Of Macbeth Essay, Research Paper
Who really was to
blame for the downfall of Macbeth? Was it himself, his wife; Lady Macbeth or
the Witches? Firstly I will look at all the murders which lead up to the death
of Macbeth, then I will assess each of the three individuals before
concluding my information.Norwegians &
Traitors They were killed
during battle by Macbeth and Banquo and the Scottish army. Macbeth & Banquo
were fighting for King and Country with no fear of wrong doing. Totally different
to the other ?unlawful? killings which were actually murders; the killing
of the Norwegians was not murder but a battle. Scotland were totally out
numbered and were the underdogs yet they still ?Doubly redoubled stakes upon
the foe.?King Duncan Arguably the most
important killing because it is the first premeditated cold blooded killing in
the play. The first ?unlawful? killing that Macbeth committed and one which he
later regrets. This is the killing which leads to the whole string of murders
under Macbeth. Macbeth calls it ?the horrid deed? because he does not really
want to kill his king (?most sacrilegious murder?) but it is the only way he will
become king. This killing also involves greatly Lady Macbeth because of
the way she planned it and helped in its execution and cover up.The Two Grooms Macbeth?s second
killing almost immediately after the murder of King Duncan which ruins the plan
of Lady Macbeth to frame them. It is an illogical and pointless killing
which points the finger at Macbeth for the killing of King Duncan. It is a messy
murder in public view and is the only one in which everybody knows
Macbeth has done it. The grooms had been drugged so the couldn?t remember
what had happened the night before so if Macbeth had not killed them the would
not have known themselves if they had done it. It is an untidy death and a
key event in the downfall of Macbeth.Banquo Another murder that
was this time instigated by Macbeth but Banquo was actually murdered by
two men from the dregs of society hired by Macbeth. A killing which is
intended to cover up Macbeth?s previous killings because he thinks Banquo knows.
A very cowardly killing in which Banquo and his young son Fleance are
ambushed with little chance of survival. Fleance should also have been killed but
Banquo sacrificed his life to help him get away. Again this is a messy
killing because Fleance gets away, ? Fleance his son? ?must embrace the
fate of that dark hour?.Macduff?s Family Probably the messiest
murder because of the cold hearted, blood thirsty and spiteful way it is
carried out. It was a? needless killing
which could do nothing but implicate
Macbeth, who was warned of Macduff by the apparitions: ?Macbeth! Macbeth!
Macbeth! Beware Macduff, beware the thane of Fife.? But then Macbeth is
reassured by another apparition that tells him; ?none of women born Shall harm
Macbeth?. This cause Macbeth to say ? Then lives Macduff: what need I
fear of thee?? But when he hears
that Macduff has fled to England he decides to slaughter ?his wife, his babes,
and all unfortunate soul that trace him in his line.?? This murder shows how
Macbeth changes throughout the play into a more confident and brutal
man. He loses all his conscience and no longer worries about the
implications of his deeds. Who is to Blame?Macbeth In the battle at the
beginning of the play Macbeth?s violence against the Norwegians earns him
high praise from King Duncan. In this scene King Duncan also announces
his decision to pass the throne on to his son. This news angers Macbeth
who himself wishes too take the crown. This is the first event when Macbeth
shows his desire to be king. Macbeth though also recognises King
Duncan as a great king, King Duncan has just made Macbeth the thane of
Cawdor; ?hath been so clear in his great office.? But when he meets the
Witches for the first time he shows his desire to overthrow his king
and become king himself: ?Macbeth! That shall be king hereafter.? Macbeth?s
reaction to this prophecy makes it clear that he is intrigued by what
they have to say. Witches in the 1500-1600?s were taken very seriously and in
fact during this period more Witches we killed than in any other. Today we
look at Witches? ?tongue in cheek? because of the factual scientific age in
which we live, but in the period of Macbeth when people believed in the
supernatural such prophecies were taken very seriously.? At this point it is
hard for him to see how he can become king without killing King Duncan, which he
does not want to do. When he writes home to his wife, Lady Macbeth,
he realises that killing King Duncan does not seem so hard because of an
imminent visit from King Duncan. It is this belief from his wife and her plan
which gives Macbeth the confidence to kill King Duncan. From this point
onwards Macbeth really thinks that he can get away with it and his desire grows,
he becomes foolish and blinded of the later repercussions. Banquo
makes light of the matter and almost seems to laugh that Macbeth is
taking this so seriosly. The Witches also prophesise that Banquo?s children
will be kings. ?If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me, without
my stir.? Is what Macbeth first says but after King Duncan?s decision to
make Malcolm king he is pushed towards a more evil way of achieving his
goal; ?Stars hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires.?The Witches? They were taken very
seriously in the 17th century and were seen as mysterious and evil
agents of the devil. In the play they have various powers in which they curse
and summon the apparitions. At the start they seem to be the most evil
characters but they do not actually kill anyone. They only make three appearances in
the whole play in which they actually have a tremendous influence.
They instigate the murder and influence Macbeth into killing King Duncan.
They have a strong entry in which pathetic fallacy echoes chaos in the
weather through the storm. Their power is stronger at the start as they seek
out Macbeth but by the end Macbeth has grown more confident and less
fearful of the Witches and actually seeks them out. He has actually become more
of a devils agent than they are throughout the play. They witches actually
set out to create chaos but actually end causing serious damage to the
monarchy and important people in Scotland.Macbeth & Witches They only meet three
times but the difference between these meetings is immense: In the 1st Meeting
They ambush Macbeth and Banquo on their return from battle. Macbeth is
?rapt? by their news but especially when the prediction thatb he will become Thane
of Cawdor comes true. After this he actually believes that what they say is
true. He decides to leave it to fate but eventually he takes matters into
his own hands. In the final meeting
Macbeth actually seeks them out and demands information, in the
form of the apparitions. Macbeth is actually now more evil than the witches, and
to their defence, like Lady Macbeth do not actually kill anyone.Lady Macbeth Traditional view: She
is the worst villainess in English literature. But when Macbeth was written,
in the 1600?s, a woman?s role in a marriage/relationship would be to support
her partner, bear and raise children and to look after household matters. So
in these duties Lady Macbeth would have been seen as a good supporting
house wife although there is no real mention of children except when Lady
Macbeth says ?Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums. And dashed his
brains out.? Modern view: Nowadays
Lady Macbeth is seen, especially by feminists as an empowered woman -
even the heroine of the play. She arguably does nothing wrong, she just takes
the initiative in trying to get what is best for her and her husband (Macbeth).
?you shall put this nights great business into my despatch.? She knows that the
only way to make Macbeth truly happy is for him to become king,
so she helps him to forget his conscience ?a little water clears us of this
deed.?? She uses her sexuality to get
through to Macbeth and take control over him
?Hie thee hither, that I may pour my spirits in thine ear, and chastise with the
valour of my tongue.? She knows that this will win him over, she has sexual
power over him. Another modern
psychological view: Lady Macbeth has a lack of foresight which is similar to
that of a child. She wants something so badly that she doesn?t really think
what she is doing, like when a child is enticed by a stranger into a car
for sweets in the modern day. She is very unlike
her husband because he regrets the murder straight away unlike her who thinks
?a little water clears us of this deed?. Macbeth says ?this is a sorry sight.? Because of this way
in which she does not see the consequences of her actions she breaks
down and becomes ill before dying? just
prior to the end of the play.Conclusion I believe that no one
is solely to blame because, as I have explained in my essay there are many
key factors in the downfall of Macbeth. If you were to take any one
characters role out of the play I don?t believe that any of the murders would have
taken place and hence Macbeth would not have become king and fallen to
defeat.