Preview

Macbeth Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1250 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Macbeth Essay
April 13, 2015 Drew Veenstra

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Who Is To Blame?

The play
Macbeth
is about a renown Scottish general named Macbeth who is given a prophecy from a group of witches that one day he will become a Thane, and later King of Scotland. Driven by this newly found ambition, Macbeth murders King Duncan and his dear friend Banquo, and consequently as a result of Duncan’s death he kills
Duncan’s servants as well. He then takes the throne for himself. His prophecy comes true but consequently, killing Duncan comes with its own price and ultimately Macbeth dies as a result of these consequences. Macbeth was a weak individual; Lady Macbeth and The Witches were able to manipulate him easily and lead him down the path of darkness and evil. But looking at the evidence in the text, we learn that he actually takes things into his own hands,and that he ultimately makes his own decisions and that he is aware of his actions and knows that they are wrong but continues to act upon them anyway. So we know Lady Macbeth and the witches certainly helped guide Macbeth down the path of destruction but they are not entirely to blame for it, for Macbeth has free will. Macbeth’s decisions lead to the devastation in this play. The witches start the initial events in the play by giving him the prophecies, although as thе play dеvеlops thе witchеs’ influence on Macbeth goes away, meaning the witches are not entirely to blame for the devastation in the play. Macbeth first meets the witches in scene three. The three witches say “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!
All Hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter,” The witches have just given Macbeth a look at what could be, The witches were having fun toying with his ambition and making him even more ambitious. In the time of

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Witches Role In Macbeth

    • 220 Words
    • 1 Page

    Written by William Shakespeare, Macbeth has been edited by numerous editors and Shakespearian enthusiasts. But the one thing that is prominent in all works of the play is that they all mostly have the very same beginning. In a desolate place blasted by thunderstorms, three witches meet to predict the future. The witches don’t only come out once or twice during the play but instead are far more frequent. The witches play a far more important role in the play than being these ugly, old hags that tell the future. They aren’t your regular broomstick flying witches they are, “The Weird Sisters, hand in hand, posters of the sea and land.”(1.3; 32-33) possible the most powerful creatures we’ve read about. Yes, the title of the play is Macbeth, but…

    • 220 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth first met the witches whilst on his journey back from battle. The witches gain Macbeth’s attention by hailing him the thane of Glamis, which in the play was his current title. They then hail him the thane of Cawdor, which unbeknown to him would soon be his next title for his recent achievements. Finally the witches hail Macbeth the King hereafter and he is enraptured.…

    • 655 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the middle century, people believed in witches to have the power to predict the future and to call on higher power to proclaim prophesies. It is in this nature that Macbeth learned that he is to become Thane of Cawdor and king of Scotland “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee Thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be King hereafter”. And true enough, when the witches vanished, a message…

    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    journal entry macbeth

    • 428 Words
    • 2 Pages

    thee, Thane of Cawdor! then lastly the third witch said “All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king…

    • 428 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Macbeth Quotes

    • 2905 Words
    • 12 Pages

    “No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive / Our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death, / And with his former title greet Macbeth.”…

    • 2905 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Like snakes, the witches of Macbeth poison Macbeth's mind and spread illness upon him. The tragic events in Macbeth are not primarily Macbeth's or Lady Macbeth's fault but rather the responsibility of the witches. They infect Macbeth with wickedness, send evil spirits to Lady Macbeth, and manipulate Macbeth with ambiguous prophecies. Shunned by society and living in solitude, these three weird sisters hide in the background using Macbeth as their puppet. Unbeknownst to all, Macbeth was not the root cause of the tragic events and time will never be free as long as these witches have the ability to influence whomever they choose. Perhaps that is the reason instability continues in the throne for the years that follow.…

    • 118 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    macbeth word trace

    • 1265 Words
    • 4 Pages

    a. MACBETH – “See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks. / Both sides are even: here I'll sit i' the midst: / Be large in mirth; anon we'll drink a measure / The table round. / There's blood on thy face.” (3.4)…

    • 1265 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Maestro Essay

    • 1306 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Macbeth is “rapt withal” while the prediction to become King after hearing the news that he is now the Thane of Cawdor. Banquo on the other hand thinks that these are mere lies told by the “instruments of darkness” gaining confidence with honest trifles, only to betray us”.…

    • 1306 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the beginning of the play Macbeth comes upon three witches that predict he will be…

    • 628 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the beginning of the play, Macbeth shows high self esteem because he is appreciated and loved by everyone. Macbeth never even thought of changing his position in life. He seems completely satisfied being the thane of Glamis. However, he meets with the three witches; Macbeth’s life starts to change. After the witches inform Macbeth of his prophecies, his ambition start to accumulate. The witches greet him calling him “All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth! that shalt…

    • 1283 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Second Witch- All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee. Thane of Cawdor! Third Witch-…

    • 495 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Arrogance In Macbeth

    • 511 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Witches' prophecies set the stage for the downfall of Macbeth. Macbeth suffered from guilt and…

    • 511 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Then, she states "Hail, king that shalt be!". "Shalt" is a word that makes clear that Macbeth will be made King.…

    • 2421 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth's Ambition Essay

    • 708 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Macbeth after experiencing the witch’s prophecies has begun to change and advance through to see the prophecies. Macbeth is told prophecies from the witches explaining how Macbeth will be “...Thane of Glamis.., ..Thane of Cawdor... And all hail Macbeth that shalt be king thereafter.” Macbeth sceptical at first brushes it off as some crap, but as soon as Thane of Cawdor is bestowed upon him his trust lies with the witches and…

    • 708 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    When Macbeth first encounters the Witches, they inform him of his prophecy to become the Thane of Cawdor, and soon to be King of Scotland. He is also with Banquo, and he is informed that his kids will be kings, but not him. The Witches say to Macbeth, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (I.iii.51-53). At first, he becomes shocked and surprised by this, but he soon realizes after being crowned Thane of Cawdor, that this prophecy will most likely come true. As soon as Macbeth learns of his prophecy, he…

    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays

Related Topics