The Downfall of Macbeth

In the literary work of William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, the character Macbeth is corrupted by his internal struggles and external actions influenced by the witches’ prophecies, Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth himself. According to a critic, the most obvious tragedy is that of when a person of high rank falls into a disaster leading to devastation or death (Bernad 1). Macbeth is a loyal, noble man who will avoid betraying or harming his king. Despite the contrary, Macbeth becomes evil when the witches’ predictions cause ambitious thoughts and the influencing of them by Lady Macbeth. Although the witch sisters and Lady Macbeth lead the downfall of Macbeth, one can also insist that Macbeth himself is responsible for all the actions he will make. If Macbeth’s confidence level does not boost up as much, than he will continue to be the loyal, noble man that he is. In The Tragedy of Macbeth, the witches have a huge impact on the downfall of Macbeth. The three evil sisters actually plan it; their prophecies are the framework of his atrophy. As stated by a witch sister, “all hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!” (1.3, 52) When Macbeth hears of this he begins to think; his thoughts become ambitious and greedy. According to a critic, Shakespeare depicts the witches not as godlike, perfect beings, but as evil ones, leading Macbeth into temptation (von Rumelin 2). Macbeth then realizes it is possible to be king so he then begins to think he is destined to be king. Therefore, Macbeth does anything to become king, even if it involves bloody acts. The critic also claims that at the first meeting with the witches Macbeth appears as a devil anyhow, who commits numerous of crimes, that a nobler future never influences his actions (von Rumelin 3). Like the witch sisters, Macbeth becomes evil as well. As well, the witch sisters provoke Macbeth also by sending apparitions to him stating that a man born of woman could not harm him, but beware of Macduff. When Macbeth hears of this he then becomes over-confident and thinks nothing of the message of beware Macduff but forwardly accuses Macduff of being born from a woman, therefore Macduff cannot harm Macbeth. Acknowledged by the first apparition, “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff!” (4.1, 71-72) Added by the second apparition, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute! Laugh to scorn, The pow’r of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth.” (4.1, 78-81) Not listening carefully, little does Macbeth know all of those predictions could bring about his decease. One critic concludes that as the witch sisters cross the border of the possible, their statements bridge the gap between now and the future ahead (Cusick 4). The witches’ apparitions do state the truth, but trick Macbeth by making him believe that Macduff is born of a woman so Macduff cannot harm Macbeth, therefore things will end differently if Macbeth does become cocky. The witches contribute to Macbeth’s downfall the most. In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth too commits to the downfall of Macbeth. As a wife, one should not let the other fall into ruination. Lady Macbeth continues to convince Macbeth that he should be king and needs to be king. According to a critic, Lady Macbeth represents extreme temptation that attacks her ambition (Gerwig 1). At once Macbeth asserts that he will not do the deed by stating that, “We would 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.” (1.7, 32-35) Therefore, Lady Macbeth shames and pressures Macbeth into murdering Duncan for his own benefit. One then realizes Macbeth continues with the murder of Duncan by him stating that, “I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?” (2.2, 14) The critic also concedes that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth prove to us many things, such as Lady Macbeth is the authority of Macbeth’s mental strengths also that they communicate much about affairs throughout the kingdom (Gerwig 2). Macbeth will continue to be the honorable, noble man that he is if he is not influenced by his own wife, Lady Macbeth. In addition, Lady Macbeth is a part of the downfall of Macbeth because she also plots and plans most of the murders Macbeth commits. At first she plans the murder to be done by her. A critic emphasizes that Lady Macbeth feels as if the murders must be done; therefore, she will do them to further Macbeth achievements (Gerwig 3). She plots the murder by saying, “When Duncan is asleep—Whereto the rather shall his day’s hard journey Soundly invite him—his two chamberlains Will I with wine and wassail so convince, That memory, the warder of the brain, Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason A limbeck only: when in swinish sleep Their drenched natures lies as in a death, What cannot you and I perform upon Th’ unguarded Duncan, what not put upon His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt Of our great quell?” (1.7, 61-72) Although Lady Macbeth plans to kill Duncan, Macbeth does because Duncan appears as Lady Macbeth’s father and also because Macbeth does not want to appear weak to his wife. The critic also notes that Lady Macbeth makes all the arrangements, even about how the daggers are supposed to be laid out (Gerwig 6). Macbeth is absolutely manipulated by his own wife, Lady Macbeth. Notably, Macbeth is completely responsible for his own downfall, although the witch sisters and Lady Macbeth are the driving forces. Macbeth does not have to make the choices he is making, but choses to because his quest and desire for power. One critic states that if Macbeth has a chance on the throne than he will seize it (Gerwig 2). A second critic reports that murder becomes natural to the murderer (Bernad 6). If Macbeth is an honorable man like he is, than he will not commit those murders, especially not more than one. The critic also reveals that his crimes only ruin him (Bernad 14). There is not one time throughout the play that Macbeth strives after one of his murders. To add on, Macbeth is a man of no emotions. Not once does Macbeth feel terrible after killing those admirable people. To one critic, Macbeth suffers the most when he hears the announcement of Lady Macbeth’s death (Gerwig 8). Although his wife commits suicide, Macbeth continues to murder people. If Macbeth is a loyal man like he is, than he will stop after the death of his wife and will realize that things are not going the way he meant for them to go. He also does not feel hurt when the murder of Macduff’s wife and son takes place. He is actually the one held responsible for that because he hires the murderers for the murder. The messenger hints that the murderers are coming by saying, “Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known, Though in your state of honor I am perfect. I doubt some danger does approach you nearly: If you will take a homely man’s advice, Be not found here; hence, with your little ones. To fright you thus, methinks I am too savage; To do worse to you were fell cruelty, Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you! I dare abide no longer.” (4.2, 61-69) Macbeth just wants to maintain kingship power. Ambition, fear, ignorance, and anger lead Macbeth to his own downfall. In the literary work of William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, the witches’ prophecies, Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth himself promotes the internal struggles and external actions of the character Macbeth, who is depraved. According to a critic, the most spectacular thing about the play is the intertwining of the five obvious tragedies into a whole (Bernad 1). Macbeth is a faithful, trustworthy man who will not dare to think of destroying his king. Despite the contradictory, Macbeth becomes unfaithful and untrustworthy when the witches’ visions and apparitions cause aggressive thoughts and the promoting of them by Lady Macbeth. Although the witch sisters and Lady Macbeth are the background of the downfall of Macbeth, one can also demand that Macbeth himself is fully responsible for all the actions he will make. If Macbeth does not become over aggressive, than he will continue to be the faithful and trustworthy man he is.