The opening scene of the play introduces the theme of the play and lets the audience know what to expect. In this scene, the three Weird Sisters are conjuring. Immediately they let the audience know that they will appear again in the play. ("When shall we three meet again"......."There to meet with Macbeth"). Next, the witches' familiars call to them, letting the audience know without a doubt that these Weird Sisters are witches.
We are unaware of the witches plans regarding Macbeth but it is clear that they are planning to meet him to unleash evil in the play at that is what witches do. King James was particularly interested in Witches and even wrote a book on it. Shakespeare opens Macbeth with a scene that introduces the witches
Antony Sher felt as though Macbeth was closer to the first knife murderer, showing guilt for his murders. Sher’s theory on Macbeth being “war crazy” seems to be on target with what I had thought. His killing in war probably destroyed his sanity. Sher also seems to believe that playing the part of Macbeth is
Macbeth Essay | September 5 2012 “For greed all nature is too little.” – Seneca. In Shakespeare’s novel “Macbeth” greed came from the lust for power. Macbeth was a Scottish General and the Thane of Glamis, before he became power hungry. Macbeth met three witches, and they told him about the prophecies he would soon encounter. The first prophecy was that Macbeth would become Thane of Cawdor, and then the King of Scotland.
The actions of the witches and Macbeth result in heightening Macbeth’ desire for power resulting in his downfall. First off, the witches can see their future because they could foresee when and where they would meet Macbeth. As shown in this quote, “First Witch: where the place? / second witch: upon the heath/ Third Witch: There to meet Macbeth,” (1, 1, 6-8). Therefore the witches could foretell Macbeth’s fate and his downfall.
The witches’ prophesies create Macbeth’s lust for power. They steer his mind on a path. This is a path that he would have inevitably followed but did not have the courage to do so. Then Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to commit the murder of King Duncan. This murder leads to the death of many people that may not have died if Macbeth did not kill Duncan.
With this in mind, even though Lady Macbeth fiercely persuaded Macbeth to kill the King, it was Macbeth’s final decision to commit the murder. It was Macbeth’s decision that also saw the villainous acts of the murder of Macduff’s family and Banquo and his son, Fleance, go ahead. Yes, the Three Witches deceitfulness indirectly encouraged Macbeth, but Shakespeare’s autonomy of will suggests Macbeth always had the final decision. This means that no matter how much Lady Macbeth, or the Three Witches, tried to influence Macbeth, they can not be the real villain in Shakespeare’s
Many readers could argue that the Witches were responsible for Macbeth’s downfall. After all, it was their twisted prophecies and apparitions that started the whole affair. Then, there are those who could argue that it was Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth, who is responsible for Macbeth’s downfall. It was her instigation and nagging, that ultimately caused Macbeth's downfall and consequently, her own. However, the truth of the matter is that Macbeth is solely responsible for his own demise.
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.
The only reason Banquo is murdered is because Macbeth becomes paranoid after the witches prediction. Finally, the witches are responsible for the death of Macduff’s family. When Macbeth goes to see the witches to get more information the witches show him three apparitions one of witch tells Macbeth to watch out for Macduff. After hearing this Macbeth decides that he needs to send a message to Macduff and the way Macbeth does it is by killing Macduff’s family. Macduff’s family most likely would not have been murdered if the withes had not told Macbeth to fear