Who is to blame for the tragedy of Macbeth?

Alice Zheng As everyone may know, the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare is a tragedy in the way that the main character, Macbeth has so much potential to becoming a hero, yet he allowed his ambition to take control, which eventually led to his downfall. Yet, who is Macbeth in peoples eyes? A tragic hero? A man who is insane? A man obsessed with ambition? A man who lusts for power? Or maybe just a victim of the circumstance? Yet did anyone ever bothered to compare the major influences on Macbeth before deciding Macbeths character? Well, this paper will show you how Lady Macbeth, the witches, and Macbeth himself influenced him and make him go on the wrong path, which brought his downfall. Firstly, Lady Macbeth is one of the major influences on Macbeth. She was the one who manipulated Macbeth and persuaded Macbeth to kill Duncan when Macbeth is hesitating about what he should do. The conversation went like: MACBETH We will proceed no further in this business. He hath honored me of late, and I have bought Golden opinions from all sorts of people, Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, Not cast aside so soon. LADY MACBETH Was the hope drunk Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since? And wakes it now, to look so green and pale At what it did so freely? From this time Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and valor As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteemst the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting I dare not wait upon I would, Like the poor cat i' th' adage? MACBETH I am settled, and bend up Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.

Away, and mock the time with fairest show. False face must hide what the false heart doth know. (I, vii, 32-82) This showed that Lady Macbeth had a great influence on Macbeth. In the beginning of this quoted conversation, Macbeth told Lady Macbeth that theres no way hell kill Duncan, but as the conversation went on, he became less unsure of his decision. In addition, at the end of this conversation, we can see that Lady Macbeth had successfully convinced Macbeth or it might have been Macbeth that allowed him to be convinced by Lady Macbeth, but either way, he decided that he is going to kill Duncan. Additionally in this conversation, theres a role reversal between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in this section of the play. In most Shakespearean plays, the man is in charge since most plays have a male dominance theme more or less. For instance, in A Midsummer Nights Dream, Egeus, a nobleman treated Hermia a piece of property that he can give to whoever he wants. But in this part, Lady Macbeth seemed like shes in the lead, telling Macbeth what to do and reassuring him that everything would be fine. She manipulated Macbeth into killing Duncan. However, she lost her influence on Macbeth later on, after Macbeth had been crowned King: MACBETH Theres comfort yet; they are assailable. Then be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown His cloistered flight, ere to black Hecates summons The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums Hath rung nights yawning peal, there shall be done A deed of dreadful note LADY MACBETH Whats to be done? MACBETH Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed. Thou marvelst at my words: but hold thee still. Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill. So, prithee, go with me. (III, ii, 41-56) This conversation happened after Macbeth had just sent the murderers after Banquo and Fleance and it shows that Lady Macbeth did not know what Macbeth was up to, and when she tried to find out, Macbeth was all secretive about it and told her that shell find out later. Its very significant in the sense that it showed Macbeth finally becoming dependent and hes stopped relying and consulting Lady Macbeth for everything, which

showed him finally being a man. Even thought it was Lady Macbeth who convinced Macbeth to kill King Duncan, the three witches were the ones that aroused Macbeths lust for power. The witches have maintained their influence over Macbeth all thought out the entire play. When they first appeared on that heath and gave their prophecy: FIRST WITCH All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! SECOND WITCH All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! THIRD WITCH All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter! (I, iii, 49-52) This is what got Macbeth thinking and especially after Ross and Lennox have come and named him thane of Cawdor in King Duncans place; he started getting hopeful that he may get to be the king: MACBETH Glamis, and thane of Cawdor! The greatest is behind.

(aside)

MACBETH (aside) Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme. I am thane of Cawdor. If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature? Present fears Are less than horrible imaginings. My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man That function is smothered in surmise, And nothing is but what is not. (I, iii, 118-145) This actually shows Macbeth is being tempted by his ambition and he is wavering about what he should do about it. In addition, in the middle of the book, a major scene showed us how his

behaviors change drastically from before he saw the witches and after he saw the witches. Before he saw the witches, he was all worried about Macduff and the other nobles: I will tomorrow And betimes I willto the weird sisters. More shall they speak, for now I am bent to know, By the worst means, the worst. For mine own good, All causes shall give way. (III, iv, 138-142) This showed how he thinks of the witches as his mentors who will help him and tell him what to do. He trusts them so much and didnt even bother to question the prophecies None of woman born/Shall harm Macbeth (IV, i, 78-79) and Macbeth shall never vanquishd be until/ Great Birnam Wood to high Dusinane Hill/ Shall come against him. (IV, I, 91-92). He becomes over confident and just as Hecate said: He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear. And you all know, security Is mortals' chiefest enemy. (III, v, 35-39) This showed us how Macbeth is nothing more of a puppet for the witches and they are going to give him a false sense of security to make him overconfident so they can have some fun. It also shows us the Witches manipulated Macbeth by giving him these prophecies they know exactly how hes going to react to. Even thought she had a major impact on Macbeths decisions, it is still up to Macbeth to make his decisions. Macbeth was a great man and a hero, and even though he was tempted and persuaded, he was the one that made the decisions, so it was mostly his responsibility for his own downfall. Even though some may argue that Macbeth was just a victim since he was manipulated by both his wife and the witches, but what they didnt realize is that Macbeths tragic flaws, which is his over checked ambition and his weak personality that allows him to be easily manipulated and it was he who allowed himself to be persuaded and manipulated by the others. Banquo is a very good example. His prophecy from the witches was Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none and unlike Macbeth, he didnt decide to take it upon himself to make sure that his son, Fleance would become the next king. Also, when Macbeth had refused to carry on with their plan to kill King Duncan, Lady Macbeth sated: Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and valor As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteemst the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting I dare not wait upon I would, Like the poor cat i' th' adage? (I, vii, 39-45) And this showed us that Macbeth really desires the throne, that is his ambition and hes ebing called a coward for not wanting to kill Duncan. However, he had decided to kill Duncan quite

easily as mentioned before, which he agreed out of his desire even though he knows that he shouldnt do it, both as Duncans kinsman and as Duncans royal subject. Also, he changed drastically from a hero to a tyrant. He mentioned to Lady Macbeth: For mine own good, All causes shall give way. I am in blood Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er. (III, iv, 142-144)) Which shows that all Macbeth cares right now is his safety. IF the nobles had found out that he had murdered King Duncan in his sleep, he will be trialed for reason and killed, and he doesnt want that to happen. And since his hands are already covered in blood, he might just as well go on and kill everyone and anyone who may be a threat to him or his throne. He also becomes power-crazed since he is putting his life on the line here, he sacrificed so much to get the throne, which included his sleep Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor/ Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more. (II, ii, 42-43) He is unwilling to take any risks so he decided to kill Banquo and Fleance so Banquos children will never become king. However, he succeeds in killing Banquo, but Fleance has successfully fled the country. He also got overconfident after hearing the witches prophecies about how he cannot be defeated or killed, he didnt even prepare himself for the battle and by the time he sees the wood of Birnam, it is already too late for him to get prepared. All in all, Lady Macbeth was the one who convinced Macbeth to killing King Duncan while the witches were the ones that tempted him and made him a tyrant with their prophecies. However, it was Macbeth himself who allowed him to be controlled by his ambition and his lust for power and that eventually led to his downfall. These three main influences on Macbeths decision are like parts of a complete puzzle, if one of them were missing, the results would have been very different. For instance, if he wasnt tempted by the Witches, Macbeth probably wouldnt have even dreamed of being the King, and if Lady Macbeth didnt convince him to kill Duncan, he would probably still be remembered as a war hero who had protected his people instead of a murderer and a tyrant.