during his sleep. Macbeth has a strong intuition to kill to gain the spot of King. During a soliloquy, Macbeth states, “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on the other.” Macbeth knows that killing is wrong but, his wanting to be king is so strong that he will do anything to become king. He can’t stop himself from wanting to be king, his greed is so strong that he chooses to do wrong and kills Duncan. Here Macbeth is struggling with himself to choose between right and wrong, his evil thoughts overpower his goodness and he chooses to kill.
Macbeth lists several reasons for going against the plan to kill Duncan. Therefore, Macbeth has time to think over his intentions and to take direct action. Macbeth is fully aware of the consequences of his actions and is thereby liable to be blamed for his fate. Spurred on by is own ambition Macbeth is responsible for his destructive fate. Through his thoughts, actions, and decisions Macbeth demonstrates his overwhelming guilt. Macbeth’s desire to become king drives him to introduce plans for Ducan’s murder. Macbeth puts power into the hands of Lady Macbeth by sending her the letter that informs her of the prophecies. Lastly, Macbeth acknowledges his guilt in several places in the story. Macbeth is aware that his thoughts are corrupt and he knows that justice will somehow punish him. However, even with all his power, Macbeth makes no attempt to reverse the situation and is thereby responsible for his tragic fate.
- He was engulfed in his lust for power and his battle with his conscience. This led to his insomnia and ultimate downfall.
- Macbeth’s poor judgment and ignorance slowly paved the dark path into doom; Macbeth journeyed to his murderous doom through his own free choice.
- The witches influenced Macbeth’s tragedy but he condemned himself. To be an ambitious man is a good thing, but when ambition leads to ignorance of other people it does not only damage the people you are hurting but as well as yourself.
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