He is remorseful after murdering Duncan and we see Macbeth with fear of his deed as he says “Will the ocean even wash the blood off my hands.” However, Macbeth’s ambition and self-preservation prevail as he kills the King’s guards the next day acting as though he was enraged that they killed the King.Click to see full answer.
How does Macbeth feel about himself after he kills Duncan?
After murdering Duncan, Macbeth is so remorseful that he states that if he were “to know [his] deed, ‘twere best not know [him]self” (2. 2. 95). This means that in order for Macbeth to come to terms with what he has done, he must forget about his conscience.
What does Macbeth say about murder in his aside?
Although the witches predict that Macbeth will be king, they never speak of murdering Duncan; it is Macbeth who mentions murder in his aside: “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical”.
How does Macbeth's guilt lead to his downfall?
Macbeth's downfall is in some ways caused by his guilty conscience as throughout the play, he sees many visions and has hallucinations. These dramatic features present in the play are the main reason why scholars regard Macbeth as "the first psychological exploration of effects of guilt".
How is Macbeth responsible for his own destruction?
Thus, Macbeth can be seen responsible for his own destruction because he murdered a divinely appointed king; the fact that the murder was accompanied by ‘unnatural’ things emphasises the true horror behind Macbeth’s sinister actions. In Act 4, the witches’ contribute to Macbeth’s downfall as they deceive him through twisted words.
How does Lady Macbeth help Macbeth?
Why does Macbeth say he has never seen so foul and fair a day?
Why does Banquo take revenge on Macbeth?
What do the witches say about Macbeth?
How did the witches help Macbeth?
What does Macbeth say about the Greatest is behind?
Why is Macbeth not to blame?
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Is Macbeth remorseful?
Macbeth's sense of remorse is apparently not strong enough to prevent him from killing again, however, which spotlights another key theme of the play: a lack of morality in the two main characters.
Does Macbeth feel guilt or remorse?
Macbeth's vision of the ghost reveals his guilt over ordering the murder of Banquo and his young son. His sense of guilt is so powerful that he loses his sense of reality and cannot be sure whether he is having a vision or not.
Who feels guilt and remorse for their actions immediately in Macbeth?
Macbeth also shows his guilt – he is unsure before the murder and regrets it immediately after. Lady Macbeth is the opposite – she seems to show no guilt at the time and even talks about how a little water (Act two, Scene two, Line 64) cleans away the blood.
Why does Macbeth feel remorse?
Because of his “vaulting ambition” he killed Duncan. Macbeth feels a great deal of remorse after he has killed the king. He understands that he has committed a sin and will be punished. He is so terrified that he hears voices telling him:“ Macbeth does murder sleep, … , Macbeth shall sleep no more”(Act 2, Sc.
How does Macbeth show no remorse?
Macbeth does not feel any emotions to what he has done. He had innocent people killed because of Macduff's actions. Macbeth says, “The castle of Macduff I will surprise; seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword his wife his babes, and all the unfortunate souls” (4.1.
How is Macbeth presented as regretful?
In 'Macbeth', one of the ways in which guilt is presented is through the reoccurring image of blood. In Act 2 Scene 2, the blood on Macbeth's hands after his murder of Duncan is both literal and a metaphor for his guilt: “Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand?
Does Macbeth regret his actions at the end?
"I'll go no more:/I am afraid to think what i agve done;/Look on't again i dare not." (2,2,51-53) This line is said by Macbeth after killing King Duncan. Macbeth regrets his decision. This demonstrates that Macbeth is experiencing guilt and remorse for his decesion.
How is Macbeth's guilt shown?
Macbeth's guilt is focused on the murder, as he expresses his greatest remorse directly before and after he kills Duncan. After that, his guilt comes in the form of paranoia, and this sends him on a frenzied murder spree. Shakespeare suggests guilt and conscience are more powerful than ambition.
How is guilt shown in Macbeth essay?
After he kills Duncan, Macbeth carries all the guilt, and is too shaken by shame to continue, while Lady Macbeth either feels no guilt, or represses it, because she is able to continue the deed and frame Duncan's guards. The result of Macbeth's guilt is that he fears he will go to Hell.
Was Macbeth remorseful for killing Duncan?
When Macbeth returns after the murder of Duncan he is distraught and regrets the murder he has committed. Macbeth feels so guilty for the act that his mind projects voices that condemn him. He will no longer have the piece of mind that he had before the murder.
How does Macbeth guilt affect him?
Guilt haunts Macbeth, both as a ghost that he sees, as well as the heaviness on his conscious. He also is haunted by his killing of Banquo, a once trusted ally and friend, and is haunted by his ghost. Lady Macbeth's guilt causes her to sleepwalk and be haunted by Duncan's blood that she cannot 'clean' her hands of.
Why does Macbeth feel guilty after killing the king?
Macbeth's guilt from his bloody deeds begins with the influence of the witches and Lady Macbeth, becomes more intense with multiple murders, and ends in overwhelming guilt that symbolizes the blood that Macbeth and his wife cannot escape.
Does Macbeth show guilt at the end of the play?
After the murder, Macbeth is tormented and eventually admits that he has “scorpions in my mind” – like poisonous creatures infesting him. This is often seen to be his guilt eating away inside of him. At the end of the play, Lady Macbeth is caught sleepwalking and confessing her sins.
Does Macbeth feel guilty after killing Duncan?
Macbeth feels haunted when he murders Duncan and begins to feel guilty. Macbeth is hesitant whether or not he wants to murder King Duncan. He starts to feel a strong sense of guilt even before he goes through with the murder.
How does Macbeth deal with his guilt?
Macbeth ignores his guilt, thus leading him to commit further crimes and blurring his moral conscience. Lady Macbeth handles her guilt differently; she has no method of distraction and is haunted by her guilt. Being trapped in her own mind causes her to fall to the brink of insanity.
Does Macbeth feel guilty after killing Macduff's family?
Feeling remorse for having Macduff's entire family violently killed, Macbeth admits that he has a guilty conscience that he does not want to kill Macduff as well. “Of all men else I have avoided thee: / But get thee back; my soul is too much charged / With blood of thine already,” (Shakespeare 5.
Macbeth Is Entirely Responsible for His Own Demise
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a tragedy about a war hero named Macbeth, who follows his ambition with evil and who is repaid with evil. He is responsible for his own demise although only to a certain extent.
Macbeth Is Entirely Responsible for His Own Demise Essay
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a tragedy about a war hero named Macbeth, who follows his ambition with evil and who is repaid with evil. He is responsible for his own demise although only to a certain extent.
Is Macbeth Responsible For His Own Downfall Essay Sample - IvyMoose
Written by Shakespeare during the reign of James the first, the tragedy of Macbeth explores the disharmony of Macbeth and the crumbling society he resides in. Shakespeare tells a narrative of Macbeth’s fall from power whereby he had undone himself by setting foot on an irreversible path of pain, suffering, futility and self-destruction.
Is Macbeth responsible for his own downfall? - Essay Examples
Macbeth is responsible for his own downfall. In the end he committed the murder, no one had a knife to his throat forcing him, he did it out of his own free will.
Macbeth is responsible for his own downfall
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is among the few of Shakespeare’s plays where a female character plays a catalytic role. The female characters in this play are Lady Macbeth, Lady Macduff, the […]
To what extent is Macbeth responsible for his own downfall? - GraduateWay
Get help on 【 To what extent is Macbeth responsible for his own downfall? 】 on Graduateway A huge assortment of FREE essays & assignments Find an idea for your paper!
How does Lady Macbeth help Macbeth?
Lady Macbeth contributes towards Macbeth’s downfall as she is seen to be very persuasive, particularly in encouraging Macbeth to kill the King. She is convinced that murder is the only way to make the witches’ prediction come true, but she also believes that he is “too full o’ the milk of human kindness”. Lady Macbeth uses the metaphor of “milk” (being a pure drink) to show that Macbeth is too kind and respectful to “catch the nearest way” to becoming king. Therefore, although Macbeth is a great warrior, he lacks ruthlessness. Thus, Macbeth does not lack ambition but he is squeamish about the methods to be used to achieve his ambition of becoming king. When in Act 1 Scene 7, Macbeth decides to cancel the plan of murdering king Duncan, Lady Macbeth uses several techniques to in order to convince him to carry out the plan. She asks him, “was the hope drunk wherein you dressed yourself?” She uses the metaphor of alcohol to imply that Macbeth’s courage is the result of intoxication and not real determination. Macbeth is a strong, brutal warrior, so by insulting him, she is offending his manliness. Lady Macbeth accuses Macbeth of being too timid and “afeard” to do something to make his ambition come true. She also accuses Macbeth of being “green and pale”. Green in this context has connotations of ‘coldness’ and ‘sickness’, making Macbeth seem very small and weak. Thus, Macbeth is accused of being a coward. Macbeth’s decision earlier not to kill King Duncan crumbles under the scornful attack of his wife. However, while some critics suggest that Lady Macbeth is just simply a physical representation of the theme of deception, she also has a wider religious meaning. In the bible, it was Eve who persuaded Adam to eat from the Tree of knowledge of good and evil after being tempted by the devil in the form of a serpent. This suggests that women are in fact responsible for the fall of man. Therefore, in the context of the play, perhaps it is Lady Macbeth who causes the downfall of Macbeth because through her persuasiveness, she convinces Macbeth to commit murder.
Why does Macbeth say he has never seen so foul and fair a day?
Macbeth says that he has never seen “so foul and fair a day”, meaning that the day is foul due to the witches raising a storm but fair due to his victory on the battlefield.
Why does Banquo take revenge on Macbeth?
This is signifying that Banquo will take his revenge because although Macbeth might be King of Scotland now, it is Banquo’s decedents who will be kings. (This is possible since Fleance survives) This theme of revenge is supported by Macbeth’s response to the ghost: “Blood will have blood”.
What do the witches say about Macbeth?
The witches’ prophecies have a powerful effect on Macbeth. Banquo notices this and asks him “why do you start and seem to fear/ Things that do sound so fair”. Banquo cannot see why Macbeth, a great warrior should be afraid when he is promised only good things. What the witches say seems to strike a thought in Macbeth’s mind, especially the prediction that he will become king. Macbeth’s deep though-provoked mind is perhaps the first sign of his ambitious nature and actually the first indicator of the theme itself because it is unusual for someone to fear something that “sounds so fair”. Alternatively, perhaps Macbeth’s “fear” is of uncertainty rather than “an emotional response to a perceived threat” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear). From this interpretation, Macbeth is unsure about the choices he will have to make in order to fulfil his ambition and the prophecy. Therefore, we would assume that his ambition has made him realise that in order for these “fair” prophecies to become reality, he would need to commit terrible, unspeakable acts along the way to achieve his new ambition. This interpretation is supported in the text because when the witches vanish, Macbeth wonders if they have disappeared “into the air”- what he thought was solid has melted away. This could be interpreted in way such that under the evil influence of the witches, things around Macbeth that he thinks are solid, like his loyalty to the King will also melt away. Macbeth chooses to accept the witches’ words and is clearly lost in thought unlike Banquo who is suspicious of them and seems unafraid.
How did the witches help Macbeth?
In Act 4, the witches’ contribute to Macbeth’s downfall as they deceive him through twisted words . The first apparition warns Macbeth to “beware Macduff” however Macbeth remains confident because the second apparition informs him that “none of woman born shall harm Macbeth”. From this Macbeth believes he is invincible because he assumes that all people are born from a woman. The third apparition tells Macbeth that he “shall never vanquish’d until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him”. As a result, Macbeth becomes extremely overconfident however due to his readiness to know his future, he does not realise that the Witches are in fact leading Macbeth into a false sense of security. The witches are showing him visions which they know he will misinterpret because they have double meanings. Macduff, unknown to Macbeth, was “from his mother’s womb untimely ripped” indicating that he was born by a Caesarean section and therefore, he was not of woman born. The third apparition actually represents Malcolm, who orders his army to conceal its size by hiding behind branches from Birnam Wood. Therefore, it would seem as if the forest is moving up to Dunsinane Hill. The witches play a big part in Macbeth’s downfall as they clearly confuse him and as Macbeth can be easily influenced, the witches show Macbeth future visions that he misinterprets.
What does Macbeth say about the Greatest is behind?
In his asides, Macbeth reveals that all he has to achieve is to become king after saying that the “greatest is behind”. The word “behind” is significant because it seems to suggest the sneaky and deceitful way in which Macbeth seizes the crown. Macbeth darkly and suspiciously questions Banquo’s ambitions: “Do you not hope your children shall be kings” indicating that he seems worried about the prediction that Banquo’s children will be kings, as though this is a threat to his future. The witches’ prophecy that Banquo will found a line of kings is a clear reference to James’ family’s claim to have descended from the historical Banquo. This reflects Shakespeare’s close relationship with King James. Clearly, Macbeth’s ambitious nature is overtaking his decisive personality as he wants to hear more of the witches’ “strange intelligence”. Thus, the witches’ words have caused him to feel concerned and curious about his future. Even though Act 1 Scene 3 was the first meeting of the witches and Macbeth, the witches can be seen as accountable for Macbeth’s destruction because the witches’ words strike a chord in his mind, tapping into his ambition and as a result, he starts to become more selfish and deceitful as he sees Banquo and the king as obstacles.
Why is Macbeth not to blame?
However, as opposed to this argument, we understand that Macbeth is not totally to blame because his destruction was in some ways caused by his weakness to be easily influenced by others. The misleading prophecies of the Witches and the persuasiveness of Lady Macbeth clouded Macbeth’s own judgement.
What did Macbeth do when he accepted the predictions that he would be king hereafter?
When Macbeth chose to accept the predictions that he would be ” king hereafter” he immediately looked upon Duncan and in his mind began to plot his death. He even went as far as to invite Duncan to his castle.
What was Macbeth's downfall?
Also MacBeth’s downfall is caused mainly by himself, he was the one that plotted those murders, he himself killed King Duncan, his fellow general Banquo and the family of Macduff. Another factor of his own downfall was his ambition; he strived to become King of Scotland that he lost all his humane emotions.
What prophecies did the witches make about Macbeth?
In the beginning of the play Macbeth, the witches confronted Macbeth and Banquo and prophesied that Macbeth would be “Thane of Glamis”, “Thane of Cawdor” and ” King hereafter”. As from then, we acknowledge that Macbeth is a weak character. Macbeth could have dismissed the prophecies as fantastical like Banquo did. But instead Macbeth chooses to believe in those miss-interpreted predictions, which ultimately lead to his own downfall. From the start when the witches said that Macbeth would be king hereafter Macbeth seems to be taken in by the predictions then suddenly commands the witches to be told more.
What was Macbeth's ambition?
Run away, I pray you.”. MacBeth’s ambition was to be King of Scotland, after the witches greeted him as “King hereafter” MacBeth has strived to be king. His ambition was far too great and his strive to be king took over him replacing him with an evil shell, murdering anyone who stands between him and the throne.
How many murderers did Macbeth hire?
After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth began to fill with darkness, he neither then without guidance nor with the approval of his wife, Lady Macbeth he ordered Banquo killed by hiring 2 murderers. From there MacBeth’s downfall was quite of evil intent. He murdered Macduff’s wife and child.
Who were the 3 witches that Macbeth confronted?
In the start where Macbeth and Banquo confronted the witches, the 3 witches addressed Macbeth as the Thane of Cawdor, The Thane of Glamis and King hereafter. From that moment one the decision Macbeth faced would change and alter his life forever. Instead of choosing to dismiss the predictions as some gibberish Macbeth was quite taken in by it.
Was Macbeth's downfall blamed on the witches?
Thus, MacBeth’s downfall was entirely without blame his fault. The witches and Lady MacBeth were just characters but the evil intent was inside MacBeth all the time. The events leading up to Macbe... Theme in Macbeth: “Fair is Fou... The Theme of Evil in “Macbeth”. Deception in Shakespeare’s Mac...
Why is Macbeth considered a tragedy?
Macbeth is a tragedy because the play has all the characteristics in the literary definition of a tragedy. Macbeth definitely arouses pity and fear in the audience/reader. The very first scene in the play instills fear in us audience members. The play opens in a wild and lonely place in medieval Scotland.
What does Macbeth decide to do in the end?
Even though Macbeth knows all hope is gone, he decides to fight to the death and “will try the last” (5. 8. 37). In the end, Macbeth has been killed, and the rightful heir to the throne takes his place. These occurrences fulfill the last requirement for the play Macbeth to be a tragedy.
What is the play Macbeth about?
Without a doubt, the play arouses fear and pity in the audience. In addition to arousing pity and fear in the audience, the play calls into question man’s relationship with God. At the start of the play, Macbeth’s relationship with God is good.
What do the witches say about Macbeth?
1. 3-4). The witches are speaking of the civil war, which they say will end that day. They also say they will meet with Macbeth, one of the generals. These supernatural happenings start the playoff with eeriness, stirring up fear in the audience. Additionally, pity is roused in the audience. The author creates sympathy for Macbeth by giving him a good quality: his courage.
What is Macbeth's fatal flaw?
Macbeth’s fatal flaw is his trust and confidence in the words of the witches. After the witches tell Macbeth that he will become Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and King of Scotland, Macbeth begins to lust for power.
What are some examples of Macbeth's guilt?
Macbeth’s guilt prevents him from fully enjoying his ill-gotten position as king. For example, Macbeth is visited by the ghost of Banquo. Suffering from guilt, Macbeth nearly reveals the truth that he killed Duncan. Afraid her husband will reveal too much, Lady Macbeth tells the guests that Macbeth often has these fits. When the guests start to ask questions, Lady Macbeth tells them Macbeth “grows worse and worse; question enrages him. At once, good night…go at once” (3. 4. 146-150). These examples of Macbeth suffering from his conscience show that Macbeth is capable of great suffering.
How does Macbeth become frightened?
69-71). Also after the murder, Macbeth has become sensitive to every little sound. When someone is knocking at the gate, Macbeth wonders “whence is that knocking? ” and realizes that “every noise appalls [him]” (2. 2. 78-79). In addition to being frightened by sounds, Macbeth is also frightened by sights. For example, when Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost, he becomes so terrified that his “cheeks [are] blanched with fear” (3. 4. 143-144). Each of these occasions demonstrates the sensitivity of Macbeth.
Why doesn't Lady Macbeth commit murder?
” Nevertheless, she feels that if Macbeth commits the murder under her supervision, it will not be quite so bad and she is not going to suffer due to her guilty conscience : “look like the innocent flower; Only to look up clear, to alter favour ever is to fear. ” Lady Macbeth appears much stronger in words than in actions. Lady Macbeth has a significant impact on Macbeth’s behaviour. She is the one he comes to for advice.
Why is Macbeth so self-censored?
Macbeth became much more self-censored because he became aware that there is no possible cure from this disease – his guilty conscience. He also becomes aware that people start suspecting him for the sudden outbreak of murders of people, who were close to him, king Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff, only his family so far.
Why is there a dramatic irony in Macbeth?
Before the witches tell Macbeth the future, there is a dramatic irony in the play, because the audience already know that King Duncan made Macbeth ‘Thane of Cawdor’. At this point, the audience know far more than the characters do.
Why did Lady Macbeth not kill Duncan?
She did not rely on her inner strength, but she relied on external forces. She has also been drinking in Act 2, scene 2. The second factor that makes the audience realise Lady Macbeth’s insecurity is something that the audience have to realise themselves. Why Lady Macbeth, did not kill king Duncan herself? The answer is quite simple and it is what kills her in the end. She is much too scared and insecure to face her fears.
What line does Macbeth act on?
However, Macbeth acts on his own impulse: “Come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day. ” – Act 1, scene 3, line 147. Witches do not ever attempt to persuade Macbeth into doing anything.
What does Macbeth say in Act 1 Scene 3?
Later on the audience hears Macbeth say his first lines, which are those exact same words “So foul and fair a day I have not seen” - Act 1, scene 3. The witch’s words are in Macbeth’s mouth, does that mean that the audience are to associate him with the witches and their evil.
What scene do the witches appear in Macbeth?
The witches only appear once more in the play in Act 4, scene 1, but they are always present in Macbeth’s mind, and their words will always be in his thoughts, they make him believe his greatest prize in near. The witches have chosen the precise moment to approach Macbeth – when he was full of triumph after the battle.
What does Macbeth wish to do when he hears strange knocking at the gate?
“To know my deed it were best not know myself.”. When he hears strange knocking at the gate he wishes that it wakes up Duncan, “wake Duncan with thy knocking”, however it is too late (Act 2, Sc.3 p. 61).
What are the emotions in Macbeth?
The Emotions of Ambition, Remorse and Fear in Macbeth by William Shakespeare. The most important emotions that we see in Macbeth are ambition, remorse, and fear. They are significant because they provoke Macbeth to do evil and cruel things. Ambition takes control of him earlier in the play when the witches tell him he is going to be king.
What was Macbeth afraid of before he killed Duncan?
Earlier in the play right before the murder of Duncan, Macbeth was afraid that if he would kill Duncan this sin would come back to haunt him. “ This even handed justice commends the ingredience of our poisoned chalice to our own lips” (Act 1 Sc. 7 p. 39).
What did Macbeth fantasize about?
Instantly Macbeth started to fantasize how he is going to be king. He understood that in order for him to become king he has to kill Duncan. “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical” (Act 1 Sc. 3, p.23). He was pondering about the assassination until the moment that he could no longer control his emotions.
Who killed Banquo in Macbeth?
Out of fear for himself, Macbeth murdered Macduff’s family and killed Banquo. Macbeth is captured by his wild ambition at the opening of the play when he and Banqou meet the three witches. The witches tell Macbeth that he is the Thane of Cawdor, and later will be king. They tell Banquo that his sons will be kings.
Why did Macbeth kill Duncan?
Because of his “vaulting ambition” he killed Duncan. Macbeth feels a great deal of remorse after he has killed the king. He understands that he has committed a sin and will be punished. He is so terrified that he hears voices telling him:“ Macbeth does murder sleep, … , Macbeth shall sleep no more” (Act 2, Sc.2 p. 57).
How does Lady Macbeth help Macbeth?
Lady Macbeth contributes towards Macbeth’s downfall as she is seen to be very persuasive, particularly in encouraging Macbeth to kill the King. She is convinced that murder is the only way to make the witches’ prediction come true, but she also believes that he is “too full o’ the milk of human kindness”. Lady Macbeth uses the metaphor of “milk” (being a pure drink) to show that Macbeth is too kind and respectful to “catch the nearest way” to becoming king. Therefore, although Macbeth is a great warrior, he lacks ruthlessness. Thus, Macbeth does not lack ambition but he is squeamish about the methods to be used to achieve his ambition of becoming king. When in Act 1 Scene 7, Macbeth decides to cancel the plan of murdering king Duncan, Lady Macbeth uses several techniques to in order to convince him to carry out the plan. She asks him, “was the hope drunk wherein you dressed yourself?” She uses the metaphor of alcohol to imply that Macbeth’s courage is the result of intoxication and not real determination. Macbeth is a strong, brutal warrior, so by insulting him, she is offending his manliness. Lady Macbeth accuses Macbeth of being too timid and “afeard” to do something to make his ambition come true. She also accuses Macbeth of being “green and pale”. Green in this context has connotations of ‘coldness’ and ‘sickness’, making Macbeth seem very small and weak. Thus, Macbeth is accused of being a coward. Macbeth’s decision earlier not to kill King Duncan crumbles under the scornful attack of his wife. However, while some critics suggest that Lady Macbeth is just simply a physical representation of the theme of deception, she also has a wider religious meaning. In the bible, it was Eve who persuaded Adam to eat from the Tree of knowledge of good and evil after being tempted by the devil in the form of a serpent. This suggests that women are in fact responsible for the fall of man. Therefore, in the context of the play, perhaps it is Lady Macbeth who causes the downfall of Macbeth because through her persuasiveness, she convinces Macbeth to commit murder.
Why does Macbeth say he has never seen so foul and fair a day?
Macbeth says that he has never seen “so foul and fair a day”, meaning that the day is foul due to the witches raising a storm but fair due to his victory on the battlefield.
Why does Banquo take revenge on Macbeth?
This is signifying that Banquo will take his revenge because although Macbeth might be King of Scotland now, it is Banquo’s decedents who will be kings. (This is possible since Fleance survives) This theme of revenge is supported by Macbeth’s response to the ghost: “Blood will have blood”.
What do the witches say about Macbeth?
The witches’ prophecies have a powerful effect on Macbeth. Banquo notices this and asks him “why do you start and seem to fear/ Things that do sound so fair”. Banquo cannot see why Macbeth, a great warrior should be afraid when he is promised only good things. What the witches say seems to strike a thought in Macbeth’s mind, especially the prediction that he will become king. Macbeth’s deep though-provoked mind is perhaps the first sign of his ambitious nature and actually the first indicator of the theme itself because it is unusual for someone to fear something that “sounds so fair”. Alternatively, perhaps Macbeth’s “fear” is of uncertainty rather than “an emotional response to a perceived threat” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear). From this interpretation, Macbeth is unsure about the choices he will have to make in order to fulfil his ambition and the prophecy. Therefore, we would assume that his ambition has made him realise that in order for these “fair” prophecies to become reality, he would need to commit terrible, unspeakable acts along the way to achieve his new ambition. This interpretation is supported in the text because when the witches vanish, Macbeth wonders if they have disappeared “into the air”- what he thought was solid has melted away. This could be interpreted in way such that under the evil influence of the witches, things around Macbeth that he thinks are solid, like his loyalty to the King will also melt away. Macbeth chooses to accept the witches’ words and is clearly lost in thought unlike Banquo who is suspicious of them and seems unafraid.
How did the witches help Macbeth?
In Act 4, the witches’ contribute to Macbeth’s downfall as they deceive him through twisted words . The first apparition warns Macbeth to “beware Macduff” however Macbeth remains confident because the second apparition informs him that “none of woman born shall harm Macbeth”. From this Macbeth believes he is invincible because he assumes that all people are born from a woman. The third apparition tells Macbeth that he “shall never vanquish’d until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him”. As a result, Macbeth becomes extremely overconfident however due to his readiness to know his future, he does not realise that the Witches are in fact leading Macbeth into a false sense of security. The witches are showing him visions which they know he will misinterpret because they have double meanings. Macduff, unknown to Macbeth, was “from his mother’s womb untimely ripped” indicating that he was born by a Caesarean section and therefore, he was not of woman born. The third apparition actually represents Malcolm, who orders his army to conceal its size by hiding behind branches from Birnam Wood. Therefore, it would seem as if the forest is moving up to Dunsinane Hill. The witches play a big part in Macbeth’s downfall as they clearly confuse him and as Macbeth can be easily influenced, the witches show Macbeth future visions that he misinterprets.
What does Macbeth say about the Greatest is behind?
In his asides, Macbeth reveals that all he has to achieve is to become king after saying that the “greatest is behind”. The word “behind” is significant because it seems to suggest the sneaky and deceitful way in which Macbeth seizes the crown. Macbeth darkly and suspiciously questions Banquo’s ambitions: “Do you not hope your children shall be kings” indicating that he seems worried about the prediction that Banquo’s children will be kings, as though this is a threat to his future. The witches’ prophecy that Banquo will found a line of kings is a clear reference to James’ family’s claim to have descended from the historical Banquo. This reflects Shakespeare’s close relationship with King James. Clearly, Macbeth’s ambitious nature is overtaking his decisive personality as he wants to hear more of the witches’ “strange intelligence”. Thus, the witches’ words have caused him to feel concerned and curious about his future. Even though Act 1 Scene 3 was the first meeting of the witches and Macbeth, the witches can be seen as accountable for Macbeth’s destruction because the witches’ words strike a chord in his mind, tapping into his ambition and as a result, he starts to become more selfish and deceitful as he sees Banquo and the king as obstacles.
Why is Macbeth not to blame?
However, as opposed to this argument, we understand that Macbeth is not totally to blame because his destruction was in some ways caused by his weakness to be easily influenced by others. The misleading prophecies of the Witches and the persuasiveness of Lady Macbeth clouded Macbeth’s own judgement.
