Macbeth Coursework

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Michael Leedham

To what extent is Macbeth responsible for his own downfall?

        Macbeth’s downfall cannot be attributed to just himself. He is of course partly responsible for his downfall as he killed Duncan, Banquo and Macduff’s family, bringing him many enemies. The three witches and Lady Macbeth all had an influence upon Macbeth which makes Macbeth not wholly responsible.

        An influence upon Macbeth during the play is the three witches. They tell Macbeth his prophecies: that he will become Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland: “All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.” They kindle his ambition by giving him the image of being King of Scotland. At the start of the play the witches say: “Fair is foul and foul is fair.” Later on in the play Macbeth says: “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” The witches seem to have influenced Macbeth so that he repeats their words, as if they are always on his mind. This makes one wonder whether Macbeth is in control of himself. Although the witches never actually say anything to Macbeth directly about killing Duncan, they put the idea in his mind. Macbeth is intrigued by the witches: “Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more.”

        Macbeth was also influenced by Lady Macbeth. Macbeth trusts her dearly and confides in her regularly. Due to this, she knows how to control and persuade him to do what she wants. She criticises him and makes him feel guilty so that he does what she wants: “You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting, with most admired disorder.” After hearing the witches’ prophecies, Macbeth appears to be content to wait and see what develops: “Come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day.” Lady Macbeth has a far greater ambition than Macbeth at this stage of the play and she is entranced by the idea of being Queen. She firstly tries to persuade Macbeth by trying to kindle his ambition: “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be what thou art promis’d.” 

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        Lady Macbeth realises that Macbeth is not convinced by her persuasions and she tries to entice evil into herself: “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe upfull of direst cruelty.” She also tries to get rid of her conscience so that the act of killing Duncan will not be painful for her: “Make thick my blood, stop up th’access and passage to remorse that no compunctious visitings of nature shake my fell purpose nor keep peace between th’effect and it.”

        Lady Macbeth almost certainly turned Macbeth to ...

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