ntroduction

MACBETH (C/WORK) * To what extent was Lady Macbeth responsible for Macbeths downfall? Having
read the play, I feel that Lady Macbeth is responsible for Macbeth's downfall but only to a certain
extent, as there are the witches and Macbeth himself who also play a role in his downfall. Shakespeare
opens the play with a meeting taking place between the three witches and Macbeth. Once the reader
has read just the opening of the play they are not made aware of the significance of the witches. It is
in Act 1 Scene 3 that the audience discovers the true nature and role of the witches. Shakespeare
introduces the witches in an atmosphere which reflects upon their nature. At first, in Act 1 Scene 1, the
witches appear in 'thunder and lightening'. The fact that Shakespeare uses such an atmosphere to
present the witches, illustrates to the audience the witches are evil and sinister beings in the play. Also
when Shakespeare uses insects in the cauldron scene, the audience are made aware of the destructive
and fearful atmosphere apparent when the witches are present. In Act 1 Scene 1, the witches say, 'fair
is foul, and foul is fair.' Shakespeare uses words with stressed syllables, ' fair...foul.' The use of stressed
syllables is commonly used alongside spells and the supernatural. Hence, through Shakespeare using
such words, he effectively conveys the supernatural powers of the witches - again making the
audience aware of the powers the witches possess. At the time Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, witches
were seen to be significant beings and problems which would arise would be blamed upon the
witches - as seen in this play, the witches are partially to be blamed for Macbeth's downfall, alongside
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, who is the main cause of Macbeth's downfall. The witches had made
Macbeth believe that his great prize was near, ' All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.' ...read
more.

Middle
Macbeth hesitates at the idea of murdering Duncan whereas Lady Macbeth seems to diminish
Macbeth's weak character through mocking him- 'wouldst thou have that...in thine own esteem,' Act
1,Scene 7, lines 41-43. Lady Macbeth is able to bend Macbeth to her will very easily. The audience
again see Lady Macbeth's manner of putting Macbeth under her control as she says the crown is the
'ornament of life' and not striving to seek it would be an act of a coward. Due to Macbeth being in an
unstable state when Lady Macbeth says this, he is again taken under her rule. Lady Macbeth says: '...
and dashed the brains out.', (Act 1, scene 7) meaning she would sacrifice her own child, rather than
letting such an opportunity of becoming king be pushed aside. Here Shakespeare has used a powerful
image to make the audience aware of Lady Macbeth's cold ambition and the extent she would go to,
in order for her to satisfy her desires. This statement said by Lady Macbeth also makes Macbeth see
murdering Duncan as being a minute act and not that, which is of great wickedness, thus making
Macbeth feel inclined to carry out the murder. Lady Macbeth has answers to all aspects of killing
Duncan. She re-assures Macbeth that he won't be caught as being the one behind the murder as Lady
Macbeth has planned to blame Duncan's 'spongy officers who shall bear the guilt of [their] great
quell.' Here we again come to see how Macbeth, being a vulnerable man, sees this as a great idea and
applauds his wife's suggestion - which alone supports the fact that Lady Macbeth is the one leading
to Macbeth's downfall. If Lady Macbeth had not come up with such an idea then Macbeth would
perhaps have been even more reluctant to carry out the murder due to fear of being found out. ...read
more.
Conclusion
She feels that the only way through which she will obtain her ambitions is to be sinister and evil. Due
to Lady Macbeth being unable to take authority in order to gain a high status, she uses her husband
as a vehicle to fulfil her ambitions. I believe Lady Macbeth is the main cause of Macbeth's downfall.
She is the main one to be blamed for why Macbeth's ambitions lead to his downfall. Although the
witches were involved, it is Lady Macbeth who constantly urges Macbeth to gain that which she
requires. Although Macbeth is also to be blamed, for his own downfall, I do not see him as the main
cause. He did feel guilty within, yet as his wife would mock his manliness he felt the need to defend
his dignity as at that time, questioning a mans masculinity was seen as being a disgrace to the man as
they were meant to be fierce warriors and men of great might. Lady Macbeth is to be blamed the
most as we see when she dies, Macbeth says: ' ..[life] is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.' Act 5,Scene 5 The above suggests Macbeth's motivation and power has vanished,
due to Macbeth no longer being manipulated by Lady Macbeth. It suggests Macbeth no longer sees
the significance of holding the title of a 'king'. He doesn't seem to comprehend why he even desired
to have such a title. After the death of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth realises his own death is near: 'And all
our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death.' Act 5, Scene 5 The above spoken by
Macbeth suggests he feels he can no longer return to the happy moments he had undergone before
he was poisoned by ruthlessness and ambition by his wife. Having taken into consideration the roles
of the witches, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, I am convinced Lady Macbeth is the main driving force
behind Macbeth's downfall.