“(1.3.47-49) These three lines are extremely crucial to the play because it gives Macbeth his beginning thoughts toward receiving the throne. Shakespeare made the witches deceive Macbeth and Banquo who begin to believe they are invincible and have much to look forward to. This proves misogyny in Shakespeare because it ultimately put the witches to blame for all the horrible events in the play. Shakespeare also portrays his misogyny through Macbeth as he belittles the witches by saying, “How now, you secret, black and midnight hags.” (4.1.47) In Shakespeare’s era, chivalry and respect toward women was big. By having a character in his play say this to three so called women, seems
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth gives insight into how the desire for power can corrupt an individual’s personality, morals and actions. Macbeth, the tragic hero of the play, strives to gain power after he hears the prophecies of three witches. The witches’ predictions give Macbeth ambition and overconfidence, eventually evolving him into a ruthless tyrant. Shakespeare conveys the idea that ambition in excess makes individuals incapable of distinguishing between right and wrong. Throughout Macbeth, ambition is the main driving force for the heinous crimes committed during the play.
In your opinion, how responsible are the witches for Macbeth’s downfall? ‘All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter.’ Act 1 Scene 3 The witches played a crucial part in Macbeth’s downfall; however, I firmly believe that they should not be solely responsible for it. They were the wood, set up and ready for ignition. Lady Macbeth was the kindling, her enthusiasm for her husband to do the wrong thing, caused Macbeth to do what he knew he shouldn’t. And finally, Macbeth’s own ambition was to blame.
His decisions are, however, to some extent, made under the influence of Lady Macbeth, who manipulates him in every way to guide him to success. The witches and their prophecies play a significant role in Macbeth’s downfall. Throughout the play, the witches deceive and fool Macbeth by giving equivocal prophecies, evoking his inner desire for power and swaying him to take evil action. They exploit his ambition from the very beginning, telling Macbeth he will be “Thane of Cawdor” and “King of Scotland” without specifying when or how. This, along with the proven credibility of their first prophecy – Thane of Cawdor – awakens Macbeth’s hidden ambition and triggers his desire to fulfill the last prophecy – King of Scotland, giving him the thought of killing Duncan, “Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair” (Macbeth, I,III, 45) and thus, providing the first stepping stone towards his demise.
* Often certain things trigger specific human behavior, for example, Macbeth’s reaction to the witch’s predictions triggered instant doubt, and left him vulnerable to his wife influence. After committing the first crime, Macbeth’s behavior ultimately became over confident, and evil, and this was ultimately due to the reaction that was triggered by the witch’s predictions. * However, prior to the beginning of Macbeth’s self destruction, Macbeth had morals and was a very loyal man * Another message that can be taken from this play is that even the best of the characters can fall and ultimately become the villain. * “Quote” * Link to topic Para 2: Desire and hope for power can be dangerous * Macbeth’s hunger for the throne of the kingdom took over him, and his morals, which prevented him from doing otherwise. * When someone is so desperate for something like this, usually they will do anything to reach their destination.
After Lady Macbeth read Macbeth’s letter about his fortune that was foretold by the 3 witches, she conducted a deadly plan to kill King Duncan and persuaded Macbeth into following her plan so that Macbeth will become King. Macbeth fell seduced into Lady Macbeth’s plan because of his ambition to become King. Macbeth’s ambition to be King was the greatest factor of his deterioration. Macbeth’s ambition alone was not a strong enough motive to kill Duncan, but with the other two key factors: the 3 witches’ prophecy and Lady Macbeth’s manipulation this aroused his ambition. Without Macbeth’s ambition his tragic flaw could not come into place.
Ambition has an immediate effect on Macbeth right from the start of the play. His ruthless seeking after power is the tragic flaw that causes his downfall. When the witches tell Macbeth that he will become King, his interest is instantly aroused. The third witch greets Macbeth, “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter,” this creates an ambition in Macbeth that is unseen before this remark. He is filled with thoughts of betrayal and is eager to become King.
To what extent can Lady Macbeth and the witches be held accountable for the actions of Macbeth? In the dramatic play ‘Macbeth’, written by William Shakespeare, showed us that the King of Scotland, Macbeth was being played and controlled by the people he trusted the most, his own wife, Lady Macbeth and the witches. His wife, Lady Macbeth was very evil, selfish, cunning and manipulating and the witches misguided him with their prophecies, which resulted him losing his sanity and making very bad choices. Therefore, even though Macbeth was greedy and ambitious himself, Lady Macbeth and the witches were to some extent accountable for Macbeth’s actions. What happened to Macbeth was a combination of events that lead him to believe that one day he would be King.
Also because of making witches being the evil people in the play he would get more funding for his theatre. Also by the king the richest person in Britain at that time. At the beginning Shakespeare had made us think that Macbeth is this heroic figure who is courageously fighting for king and country against the brutal Vikings, however further in the play we discovered that the witches has filled Macbeth with crazy prophesies. Then lady Macbeth devised a plan and forces Macbeth to kill Duncan. Furthermore because of this interference Macbeth is now this malevolent and sly character who ,murdered his own cousin for his self
Macbeth is also responsible for putting power into the hands of Lady Macbeth and therefore allowing her to influence him. Finally, Macbeth acknowledges his guilt of further wrongdoing and is thereby responsible for his actions. Macbeth’s ambitions drive him forward to follow an un-stated but a clearly obvious plan to kill Duncan. Although the witches prophecies trigger Macbeth’s desire to become king, no one makes him kill Duncan. When the second of the witches prophecies becomes true, Macbeth immediately thinks of murdering King Duncan.