Throughout Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the main character Macbeth seems to make many unjustified and irrational decisions. These decisions may make him seem like an evil and unfair character, but if you read the story deeply and thoroughly, it is almost always someone else’s decision to do something bad, but Macbeth always comes off looking like the bad guy. Mainly the people that influenced him the most would be the three witches and Lady Macbeth. Although, I think that what influences him the most to do these terrible things, would have to be his ego. In the beginning of the play, when we are first introduced to Macbeth, he has just been fighting hard and valiantly. He is riding along with his friend and comrade, Banquo when he runs into three old hags that are perceived to be witches. The witches tell Banquo and Macbeth their futures. Macbeth finds out that he will be dubbed Thane of Cawdor (which he already is), Thane of Glamis, and soon to be King of Scotland. Banquo was told that although he was not to be king, his children would be. This is where Macbeth’s ego starts to awaken. He is willing to kill his friend and leader just so he can become king, the highest position in the land. Later on in the play, the witches go on to give him messages through prophecies. These prophecies seem to tell him that he is invincible, although hidden in these messages are subtle catches. Although this is the witches giving Macbeth false hope, the prophecies also give Macbeth a giant ego booster. You’re not human if you don’t get a bit pig headed if you were just told you were invincible.
Lady Macbeth also played a big part in Macbeth becoming king and ruining his life. As soon as he heard what the witches said he sent a message to her relaying the information he had just learned. When she found out that she might be queen, she did everything in her power to make sure it came true. She convinced Macbeth that the only option was to kill the king.