Shakespeare’s masterpiece of a play, ‘Macbeth’, carefully depicts that Macbeth’s character was not ruined by fate but rather by damaging errors in his personality. Macbeth’s dangerous quality of ambition brings about his downfall as well as his treachery against his king, his tyranny and also his imaginativeness that eventually lures him into the murder. Although Shakespeare suggests that Macbeth’s decisions were greatly influenced by other characters in his text, it was Macbeth that ultimately decided to listen to these influences due to the many faults in his character.…
Firstly, Thane of Glamis, a title he already held. Next was Thane of Cawdor, this he was named shortly after the predictions, he did nothing to deliberately receive the title but be his own character, a strong, passionate and loyal countrymen. The real Macbeth we all knew and respected. But the third prediction was the one that changed Macbeth, a title that toyed with his ambition. Being told he would become King I believe was the beginning of the end for him. Over time his aspirations led him to take a path the true Macbeth would have walked right past. He was tempted by the unnatural to go down this path of turmoil and disruption. He lost his way and was not strong enough to fight it off. He began to spend more time by himself; he acted suspiciously and began scheming with Lady Macbeth. He was given an opportunity to take the position of King and he took it, viciously, illicitly and…
Macbeth was a good solider, a noble solider but it all changed when he had chance to pike at his fate. The first encounter Macbeth had with the witches, he learns that he is destined to receive the kingship of Scotland. Here is the beginning of Macbeth power thirsty journey, although he was unsure of the accuracy behind the prophecy but his desire to be king is seeded. Furthermore, after the witches vanish, part of Macbeth prophecy came true. Now Macbeth is intrigued by the possibility of the remainder of the witches’ prophecy. With part of his destiny already a reality, Macbeth’s urge to receive the kingship is now even stronger than before.…
Many people have hopes and goals that they would like to accomplish. They may desire powerful positions or jobs, while others may desire prosperity and riches. This is known as ambition, the spell binding force that leads people towards success. However, ambition may result in harmful acts to get their satisfaction. In William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Macbeth, the protagonist, Macbeth, is described as a very loyal and noble soldier. As the play progresses, Macbeth’s character dramatically changes because of several different factors. These factors influence Macbeth greatly and cause him to make numerous bad decisions. The influence of the witches’ prophecies, the influence of Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth’s blind ambitions are the most important factors that lead to Macbeth’s tragic deterioration.…
1. Raven Raven is the symbol of death. It relates to the play because this relates to King Duncan’s murder. Raven was used during Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s conversation. 2.…
Throughout the play, the witches fill Macbeth’s head with half-truths, giving him false hope. At the start of the play Macbeth and Banquo stumble upon the witches and are given three prophecies: “All hail Macbeth, hail thee, Thane of Glamis. All hail Macbeth, hail thee Thane of Cawdor. All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king” (A1S3L46) before leaving the witches also mentioned to Banquo “Though shalt get kings, though thou be none.”(A1S3L65) The three prophecies that Macbeth received were confusing to him: he is already Thane of Glamis but is unaware of King Duncan’s plans to name him as Thane of Cawdor. Once that prophecy comes true he becomes convinced that the third one will too. However he is not certain if the third prophecy will be proven to be true whether he goes through with Duncan’s murder or not. Once Macbeth murders Duncan and is crowned king he believes in what the witches say and still has worries of their last prophecy about Banquo. Without a second thought he sends out murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance to secure his position as king. After this Macbeth becomes dependent on the witches and must know what the witches have to say about his future. Macbeth plans to see the witches so he will know what to do further on. Macbeth goes to see the…
In Macbeth there were a few factors that contributed to the degeneration of the Macbeth character. There were three factors that destroyed Macbeth. The main force that was predominately responsible for the downfall of Macbeth was his single flaw. Which was his own ambition. Even though his ambition brought him to his height of power, it was also what led him to his downfall. During the play Macbeth's ambition brought him to achieve his goals but as the play evolves, it forced him to face his fate. Macbeth had become so obsessed with becoming King, and remaining powerful, that he became a completely different man. His ambition led him to become greedy, violent, power hunger, and a murder. An example of his new character occurred when he killed…
In the play "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare, it is very controversial whether or not Macbeth was doomed by fate or by a flaw in his character. It could be argued that Macbeth was doomed both by fate and by a flaw in his character. On one hand, the role of the witches influence could be regarded as a major external force that exploited Macbeth 's character flaws. However, on the other hand, Macbeth 's ambitious nature and greed for power was the flaw in his character that ultimately led to his downfall. The extent to which Macbeths downfall is determined by fate or a flaw in his character will be discussed.…
It is the witches who tell him that he will be Thane of Cawdor and shalt be King hereafter! (Act 1 scene 3). Macbeth is shocked at this news considering the Thane of Cawdor is still alive at the time. This shows that Macbeth was not yet showing ambition or hunger for power but the witches had planted the seed that would lead to his eventual destruction. The witches also prophesy in this scene that Macbeths friend and comrade Banquo will have sons who will claim the throne after Macbeth and be lesser than Macbeth and greater (Act 1 scene 2). This gives the clue that Macbeths line might be short-lived and that once he is gone there will be no more of his descendants on the…
Macbeth’s imagination also convinces him to do the deed through ambition. When the witches give him and Banquo the prophecies, he flinches in a way. To the audience it’s almost like someone is reading his mind. After they address him as king, Macbeth has many asides and in one he says this,“Let light not see my black and deep desires…”(333). He was clearly already thinking of becoming king long before these three weird sisters came to him with their prophecies. As Macbeth continues into the story he is overcome by his ambition and Lady Macbeth even uses it against him to convince him to kill the current king.…
The witches and their prophecies are the first major influence on Macbeth’s actions. The three witches planted the seed of ambition within Macbeth. They were the driving force behind Banquo and King Duncan's killing. The witches prophesized that his life would completely change, by becoming thane of Cawdor, then king of Scotland. At first, Macbeth dismissed their prophecies, but after he was promoted to Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth wondered if he will be King, too. "If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir." Another prophecy made by the witches was that Banquo's son will be king. Fuelled by paranoia, lack of sleep and visions, Macbeth was thrown into a state of confusion and a belief that the prophecies were inevitable.…
In William Shakespeare's Macbeth, the main character, Macbeth, is a brave and loyal subject to the King of Scotland, but as the play progresses, his character begins to change drastically. Evil and unnatural powers, as well as his own passion to become king, take over his better half and eventually lead to his downfall. The three main factors that intertwine with one another that contribute to Macbeth's tragic end are the prophecies told by the three witches, Lady Macbeth's influence, and finally, Macbeth's excessive passion and ambition which drove his desire to become king to the utmost extreme. The prophecy told by the three witches was what triggers the other factors that contribute to Macbeth s downfall. In the first act, the witches tell Macbeth that he is to become the Thane of Cawdor and soon after, king. This prophecy arouses Macbeth's curiosity of how he can become the King of Scotland. "Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more: By Sinel's death I know I am Thane of Glamis; But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives, a prosperous gentleman; and to be king stands not within the prospect of belief." (Act I. sc.III) This quote shows how the witches prophecy attracts Macbeth. It demonstrated how Macbeth thirsts for an answer from the witches of how is he to become the Thane of Cawdor and even king. As the play continues, Macbeth slowly relies on the witches' prophecies. It becomes a remedy for Macbeth's curiosity, which corrupts his character. One of the witches' prophecies becomes true when King Duncan names Macbeth the Thane of Cawdor. At this point, Macbeth seeks advice from his wife, Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth provides a scheme for Macbeth to assassinate the King. She is manipulative and persuasive in corrupting Macbeth s judgement. "What beast was't then that you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man." (Act I. Sc.VII) In this quote, Lady Macbeth is…
In the play Macbeth written by William Shakespeare, the protagonist Macbeth was a loyal general in King Duncan’s Army and then he turned into the deceptive ruler. When Macbeth is coming home after battle, he met three witches who told him about his future. The prophecies that the witches told Macbeth are that he will receive the title "Thane of Cawdor" by Duncan, he will become the King of Scotland in the future, and that “Banquo's sons will be Kings”. He was excited about his future and the prophesies that he was told. He was so happy that he immediately wrote his wife, Lady Macbeth, a letter about their future and the rank he will achieve. Lady Macbeth was so excited about her future as a queen she started making plans so Macbeth would become a king sooner than he thought. Macbeth was not aware of what he was going to be coming home to, an insane wife that wants him to deceive his friend that he has always been loyal to.…
The witches tell Macbeth the first three prophecies; Thane of Glams, Thane of Cawdor, and The future King. He is confused at first, but then called the witches to come back, and tell him more, this is his ego growing. He wanted to know, “to be King stands not within the prospect of belief, no more than to be Cawdor”. When news came that the Thane of Cawdor is now Macbeth, fuels the fire, his ego starts to build even more. “Glams and Thane of Cawdor! The greatest is behind,” Macbeth says aside. Once he is king, to be sure he hangs on to his power, Macbeth visits the witches again for a second time, asks for prophecies. One of the four apparitions was that, “None of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” This apparition also contributes to Macbeth being egotistical, because it is impossible for anyone to be not born of woman, Macbeth assumes. Another apparition from the four…
Since man’s creation man has always been manipulated with the knowledge of his future. Macbeth is not responsible for his actions and was manipulated by the witches in the play the weird sister had planned the downfall of Macbeth since the very beginning. Since they had never directly harmed Macbeth themselves, they tell Macbeth predictions for his possible future, in order to make him act on them. “The witches tell Macbeth that he will become the thane of Cawdor and then king of Scotland”. (I, III 47-50) They had poison Macbeths mind with their prophesies making him greedy and bringing forth the evil side of his soul. When the first of the prophesies is proven to be true by the thane Ross, Macbeth begins to “questions not the purpose of the witches, but the benefits of their prophecies, in a paradox he begins to contemplate how him being the future king could be a bad thing.”(Ferguson) This is Macbeth’s first…