MacBeth - Disastrous AttributesCharacter or destiny. Which of these two forces (external or internal) led to the downfall of a great military hero and worthy Thane, Macbeth, who became evil and murderous when misled by the prophecies of three old witches. Some argue that Macbeth is the victim of fate, while others argue that his character decides his downfall. The argument for fate is heavily driven by the actions of others, with LadyMacbeth having the main influence on Macbeth. While the opposition is driven by Macbeth's troubled conscience, his internal conflict and his hamartia. It is clearly evident that Macbeth's very character is responsible for his tragic downfall. Many believe that Macbe is a victim of fate. These critics state that Macbeth is greatly influenced by his domineering wife, Lady Macbeth. Macbeth decides that he cannot kill Duncan as he is his "kinsman and his subject" (Act 1, Scene 7: 13) but Lady Macbeth taunts him by saying, "I have nursed and know how tender it is ^is to love the child that milks me." :I, while he smiled in my face, would have torn^Òd my nipple from his less bony gums, and dash^Òd his brains, if I had so sworn, as thou didst to this" (Act 1, scene 7: 54- 59) This vivid vision of the lengths to which Lady Macbeth would go to keep a promise would have been more accepted in our society than in Shakespeare's. In Shakespeare's time, women had no right to argue with their husbands and even less often their arguments or threats were taken into account. Men are "all" and "end" and this speech by Lady Macbeth would have been of little persuasion. Shakespeare's Macbeth was a military man, strong in his opinions and views and was decidedly a victim of his own character.In contrast, Macbeth was warned of his supposed fall by his weary conscience.On three occasions his conscience troubled him says: "Is this a dagger, the one I see before me, with the handle towards my hand? Come, let me grab you. I have not you, yet I still see you." (Act 2, Scene 1: 33-35) This clearly shows the way in which, unconsciously, Macbeth knows that his future actions are wrong and does not act on the warning signs of his actions.