Macbeth The Immense Power of Fear Fear motivates us to do many things, whether they are right or wrong. In the play Macbeth, fear was the main motivation that affected the outcome of the play. This can be demonstrated by the murders following Duncan's. Why were they committed? Macbeth was afraid of being captured and having to pay for the wrongs he had committed. Also, look at Lady Macbeth. Constant hand washing, sleepwalking, and other behaviors like this are done out of fear. It resembles her husband's fear of being caught. The final piece of evidence is Macbeth's actions. They were all due to fear, not only of being captured but also of the witches' prophecies. He was afraid that they would come true and tried to prevent them from happening. The entire play was inspired by fear and what it can do to a person. A good first example of this principle can be illustrated by the subsequent murders committed by Macbeth after killing Duncan. Macbeth had just killed the King of Scotland and blamed it on his son. It worked and he became king. However, he remembered the witches' prophecies. They claimed that Macbeth would be king, but Banquo's sons would follow him. This made Macbeth very angry and he risked everything to become king. Unfortunately, his family would never wear the crown after his death. Just for them; and my eternal jewel Given to man's common enemy,To make king, the seeds of Banquo king![Act III, SI, L 72-75]Here Macbeth realizes that if something is not done to Banquo, his sons they will become King. Macbeth cannot allow it. He was already afraid that his soul would go to hell for what he had done. His fear also becomes evident in this scene: "But to be safe thus: our fears at Banquo remain deep"; [Act III, SI, L 53-54] Macbeth has Banquo murdered, and Banquo's son Fleance manages to escape the attack. Subsequently, Macduff refuses to accept Macbeth as king and flees to England to join Malcom. The witches tell him to beware of Macduff, which angers Macbeth and drives him to kill Macduff's family. The fear of losing the upcoming battle with England makes Macbeth start doing anything that will give him an advantage in the final battle..