Macbeth Research Paper

Gaby Gonzalez 5/7/13

Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, Macbeth’s corrupted character is caused by the powerful influences of the Weird Sisters and Lady Macbeth. These people are the root cause of the unfortunate series of events that seem to have resulted because of Macbeth. He is led on to commit these treacherous crimes all for the reward of power and control. During this rampage, Macbeth is constantly being urged on by his “cheerleaders”. All they had to do to get this rapt form of Macbeth is plant the little power seed. The mere thought of being able to be so powerful drove Lady Macbeth to push for her “husband’s” dreams. George William Gerwig’s, ”Lady Macbeth,” states Lady Macbeth is to blame for the crimes of Macbeth. Without her, Macbeth would’ve pulled out from the entire situation. Denton J. Snider also believed that Macbeth isn’t the one to blame but the Weird Sisters. They used their continuous appearances to drive the idea of power into Macbeth’s head so eventually the king would be killed.
The Weird Sisters used their ability to appear at any time to influence Macbeth. Their first appearance causes the initial thought from Macbeth to commit regicide. If they hadn’t said, “Macbeth that shalt be King hereafter” (I. iii. 50), then Macbeth wouldn’t have thought of the most logical thing at the moment, which was to rid the throne of King Duncan so he can enable himself to become king. As Denton J. Snider stated in his critical essay, “Macbeth”, the witches, “mislead men into following their fantastic suggestions.” (page 2) Those, such as Macbeth are led to think that because the Weird Sisters said it, it must be true. The witches’ “supernatural impulses” tease Macbeth with a simple vision of becoming the supreme power. Also, since the prophecies are so vague, this provokes the competitive side of Macbeth which makes him want the prophecies to happen in reality. The “fantastic suggestions” and visions of the witches only cause more conflicts within Macbeth. He is torn between this great fantasy of what could be and what should be. Unfortunately, imagination gets the better of him and Macbeth is caught under this rolling wheel and with no assistance from his wife who seems to be taking sides with the witches.
Lady Macbeth’s evil undertone pushes Macbeth into committing the regicide of Duncan. Her advantage in the entire situation comes from how close she is with Macbeth. Since her husband loves her so much he yields to what she says and is easily influenced by her. Lady Macbeth uses her conniving personality to guilt Macbeth into doing what she wants. Shakespeare’s Macbeth quotes “I have given suck, and know how tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from the boneless gums, and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this.”(Act 1. Scene 7. Page 43. Lines 62-67) This quote shows the inhumane attempt Lady Macbeth used to persuade Macbeth to prosecute the regicide. Another example that reveals that she shoved Macbeth into his downfall is, “ Lady Macbeth is the source of his mental strength and resolution, that they have talked over the situation of affairs in the kingdom, with all its possibilities, both those which may be depended upon to come unaided and those which may be forced to an issue.” (Gerwig, 8) Gerwig believes that she was the reason behind the murder because even after the couple consulted each she was all for the plan despite the outcome. Lady Macbeth is said to arrange everything herself so nothing goes wrong the day of the murder. Inside of Macbeth is a part where she rages for power and this section is brought upon Macbeth who will do anything for his beloved wife, including murder.
Macbeth, like an innocent boy, was swayed into believing that the only way to get to the top was by stepping on or killing others. The Weird Sisters and Lady Macbeth used methods of guilt and imagination to achieve the chaos that erupted in Macbeth. Snider quotes from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, as does Gerwig to get the point, of how corruptive these characters ruined Macbeth. In reaction to these overbearing powers, Macbeth strives to complete the murder action for the sake of his wife and fulfilling the prophecy.